Niner Noise
FanSided

NFC West power rankings heading into the 2018 offseason

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: Lance Dunbar #25 of the Los Angeles Rams runs in a touchdown past Ahkello Witherspoon #23, Adrian Colbert #38 and Dontae Johnson #36 of the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of a game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: Lance Dunbar #25 of the Los Angeles Rams runs in a touchdown past Ahkello Witherspoon #23, Adrian Colbert #38 and Dontae Johnson #36 of the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of a game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
SEATTLE, WA – DECEMBER 31: Cornerback Justin Coleman #28 of the Seattle Seahawks (behind) gets called on pass interference against wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals in the first half of the game at CenturyLink Field on December 31, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr /Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – DECEMBER 31: Cornerback Justin Coleman #28 of the Seattle Seahawks (behind) gets called on pass interference against wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals in the first half of the game at CenturyLink Field on December 31, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr /Getty Images) /

. 2017 Record: 8-8. . Arizona Cardinals. 4. team. 32

A .500 finish last year doesn’t seem to indicate a rebuild. But after retirements from head coach Bruce Arians and quarterback Carson Palmer, that’s exactly what’s going on in Arizona.

The Cardinals have zero quarterbacks on their roster heading into 2018. That in of itself isn’t exactly a concern, especially with a talented tailback like David Johnson returning from a serious wrist injury last year. But with $22,714,438 in available cap space, per Over the Cap, it might be very difficult for Arizona to lure in a top quarterback free agent like Kirk Cousins.

Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald won’t retire and will return for 2018, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. That’s good, but the Cardinals offense will have to put some additional pieces around him this offseason.

And with some cap issues on the table, the NFL Draft might be the only logical route.

Reasons to Be Excited

Newly minted head coach Steve Wilks should be given a clean slate, not unlike Kyle Shanahan with the 49ers a year ago.

That’ll help, especially if Wilks and general manager Steve Keim cut ties with older, expensive players like offensive tackle Jared Veldheer this offseason. Saving cap space should help, and it’s a bonus the Cardinals have all their own draft picks, sans Round 4, plus an additional in the seventh.

Should Arizona want to make things interesting in the NFC West, the focus should be on defense. EDGE Chandler Jones is a force, following his 17-sack, All-Pro campaign. And Pro Bowl defensive backs Patrick Peterson and Budda Baker comprise one of the better secondaries in the NFL.

Reasons to Worry

That offensive line is still a mess, especially after finishing 2017 ranked 25th in pass protection by Football Outsiders.

It might be wise to start the rebuild from inside out, worrying about the offensive side of the trenches before addressing much-needed skill positions. But with the pressing need for a quarterback, Arizona’s first pick (No. 15 overall) likely goes the direction of a signal-caller.

Rookie quarterbacks can have a rough start to their pro careers if the offensive line is in bad shape.

The ideal move might be to find a stop-gap option under center, while drafting and developing a quarterback. This doesn’t point to a fun or exciting 2018 campaign, but it would be better over the long haul.

2018 Prediction: 5-11