Considering it was touted as the best division in football just two seasons ago, there is no way around it; 2016 was a down year for the NFC West. The best team only won 10 games, they only sent one team to the playoffs, and two of the teams in the division lost double-digit games. Luckily, this offseason it also happens to be the division with the most collective draft picks, so there will be ample opportunities to improve upon a down season as a whole.

Arizona Cardinals

2016 Record: 7-8-1

2017 Draft Picks: 13, 45, 77, 119, 157, 179, 197, 231

The Cardinals are in a unique position. They possess a roster comprised of highly talented players, more than capable of making a deep run in the playoffs, however on the other hand they are getting older and are led by an even further aging quarterback who mulled retirement this offseason. Essentially in this draft, they can go in one of two directions: A) They can circle the wagons and take an impact first rounder who can help them win now, or B) they can press the eject button and take a quarterback in the first, looking towards the future rather than the now

Below I have narrowed down their top needs to the following positions in descending order, ranked by importance:

| Cornerback, Wide Receiver, Quarterback, Defensive Line, Inside Linebacker, Edge |

As I said, the first round is a tricky one for Arizona, as they need to make a decision on who they are. In my most recent mock, I made that decision for them, as I gifted them quarterback Mitchell Trubisky out of North Carolina. Now look, I know that it is unlikely that the consensus top quarterback makes it this deep into the first round, especially with the way pressure and tensions rise as we get closer and closer to draft day, but think of this as the identity choice that I have made for the Cardinals rather than a specific player. Essentially I believe that they will take one of the top-three signal callers – provided they are still there at 13th overall – meaning that I believe that it is time for Arizona to start looking towards life after Carson Palmer, especially because he has already begun to think about life without football. In Trubisky, or Watson, or Kizer, or even Mahomes according to some sources, the Cardinals will be getting a guy who can be groomed by a terrific veteran quarterback and incredible coaching staff. If you don’t feel like watching game tape like I do – the nerd that I am – and want to get a visual of these guys, take a look at Gruden’s QB Camp. I linked Trubisky’s visit with John Gruden below.

Just because they took a quarterback in the first round doesn’t mean that they have to completely give up on the now. Because of the sheer depth of this draft, in the second round Arizona has plenty of options if they still want to take an impact player. They can find one at either cornerback or wideout – their two biggest needs – and will likely use this selection as more of a safety valve just in case the first round quarterback doesn’t pan out. Their best bet in securing an insurance policy for their QB would be to look at corners and receivers with high floors. By this I mean players with low “bust” potential. Keep in mind that this doesn’t mean that their second round player will have the highest potential however. Options to consider include (WR) Chad Hansen out of Cal, (WR) Zay Jones out of ECU, (WR) Cooper Kupp out of Eastern Washington, (CB) Teez Tabor out of Florida, and (CB) Cordrea Tankersley out of Clemson. Ultimately I find Tankersley to be the best fit for what Arizona is looking for in the second because he’s got good size, is a great athlete, and is a pit bull in man-to-man coverage. That is the exact type of skillset and mindset that is needed across from Patrick Peterson because you need aggressiveness, confidence, and toughness if you are going to be targeted nearly double-digit times per game.

With a corner off the board more likely in the second, the Cardinals need to focus on a wideout in the third, specifically one who can man an outside position in the wake of losing Michael Floyd. My favorite fit for them in the third is a player who I have outlined before, JuJu Smith-Schuster out of USC. My main reasoning for this is because my most reasonable comparison for Smith-Schuster is Anquan Boldin – former Arizona Cardinal and future hall of famer. We all remember the dynamic duo that Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald formed years ago, so with the addition of Smith-Schuster in the third, maybe Arizona and Fitz can recapture that former magic.

