2014 NFC West Grades

Arizona Cardinals

Grade: B

Last season the Arizona Cardinals were a 10-6 football team, but that wasn’t good enough for them to make the playoffs in the National Football League. Arizona had the sixth overall defense last season in the NFL and Cardinals general manager Steve Keim set out to improve on the unit. In the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, the Cardinals drafted Washington State strong safety Deone Bucannon. Bucannon is an enforcer and in the NFC West every team has that kind of player in their secondary.

In the fourth round the Cardinals drafted Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas. At 6’6″, Thomas is a big quarterback, but he is not accurate. It helped Thomas’ cause that Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians is a Virginia Tech alum and the two clicked during Thomas’ workouts with the Cards. The Cardinals passed on Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron due to the fact that Arians has always been in love with big quarterbacks that have big arms.

If nothing else the Cardinals will have one of the bigger teams in football.

San Francisco 49ers

Grade: A+

The San Francisco 49ers have made the last three NFC Championship Games and if their time at the 2014 NFL Draft is any inclination of the upcoming season, then they will once again be in the running for the Super Bowl. Niners general manager Trent Baalke and head coach Jim Harbaugh have not always been on the same page, but they came together this past weekend once again in the hopes to give San Francisco a title contender.

The 49ers needed to get younger and more athletic in the secondary and they didn’t waste anytime as they tabbed Northern Illinois strong safety Jimmie Ward in the first round. 49ers running back Frank Gore is the franchise’s all-time leader in rushing yards, but he will be 31-years of age this week and he has some miles on his body. In the second round the Niners selected Ohio State running back Carlos Hyde. Hyde had first round ability as a running back, but San Francisco was still able to get tremendous value for him in the second round.

In the third round the 49ers tabbed Wisconsin middle linebacker Chris Borland. Borland has an old-school approach at linebacker which fits into what Harbaugh and 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio are looking to accomplish. The fifth round saw the 49ers select South Florida defensive end Aaron Lynch who could be a situational pass rusher on a defense that is as talented as any unit in professional football.

The teams that play deep into January are the ones that do a good job of drafting and that is why the 49ers will be in that mix this season.

Seattle Seahawks

Grade: B

The Seattle Seahawks did not draft any players that will jump out and grab your attention, but for Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll it was all about adding depth. The Seahawks traded out of the first round to get more picks and in the second round they selected Missouri offensive tackle Justin Britt. In the fourth round the Seahawks went to work as they had three picks. Two of those picks were used on UCLA defensive end Cassius Marsh and Alabama wide receiver Kevin Norwood. Marsh will give Carroll and the Seahawks another pass rusher with a high motor while Norwood could be an over achiever as he will do whatever it takes to win.

Since Carroll arrived in Seattle in 2010, the Seahawks have done a tremendous job of drafting and it is tough to question their moves.

St. Louis Rams

Grade: A+

Last season the St. Louis Rams were the only team in the NFC West to finish with a losing record and Rams general manager Les Snead and head coach Jeff Fisher set out to remedy that. The Rams had two first round picks and they used them to add some beef up front.

The Rams had the second overall pick of the NFL Draft which they used on Auburn offensive tackle Greg Robinson. Robinson played in a run first offense at Auburn which is why the Rams are expected to use him at guard. The Rams used their second pick of the first round on University of Pittsburgh defensive tackle Aaron Donald. Donald can split gaps and he comes to a defensive unit that had 53 sacks last season.

The Rams added depth to their secondary in the second and sixth rounds respectively with Florida State cornerback Lamarcus Joyner and Missouri cornerback E.J. Gaines. The Rams found themselves a workhorse running back in the third round with Auburn running back Tre Mason. Mason is a patient runner that can shed blocks and when the opponent is getting tired, he is just warming up.

Most people will talk about the Rams due to the fact that they selected Missouri defensive end Michael Sam in the seventh round. Sam will be the first openly gay player in the NFL, but that should not matter as he will be another edge rusher for this potent Rams defense.

You can rest assured that the Rams will not have a losing record in 2014.