The NFC West is one of the most competitive divisions in all of football. A year ago two playoff teams in the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks represented them. With the Rams moving to Los Angeles and the 49ers ridding themselves of Jim Tomsula both teams figure to improve as well. Let’s take a look at what each team should have up their sleeves in free agency.
- Arizona Cardinals, 2015 record (13-3)
Key Free Agents: Dwight Freeney, Drew Stanton, Lamar Woodley, Chris Johnson, Lyle Sendelein, Jerraud Powers, Rashad Johnson, Sean Weatherspoon, Bobby Massie
The Cardinals have adequate cap space at 15 million to keep their own players but that figures to be the bulk of their free agency to do list. I would try to upgrade the offensive line as best as I could but outside of that this is a pretty darn good team. The biggest need on defense is to find one or two guys to get after the quarterback.
- Seattle Seahawks, 2015 record (10-6)
Key Free Agents: Jon Ryan, Tarvaris Jackson, Brandon Mebane, Fred Jackson, Athyba Rubin, Russell Okung, J.R. Sweezy, Derrick Coleman, Bruce Irvin, Jeremy Lang, Alvin Bailey, Ricardo Lockett, Christine Michael, DeShawn Shead, Jermaine Kearse
The good news is the team has 23 million in cap room to work with. The bad news is they have a ton of impending free agents to try to get signed. The biggest name on that list is left tackle Russell Okung who likely gets huge money elsewhere even though he may not deserve it. Personally I would gauge each player’s price and see might take a hometown discount, the ones who don’t see you later. The biggest area of need is the offense line, an area that really struggled last year.
- Los Angeles Rams, 2015 record (7-9)
Key Free Agents: William Hayes, Nick Fairley, Mark Barron, Greg Zuerlein, Janoris Jenkins, Rodney McLeod, Case Keenam, Brian Quick
After releasing James Lauranits, Jared Cook, and Chris Long the Rams have 45 million in cap space to work with. That number could have been a lot higher if the team didn’t elect to use the franchise tag on Trumaine Johnson. You would have to imagine free agents might elect to sign with the Rams on the LA factor alone. Janoris Jenkins is one player I would try my best to keep. I probably would have franchised him instead of Johnson but pick your poison I guess. Trading Nick Foles also figures to be the best course of action as well freeing up another 6.7 million in cap room.
- San Francisco 49ers, 2015 record (5-11)
Key Free Agents: Phil Dawson, Anquan Boldin, Reggie Bush, Alex Boone, Ian Williams,
San Fran has just under 55 million to work with in free agency. The biggest mistake the team made was letting go of former head coach Jim Harbaugh. New head coach Chip Kelly will try to resurrect this historic franchise. The first move I would make is trading Colin Kaepernick. He obviously doesn’t want to be there and figures to have only succeeded because of Jim Harbaugh. Trading Kap would open up another 7.5 million in cap room. Let’s face it this team has holes at every single position. This rebuilding job will likely take awhile.
*All salary cap number courtesy of overthecap.com