From here on out, the Cardinals need defensive help at all three levels. In the fourth they would be wise to address their issue at inside linebacker. Ohio’s Blair Brown comes to mind. In the fifth, they have two selections and will likely play the board BPA through a defensive lens. Their suddenly Swiss cheese defensive line should be addressed with both selections here. Considering their multiple defensive front with a 3-4 base set, drafting versatile defensive linemen would be best for the Cardinals. Names to remember here include Vincent Taylor out of Oklahoma State, Jeremiah Ledbetter out of Arkansas, and Tanzel Smart out of Tulane. Onto the later rounds and the final need that should be addressed for Arizona is a developmental edge presence. Dylan Donahue out of West Georgia and Ifeadi Odenigbo make sense for the Cardinals in either the sixth or seventh rounds, but if your really want a long shot with upside, consider Samson Ebukam out of Eastern Washington, as he ran a blazing 4.45 at the combine.

Los Angeles Rams

2016 Record: 4-12

2017 Draft Picks: 37, 69, 112, 141, 149, 189, 206, 234

The Rams may sport a respectable defense that should only get better after the addition of future hall of fame defensive coordinator Wade Philips, however their offense is currently anemic. Without a first round pick this offseason, it will be tough to completely overhaul their offense, however there are still plenty of talented playmakers beyond the first 32 selections…

Below I have narrowed down their top needs to the following positions in descending order, ranked by importance:

| Wide Receiver, Cornerback, Center, Safety, Guard, Tight End, Defensive Line |

The Rams don’t have a first round pick, which makes this exercise less interesting, however this draft is pretty deep at their top two needs, so they should still be able to leave Philly happy when all is said and done. Picking in the top-five of the second round the Rams will still have plenty of options at both wide receiver and quarterback. While their defense is more than adequate and their offense is amongst the worst in the NFL, I believe that the Rams should go for a playmaker first and foremost with their top selection. What’s the old saying? “If you draft a quarterback, the next step is surrounding him with help.” The Rams didn’t do that well last season and their 2016 suffered for it. If they were to take an incredible talent such as Evan Engram out of Ole Miss, they will have effectively filled two of their needs with one pick. Most are considering Engram as one of the top tight end prospects in this draft, however his tape doesn’t necessarily back that up. By that I mean, here we have a player who is listed as a tight end and rarely played the position in college. Sure he was listed as such on the Ole Miss depth chart too, but by and large Engram lined up in the slot. I expect him to do the same in the NFL, but also maybe work out of the wing as an H-Back or a move TE as well. Regardless of positioning, Engram is an incredible talent. He’s really big and really fast. At 6-foot-3, 233 lbs., Engram is far bigger than every other wideout in this draft, while his 4.42 40-yard draft was faster than every other tight end. Hell, he ran faster than most wide receivers too. This guy is going to prove to be a matchup nightmare at the next level; think faster Jordan Reed as his potential, while Quincy Enunwa should be considered his floor. Simply put, this is the type of talent that can transform the Rams offense going forward.

Opposite the Cardinals, the Rams get their wideout in the second and their corner in the third. I explained above that the offense is more of a pressing issue for Los Angeles, but make no mistake; there is a gaping void across from Trumaine Johnson. I like them to fill it with Akhello Witherspoon out of Colorado, a rangy corner (6-foot-3), who’s plus speed (4.45 40-time) and press-man prowess gives them much of what they used to have with Janoris Jenkins prior to him leaving for the Giants.

Onto the fourth, and luckily with two picks, as the Rams have some offensive line issues that need to be addressed. Specifically in the interior of the offensive line, the Rams need some upgrades, or at least some depth, so that they can help protect their two biggest investments – Jared Goff and Todd Gurley. Centers I like include Tyler Orlosky out of West Virginia and Ethan Pocic out of LSU, while guards I like include Nico Siragusa out of San Diego State, David Sharpe out of Florida, and Zach Banner out of USC.

With their late round selections, I expect the Rams to shore up the rest of their defensive depth. They need help at safety and some more depth on the interior defensive line considering their scheme switch. Potential safety fits include Eddie Jackson out of Alabama, Rayshawn Jenkins out of Miami, and Josh Harvey-Clemons out of Louisville, while my favorite fits for them on the interior defensive line include the same names as did for the Cardinals because of their similar late round needs (Vincent Taylor out of Oklahoma State, Jeremiah Ledbetter out of Arkansas, and Tanzel Smart).

