Los Angeles Rams WR Tutu Atwell (15) celebrates with teammates - Jane Gershovich/Getty Images/AFP
The NFL season is right around the corner, which means it is time to look at the 2024 NFC West division. The NFC West has been tough for years with at least three teams consistently competing for playoffs. The four teams to evaluate are the Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, and Seattle Seahawks. Here is a preview of the 2024 NFC West.
Arizona Cardinals
2023 Season Record: 4-13
The Arizona Cardinals are the biggest question mark in the NFC West this year. Kyler Murray was out for the majority of the 2023 season while recovering from an ACL tear he sustained in 2022. This year he is coming in healthy with a big receiving threat. While there are questions surrounding Arizona given their record in 2023, their draft class can potentially keep them competitive. The Cardinals drafted Marvin Harrison Jr. in the 2024 NFL Draft. If the connection between Murray and Harrison gets going early, the Cardinals’ offense can stay competitive. With Murray healthy, he should be back as a running threat as well.
On the defensive side of things, there is still room for improvement but may be better than expected. They did add key players in the 2024 NFL Draft such as Darius Robinson on the defensive line and Max Melton in the secondary. The defense has a chance to be strong, they are just young and will likely need to develop.
Los Angeles Rams
2023 Season Record: 10-7
The Los Angeles Rams managed to make the playoffs last season, though were eliminated in the Wild Card Round. Puka Nacua became a star receiver and will be a player to watch in year two. The loss of Aaron Donald who has retired will be something to watch this year as well. The Rams did not have many offseason losses, but adjusting to a team without Donald will be tough. Los Angeles did focus on the defensive line at the beginning of the 2024 NFL Draft, which means some young guys could come in firing. There is always a chance that there are some growing pains, and Donald is not a player to easily replace, but the Rams’ defense should be in good standing.
The majority of the offense for the Rams will be returning in 2024. Cooper Kupp and Nacua will be threats on that offense, and Matthew Stafford is a healthy quarterback as of now. The offense also added Blake Corum from Michigan who had a strong college football playoff showing. Tyler Higbee did get hurt in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. He is expected to start on the PUP list, which means the tight end position will be loose to start the season.
On the special teams side, the Rams did draft a new kicker. He is Joshua Karty from Stanford. Hopefully, for the Rams, Karty makes key kicks for the team. Los Angeles still has the potential to be a strong threat in the NFC West but will need to stay healthy if they want to make playoffs.
San Francisco 49ers
2023 Season Record: 12-5
The 49ers are coming off a Super Bowl loss and will want to come back strong this season. The last time they made it to the Super Bowl it took them four years to return and they will not want to wait that long again. The offense is pretty set with the majority of starters returning. The player to watch this offseason is Brandon Aiyuk, but aside from that, Brock Purdy and the offense will be back in 2024. This should keep them as a high-scoring team that will lead them to big wins this year.
To start with the defensive changes, the 49ers have a new defensive coordinator. This will definitely be something to watch this year. The hope is the defense starts off strong and gets the momentum going early in the season. The defense did lose Arik Armstead which will hurt the run defense, but they did survive December of 2023 without him. Hopefully, the defense adjusts without Armstead there. Javon Hargrave is a player that will be returning in 2024 and hopefully, other guys will be able to step up in 2024.
For once the secondary may finally have depth, but there are questions at safety. Will Talanoa Hufanga start week one? Or will the team be using rookie Malik Mustapha early on? The team will also not start the season with linebacker Dre Greenlaw following his Achilles tear during the Super Bowl. His timetable is unknown, and the status of the linebacker position is questionable. The team will of course have Fred Warner, and they did add De’Vondre Campbell. Hopefully, Campbell and the returning linebackers can step up and the 49ers can maintain what has been a dominant position for the 49ers.
Seattle Seahawks
2023 Season Record: 9-8
The Seattle Seahawks have the players to win on offense and a solid defense. The difference this year is that they will have a new head coach. While the pieces are there, that is always an adjustment. On offense, Seattle will have numerous returning players such as Kenneth Walker III, Geno Smith, and their three wide receivers, Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The offense is loaded and has proven that they can win games.
On the defensive side, the Seahawks used their first-round draft pick on Byron Murphy II. This should greatly help the defensive line in 2024. The team will also have their returning secondary which has done well in 2023, and should only get better moving forward. The Seahawks do have question marks surrounding the team, but can stay competitive in each game.
2024 NFC West Prediction
1: San Francisco 49ers
Even with the offseason drama with Aiyuk and a couple of free-agency losses on defense, the San Francisco 49ers will come out on top. The 2024 NFC West race may be close, but the 49ers will still have their dominant roster that can put up a lot of points in each game.
2: Los Angeles Rams
This may seem like the easy answer, but with several returning players plus key additions, the Los Angeles Rams are likely to end in second in the NFC West yet again. The coaching experience of Sean McVay is on their side in the NFC West.
3: Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks will once again be in third in the NFC West. The new head coach could bring out a spark in this team, but they have a very similar roster to the year before. They have a good chance of beating the Rams, but for now, they will end in third.
4: Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are beginning to build a new team. They now have Marvin Harrison Jr. and other key additions. While the prediction is that they come in fourth, it can be expected that their record will be better in 2024 than it was in 2023.
