Niner Noise
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NFL power rankings: Breaking down each division heading into 2018

By Peter Panacy

NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 24: The Atlanta Falcons play the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on December 24, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 24: The Atlanta Falcons play the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on December 24, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 31: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers throws a pass against Los Angeles Rams during the third quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 31: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers throws a pass against Los Angeles Rams during the third quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

The NFC West went from the NFL’s top dog, down to something of a laughingstock aside from the Seahawks, back up to a strong level of respectability.

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San Francisco 49ers should be hesitant to trade Trey Lance
San Francisco 49ers should be hesitant to trade Trey Lance /

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    • Those Seahawks lost a lot of talent this offseason, namely defensive end Michael Bennett, tight end Jimmy Graham, cornerback Richard Sherman, defensive end Cliff Avril and will likely be without safety Kam Chancellor (neck) this season.

    At least Seattle has quarterback Russell Wilson and the hope grabbing running back Rashaad Penny with their first-round draft pick works out well.

    The Seahawks relinquished their divisional hold to the Rams, who only added talent this offseason, defenders Aqib Talib, Ndamukong Suh and Marcus Peters, to say the least. They’re in win-now mode in head coach Sean McVay’s second season. And all the added talent put them in the No. 1 spot in our last team-wide NFL power rankings.

    The only team possibly contending with the Rams for NFC West dominance is the San Francisco 49ers who, after grabbing quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo last year, have turned the page on their laughingstock status from not long ago.

    San Francisco may be a year or two away. But head coach Kyle Shanahan’s team is trending in the right direction.

    Meanwhile, the Arizona Cardinals are trending in the wrong direction. Sure, they got a steal by grabbing UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen at No. 10 overall in the draft. But even that pickup won’t help the Cardinals from going through a forgettable 2018.