San Francisco 49ers

2016 Record: 2-14

2017 Draft Picks: 2, 34, 66, 109, 143, 146, 161, 198, 202, 219,

Last season the 49ers set defensive records of historic proportions, and not the good kind, as week after week they trotted out one of the worst collective units in the history of the NFL. Subsequently they fired their entire coaching and personnel cabinet, hired a completely new management staff, and signed 21 new – largely unproven – free agents. Oh, and to top it all off… They have no semblance of a capable quarterback. I give you the NFL’s current second worst franchise (sorry Cleveland), the San Francisco 49ers….

Below I have narrowed down their top needs to the following positions in descending order, ranked by importance:

| Quarterback, Cornerback, Defensive Line, Wide Receiver, Safety, Guard |

There is no doubting that the Niners biggest need is at quarterback, however considering a couple of things, it would make sense that they wouldn’t spend the second overall pick on a signal caller. First of all, the nature of this quarterback class doesn’t warrant that high of a selection. Secondly, San Fran just went out this offseason and invested legitimate money and years into not one, but two veteran quarterbacks – something a team seriously considering drafting a quarterback in the early rounds isn’t likely to do. Having said all of this, I expect the NFC’s worst roster to look to take the best player available. In this scenario, that happens to be Stanford’s versatile defensive lineman Solomon Thomas. Thomas is one of those “safe” players that teams love to grab in the top of the draft because you know he will be around for a decade. Thomas is big, athletic, versatile, explosive, and nasty. His best game ironically (maybe not so) came against this draft’s consensus “top quarterback” Mitchell Trubisky. Paired with consecutive first round selections on the defensive line, Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner, the Niners can have one of the most intimidating and athletic front sevens for years to come. Check out the tape below if you want some insight on how disruptive Thomas can be.

In the top of the second, the Niners can continue rebuilding that historically bad defense from a year ago. This area of the draft is likely to be a sweet spot for cornerbacks, so it would be best if they can get their hands on the top options available when possible. LSU’s Tre’Davious White and Ohio State’s Gareon Conley would be the ideal fits, however if they are off the board, Fabian Moreau out of UCLA, Teez Tabor out of Florida, or Adoree Jackson out of USC would all serve as formidable options as well.

Believe it or not, the Niners would be wise to continue focusing on defense in the third as well, particularly at the safety position, as they plan on entering the season thin at the spot in terms of depth and with two new starters. Florida’s Quincy Wilson is in play here, despite the fact that most view him as a cornerback, while I also like Texas A&M’s Justin Evans and Louisiana Tech’s Xavier Woods as well.

The best part of the Niners draft has yet to come, as they possess two picks in the fourth, fifth, and sixth rounds each, giving them ample opportunities to beef up their overall depth on their rather talent depleted roster. Ideally, with four of their remaining seven selections they will address wide receiver and offensive line. I’m a big fan of the North Carolina receiving duo Mack Hollins and Ryan Switzer, Switzer being the better of the two; built in the mold of Cole Beasley or Jarvis Landry. Other wideouts for them to consider in that range include Ohio State’s Noah Brown and LSU’s Malachi Dupree. Coming away with two receivers will be crucial in this draft considering what they have to deal with on the roster right now. As for the offensive line depth, the Niners particularly need help at the guard spot. Again in play will be USC’s Zach Banner and Tennessee State’s Jessamen Dunker.

