The NFC West will look a little bit different in 2020 as it does every year. The San Francisco 49ers are the defending conference champions and the Arizona Cardinals appear to be surging, while uncertainty surrounds the Seattle Seahawks and the Los Angeles Rams appear to be in danger of declining.
Some offseason moves will have a big impact on the division in the coming season.
What are those moves?
Cardinals trade for DeAndre Hopkins
The Hopkins trade was one of the biggest of the entire league. He immediately becomes the division’s best receiver and now shifts coverage against the Cardinals. Christian Kirk no longer will face No. 1 cornerbacks, so the Cardinals offense immediate is better.
49ers trade DeForest Buckner
The 49ers traded away one of their best defensive players in Buckner. The extended the contract of Arik Armstead and drafted Javon Kinlaw but Buckner will be hard to replace up front. The 49ers defense definitely did not get better with the move.
Joe Staley retires and 49ers trade for Trent Williams
Staley was the standard of excellence at left tackle for a long time in the division. Now that he is retiring, the 49ers managed to replace him with someone who should be the best left tackle in the division. He is in the latter part of his career and he didn’t play last season, but Williams is a game-changer for the Niners.
Seahawks sign TE Greg Olsen
Olsen is old but he is still productive. Adding him to a tight end room with Jacob Hollister and Will Dissly will be great. The 49ers might have George Kittle, but the Seahawks have the best room of tight ends and that will give Russell Wilson more options in the passing game.
Rams release Todd Gurley
Gurley wasn’t the back he was just a couple of seasons before, but losing him changes things for the Rams. They will now have to rely on a rookie in Cam Akers. The offense will not be the same as with a healthy Gurley.
Cardinals draft Isaiah Simmons
With all the problems the Cardinals have had with tight end and playing in a division with George Kittle, Will Dissly, Jacob Hollister and now Greg Olsen, Simmons hopefully is the “eraser” to counteract those tough matchups in the division.
Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.
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