Eric Williams
NFC West Author
Sean McVay says at first of each offseason that every yr stands by itself and there is not any assure your crew might be good based mostly on the way it carried out the yr earlier than.
For the Los Angeles Rams and the remainder of the NFC West, which means constructing a brand new id as groups end OTAs and look to the start of coaching camp on the finish of July.
For the previous two years, the trail to the highest spot within the division has gone by way of the San Francisco 49ers. And the expectation is that it’s going to not be any totally different in 2024, with the 49ers a betting favourite to advance to the Tremendous Bowl once more.
Nevertheless, every NFC West crew can level to a path to the postseason if every part goes as deliberate. And all 4 groups have a key participant who could be instrumental in getting them there. Right here, we take a look at that key participant on the new seat for every crew.
Arizona Cardinals, QB Kyler Murray
Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort and head coach Jonathan Gannon might have moved off of Murray of their first season in Arizona. As an alternative, the management duo embraced the crew’s uniquely proficient quarterback, surrounding him with extra playmakers with the hopes of getting the Cardinals again to the postseason.
And Murray has taken the crew’s method to coronary heart, recommitting himself to his craft and taking up extra of a management position because the highest-paid participant on the crew. At age 26 and absolutely wholesome after ACL rehab, the No. 1 general decide within the 2019 draft ought to be getting into the prime of his profession.
Final season, he accomplished 65.7% of his passes for 1,799 yards, with 10 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. The Cardinals completed 3-5 with Murray below middle after successful only one recreation within the first half of the season. Arizona averaged 22.4 factors per recreation with Murray at quarterback, and 16.8 factors per contest within the first 9 video games when he was sidelined.
Together with drafting receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., operating again Trey Benson and tight finish Tip Reiman, the Cardinals signed offensive sort out Jonah Williams, middle Evan Brown and receiver Zay Jones in free company.
And with second-year offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, the Cardinals have created an id of operating the soccer and utilizing play-action with one of the crucial dynamic playmakers at quarterback.
Now, it is as much as Murray to play to his potential in main the Cardinals again to the postseason for the primary time since 2021.
[READ MORE: Cardinals expect explosive offense with healthy Kyler Murray, rookie weapons]
Los Angeles Rams, DT Kobie Turner
Sure, Aaron Donald has retired, and Turner cannot be anticipated to be a one-for-one substitute for top-of-the-line defensive linemen to ever play the sport.
Nonetheless, Turner led the crew with 9 sacks final season and is the crew’s finest inside pass-rusher returning. He is anticipated to maneuver to a 3-tech defensive sort out, and the Rams will undoubtedly attempt to recreation plan to get Turner one-on-one matchups, just like how they tried to liberate Donald throughout his decade of dominant play.
Turner already obtained somewhat of the Donald therapy as a rookie: In response to Subsequent Gen Stats, Turner was double-teamed on a league-high 54.1% of his go rushes final season. He completed second in pressures in opposition to double groups final season (22) and tied Jalen Carter for essentially the most pressures by rookie defensive tackles in 2023 with 47.
The Rams chosen Florida State merchandise Jared Verse and Braden Fiske with the concept of juicing the crew’s go rush, including them to second-year execs Byron Younger and Turner.
Ultimately, nonetheless, Turner would be the one who’s anticipated to steer this crew up entrance defensively.
[READ MORE: The Rams can’t replace Aaron Donald. But Chris Shula, grandson of Don, has a plan]
San Francisco 49ers, Deebo Samuel
There’s been loads of discuss nationally about the opportunity of San Francisco buying and selling Samuel or Brandon Aiyuk due to the price of protecting each of them round whereas ultimately having to pay Brock Purdy when he is eligible for a brand new deal.
Samuel has two years left on a three-year, $71.55 million contract and, at 28 years previous, he is working towards one other splashy deal. He understands that 2024 is a vital season for him to show his worth as soon as once more. He modified his jersey again to his faculty No. 1 and appeared slimmed down throughout offseason work on the crew’s facility.
And he is been working laborious on his personal in Florida to get again to the participant he was in 2021, when he earned the time period “wide-back.” That season, Samuel completed with 1,770 scrimmage yards and 14 complete touchdowns, incomes first-team All-Professional honors.
No, Samuel just isn’t essentially the most polished route-runner, however he is a tone-setter for San Francisco’s offense. And there is little doubt that the 49ers function at the next stage when the South Carolina product is enjoying at peak type. In response to FOX Sports activities Analysis, San Francisco is 54-24 (together with the postseason) in video games Samuel has performed and 8-9 with out him. The 49ers misplaced each video games he missed in the course of the common season in 2023.
Seattle Seahawks, Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Expectations have been excessive for the primary receiver taken in final yr’s draft. And whereas Smith-Njigba had a gradual begin, he got here on within the again half of his rookie season — one thing he ought to construct on in his second yr.
From Week 6 on, Smith-Njigba had 51 receptions for 566 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns on 75 targets. Sure, Puka Nacua’s rookie season was far superior, however Smith-Njigba was a much bigger a part of Seattle’s offense in the course of the second half of the season.
He additionally ought to profit from new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb taking on as Seattle’s offensive coordinator. Final yr, because the offensive coordinator for the College of Washington, Grubb engineered one of many high passing offenses within the nation.
Grubb ought to discover modern methods to make use of Smith-Njigba’s distinctive talent set on a weekly foundation. The Seahawks have been 14th in passing yards (230 per recreation) and sixteenth in scoring (21.4 per recreation) final season. Geno Smith discovering Smith-Njigba extra usually ought to enhance these numbers in 2024.
Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for greater than a decade, overlaying the Los Angeles Rams for Sports activities Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma Information Tribune. Comply with him on Twitter at @eric_d_williams.
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