Seattle Seahawks

2016 Record: 10-5-1

2017 Draft Picks: 26, 58, 90, 102, 106, 210, 226

Since Marshawn Lynch’s “Beast Quake” in the 2011 Divisional Round against the Saints, the Seahawks have been on an upward trajectory. It wasn’t until 2016 that Seattle finally appeared vulnerable; that they finally showed signs of aging. What great franchises do is weather the storm in times like these (see: New England). Expect the Seahawks to use this draft as a moment to reinvent themselves; expect them to give younger players a chance, and choose business over emotion when it comes to deteriorating former superstars…

Below I have narrowed down their top needs to the following positions in descending order, ranked by importance:

| Offensive Tackle, Cornerback, Guard, Center, Wide Receiver, Linebacker, Defensive Line |

With all of the Richard Sherman rumors swirling around this offseason, I have had Washington cornerback Kevin King slotted to Seattle in the first round for quite some time now, but after thinking long and hard about what Seattle needs most to help them keep pace in the NFC, the more I realized that this offensive line needs to be rebuilt, plain and simple. There is no better way to do that then by picking an anchoring left tackle in the first round. Alabama’s Cam Robinson has the potential to be that guy and I expect that Seattle will give him that chance. He has been widely scrutinized throughout this process for minor tendencies, but the fact of the matter is that he’s experienced, well built, and crazy talented with tons of potential. If he can clean up some of his technique issues, he will serve as Russell Wilson’s blind side protector for some time going forward.

My first round decision for this ball club was largely decided based off of what this draft class offers. By that I mean that it is flush with cornerback talent and pretty dry in the blind side protector department. Hell, some believe that Kevin King may be around when Seattle is picking in the second round anyway, so they may be able to make out like bandits here. I am not of that camp who believes that King will make it to the late second round, so here comes a list of other names that will be in play… Jourdan Lewis – Michigan, Adoree Jackson – USC, Sidney Jones – Washington, Fabian Moreau – UCLA, and Chidobe Awuzie – Colorado.

The third round would be a good one for the Seahawks to add a playmaker into the fold. Someone like Zay Jones out of ECU at wide receiver would make the most sense because he would bring a skillset that they don’t have right now – a high-volume target with ample athleticism and after the catch ability. In this scenario, Doug Baldwin can remain the number one option, but Jones would give Russell Wilson an option that he can rely upon closer to the line of scrimmage, all the while still remaining a threat as a deep option.

The fourth and fifth rounds should be offensive driven – particularly further adding depth to the offensive line – for Seattle. I know I have discussed them already in length, but Zach Banner and Tyler Orlosky should be considered here as well, while UCLA’s Connor McDermott is a late round player who I haven’t mentioned that may fit as the ultimate depth utility lineman for Seattle going forward.

FANTASY BONUS

I am dedicating this section to not necessarily the likeliest of scenarios, however I plan on keeping it as realistic as possible. Essentially I want to give you an idea of what selection could end up being the most fantasy impactful for the 2017 season for each team in the division. It doesn’t have to be someone that I have discussed for the team above, but rather a realistic scenario in which the team picks a player who would be a fantasy ringer for 2017.

Arizona Cardinals

Based off of the scenario I laid out above, JuJu Smith-Schuster would be the Cardinals biggest potential rookie fantasy star. His skillset best resembles that of Anquan Boldin, which should fit in well in this high-powered Cardinals aerial attack.

Los Angeles Rams

As I said above, Evan Engram (pictured right) has the potential to transform the way offense is played out in Los Angeles. Serving as a matchup nightmare, he should open things up for everyone involved including the running game and other receivers on the team. Expect a heavy dose of red zone targets headed his way wherever he ends up.

San Francisco 49ers

This is a tough exercise to do for the Niners with the scenario I laid out, but with a gun to my head I would say that Ryan Switzer has ample fantasy potential in PPR formats as a rookie. His tape says that he’s NFL ready, and his combine performance indicated that he’s athletic enough to match up with NFL slot corners. I see his potential in the Cole Beasley/Jarvis Landry range, which would be excellent late round production from a fantasy rookie.  

Seattle Seahawks

Zay Jones is the guy here, as he proved in college that he could be a productive high-volume target even when the defense knows that the ball is going his way. From the jump he can serve as the Seahawks number two option, while he would man most of the intermediate to short range targets. A PPR machine for sure, while he has the size and speed to make a difference in the red zone as well.