NFL: Predicting each division winner for 2018
By Chris Wilson
NFC West: Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams were the NFC’s cinderella team in 2017, but met an early exit in the playoffs; now the Rams are all-in on a 2018 Super Bowl run. Los Angeles may have the best secondary in the NFL after adding cornerbacks Aqib Talib, Marcus Peters and Sam Shields. The Rams also added tackle Ndamukong Suh to what will be a dominant defensive line — provided defensive end Aaron Donald ends his contract holdout. After letting wideout Sammy Watkins walk, the Rams traded for a better version of Watkins in wide receiver Brandin Cooks.
San Francisco 49ers
With salary-cap trouble looming, the Rams are in win-now mode, and are the strongest team in the NFC West.
The San Francisco 49ers are the most likely team to unseat the reigning NFC West Champions, as the Niners went from a team in rebuilding mode to an immediate playoff contender with the trade and subsequent contract of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. The 49ers spent the offseason switching players from the old regime out for players better suited for the teams’ offensive and defensive schemes. San Francisco also used their plethora of salary cap space to extend a number of key contributors, and structured contracts for cap flexibility in the future. Even if the 49ers don’t take the NFC West crown in 2018, they should be in position to contend for the title for years to come.
With the power shifting in the NFC West, the Seattle Seahawks appear to continue their decline. Seattle’s offseason losses include defensive mainstays Richard Sherman, Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril — and potentially an injured Kam Chancellor. The Seahawks also lost two of their three top pass-catchers in tight end Jimmy Graham and wide receiver Paul Richardson. Still, Seattle’s biggest deficiency is their offensive line, which they again failed to properly address over the offseason.
The Seahawks won’t be a pushover — provided quarterback Russell Wilson stays healthy — but their days as an NFC West powerhouse are quickly coming to an end.
The Arizona Cardinals will be a different looking team in 2018, as they’ve overhauled their roster — and their coaching staff — this offseason. This season’s Cardinals will be led by overpriced bridge quarterback Sam Bradford, as the team grooms rookie first-rounder Josh Rosen. While the Cardinals’ strong draft and offseason bodes well for the future of the team, Arizona will have a difficult time reaching last year’s win total of eight in 2018.
Who are your picks for the NFL’s eight division winners in 2018? Sound off in the comments section, or on Twitter @cgawilson.