NFC West Off Season Predictions

This is the NFC West off season needs and potential trades blog. I will include with each team a draft pick prediction.

Seattle Seahawks last year (7-9)
The Seahawks shouldn't have made the playoffs last year, despite their undeserved success they have a whole lot of problems. Pete Carroll needs to find, slash groom a quarterback so they can score more then 19pts a game. I have Ryan Mallett falling to the Seahawks but it might turn out to be Jake Locker, Malletts stock is on the rise while the opposite is happening to Locker with much scrutiny directed to his poor mechanics and accuracy. If the hawks dedicate themselves to a QB in the first round, then perhaps Matt Hasselbeck becomes a trade candidate while the drafted QB and Whitehurst compete for the starting role. Brandon Mebane/DT and Raheem Brock/DE should be priorities in maintaining their consistency on run defense. The key ingredients to Seattle's off season should be adding depth to the defense line and make a decision on who is their franchise QB.


St. Louis Ram last year (7-9)
The Rams are likely to throw the ball more with Josh McDaniels as the new OC. Yet how much more can Sam Bradford throw when he ranked third in the league last year in pass attempts. Only Peyton Manning and Drew Brees threw the ball more and had much better passer ratings. With that said Bradford needs a true number one receiver and more reliable options. St.Louis needs to take advantage of this off season and throw money at these eligible WRs; Plaxico Burress, Braylen Edwards, Malcolm Floyd, Santanio Holmes, Randy Moss, Terrel Owens and Mike Sims Walker. All the Rams need to do is just land one of these prime receivers and possibly draft Julio Jones if still available at 14.
While receiver seems to be the biggest concern on offense, Steve Spagnuolo should be concerned with the romoteness behind Steven Jackson. He's turning 28 and still technically has 2 - 4 years left of running back relevance, but should Jackson get injured who will be getting all of the touches?

Arizona Cardinals last (5-11)
Ken Whisenhunt is on the hot seat, and clearly understands his team needs one of the available single callers. That Priority should lead to Whisenhunt and company to acquiring a QB via trade. The team has already shown interest in Marc Bulger, Kevin Kolb and Kyle Orton. Orton or Kolb would be provide stability and longevity essentially re-establishing the same footing they had in the Warner era. Retaining Tim Hightower, who has been very dependable within his first 3 seasons with Arizona is a serious concern for a team and the production of Beani Wells. Outside Linebackers Clark Haggan and Joey Porter can be held accountable for the lack of pressure that the Cardinals defense displayed in 2010. Robert Quinn could be the perfect substitution for either Haggan or Porter. The Cards defense as a whole last year sack QBs 33 times (not terrible, thay rank top 20) but Haggan and Porter combined for 10, if Quinn can prove at the combine he's NFL ready Arizona's defense wont be as vulnerable.


San Fransisco 49ers (6-10)
San Fran has to be the most intriguing team in the NFC West, they hired a coach who is widely regarded as one of the finest up-and-coming coaches in football. They have tons of talented young players yet have no QB. Jim Harbaugh's off season strategy mostly revolves around retaining guys like Aubrayo Franklin/DT Takeo Spikes/LB, and upgrading slash restocking the quarterback position. The Niners are believed to be interested in Kevin Kolb and Donovan McNabb. McNabb would be the easier of the two to obtain with a 3rd to 5th round draft pick. Parys Haralson and Manny Lawson had 6.5 sacks each last year and Von Miller from Texas A&M is and obvious upgrade to Haralson. As for their running game Frank Gore is on a contract year in 2011 and will be looking to cash in, the free agency is loaded with worthy complementary backs. Ronnie Brown, Darren Sproles or Deangelo Williams could help support Gore in the rushing game. Whoever is under center for the 49ers next year they will a solid running attack outside of Frank Gore.