NFC West Free Agency Outlook

My Guess: I think this team will go after a couple of offensive lineman first.  OT Jared Gaither, OG Marshal Yanda, OT Tyson Clabo, OG Harvey Dahl, and OG Justin Blaylock will be their targets, and they will take who they can get.  Next, they would love for a guy like OLB Matt Roth to come to Arizona.  They need help at OLB, and if they add some talent and depth in their front 7, this team could quickly have a top 5 defense.

San Francisco 49ers [$20m]

(WR, OC, DT, ILB, CB, FS)

Outlook: I don’t get it.  This team has had so much talent for the past few seasons and blown their chances every time. Now, I think their window is closing.  I think QB Kaepernick is overrated, but with a new coach in Jim Harbaugh who was an offensive genius in college, San Francisco has a chance to shine on offense.  I like their new offensive line, but they need help at WR so that WR Crabtree and TE Vernon Davis aren’t the only targets for the rookie QB.  The defense is aging and has a very weak secondary.  Look for this team to underwhelm again.

My Guess: The Niners will make a run at a top WR like Sidney Rice, but I doubt they land one.  If they do, I will be higher on their offensive chances.  They should make a run at a top CB as well (Joseph or Asomugha), but I haven’t heard much buzz out of San Fran this year.   They are going to lose NT Franklin and probably cut CB/S Nate Clements because of his contract. I honestly think this is going to be a disappointingly quiet team this week.

Seattle Seahawks [$40]

(QB, RB, OG, OC, OT, SS, CB, DT, OLB)

Outlook: This is one of the worst teams in the league.  They were terrible last year on paper, but somehow won some games.  I will not believe my eyes if they win as many games in 2011-2012.  They have a bad offensive line, and while I love the OG Moffit pick, OT James Carpenter is an average RT at best, that pick was stupid.  They don’t have a QB or RB and WR is weak.  Their defense is also average at every position beyond their superstar-in-the-making FS Earl Thomas.

My Guess: They resign QB Matt Hasselbeck and then throw money at almost anyone else in free agency.  This is a bad team and has needs everywhere.  I like the fit of a DT Brandon Mebane in Seattle, and WR Sidney Rice would help too, but I don’t think Seattle has a huge pull for players, so they will have to throw money at whomever they want. They are dark horses for DE Ray Edwards.

St Louis Rams [$18]

(DT, OLB, SS, OG, WR, CB, RB)

Outlook: Great.  Awesome.  Really great.  QB Sam Bradford is the real deal.  I like him better than QB Andrew Luck.  This team has a great defensive coach and is a couple holes away from a dominant defense.  With the weapons they added at WR (Salas, Pettis) and TE (Kendricks) in the draft, Sam has more options.  They need a change-of-pace back that can compliment the declining RB Stephen Jackson.

My Guess:  They will look to sign RB Darren Sproles or Reggie Bush.  They need a playmaker that can take it to the house on a swing pass from Mr. Bradford.  Surround that man with weapons and they will be a top 5 team in this league.  I think the comparisons to Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are fair, and I think he will pass Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees as the third best QB in the league very soon.  I think they will try to sign a top pass-rusher like DE Ray Edwards, and they need help in the middle so DT Brandon Mebane will be a target.  I think QR Mark Clayton will stick around and the Rams will target a less pricey OLB like Thomas Davis (who has great potential and makes big plays).