NFL Draft Review: NFC West Winners and Losers

Ken Kelly

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The NFC West was a laughing stock a few years ago as the division struggled to have a team reach the .500 mark, spurning debate as to the importance of having a division winner required to be in the playoffs. Boy, have times changed. Now the toughest division in football boasts arguably the two best teams in the NFL with Seattle and San Francisco and two up and coming squads in the forms of St. Louis and Arizona. With the NFL Draft in our rearview mirror, let’s take a look at who the veteran winners and losers were from the NFC West.

Winners

Sam Bradford, QB STL

The Rams have hitched their wagon to Bradford for one more make or break season. Make no mistake, this will be Bradford’s final chance to secure his spot as the quarterback of the present and future this season in St. Louis. He’s improved each season, but he’ll need a full 16-game campaign with even more improvement shown for the Rams to truly feel they’re set for the foreseeable future at football’s most important position. Depending on which report you read, the Rams may or may not have flirted with the idea of bringing in a new quarterback, but instead went with Greg Robinson and Aaron Donald. They did take Garrett Gilbert in the sixth round, but he’s a developmental prospect at best.

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Tavon Austin, WR STL

Again, depending on which reports you believe, the Rams may or may not have been interested in one of the draft’s premier receivers like Sammy Watkins or Mike Evans. In the end, they failed to add any receivers through the draft, leaving Austin as the team’s premier fantasy asset at the position. His rookie year was a little rough, but he’s being undervalued and given up on a little too quickly for my liking.

Luke Willson, TE SEA

The Seahawks were rumored to have interest in the hometown kid Austin Seferian-Jenkins, but decided to leave the tight end position in the hands of Zach Miller and Willson. While they could still sign a free agent like Jermichael Finley, the smart money at the moment is on Willson to eventually develop into Russell Wilson’s safety valve.

Andre Ellington, RB ARI

The Cardinals have always looked to be serious in regards to really handing the keys over the Ellington, but their draft proved their words weren’t just hyperbole. Ellington is entrenched as one of 2014’s best breakout bets.

Losers

Rob Housler, TE ARI

The Cardinals drafted Troy Niklas as their tight end of the future and he’s likely going to be the tight end of the present as well. Housler has just never made good on his potential and the one-time DLF favorite looks to be near the end of the line with Arizona. Injuries have really derailed his once promising career.

Drew Stanton, QB ARI

One the most intriguing picks of the draft was the Cardinals’ selection of quarterback Logan Thomas in the fourth round. On talent alone, Thomas is a first round prospect. However, he’s horribly inconsistent and it seems every amazing throw is followed by two or three balls that somehow end up in a nearby parking lot. Thomas is a great fit for Bruce Arians’ offense and Arians himself is on record saying Thomas’ deficiencies are easy to fix. Time will tell on that one, but Drew Stanton certainly isn’t looking like he’ll have much of a chance to ever unseat Carson Palmer.

Quinton Patton, Jon Baldwin, WRs SF

You could throw Brandon Lloyd in the mix as well, but it wasn’t likely he was going to make the team anyway. The trade for Stevie Johnson and drafting of Bruce Ellington leaves a depth chart stocked with the likes of Michael Crabtree,  Johnson, Lloyd, Baldwin, Anquan Boldin, Kassim Osgood, Patton, Ellington, David Reed and Devon Wylie. Wow. Unless the 49ers decide to go ten-wide on offense with no offensive line to speak of, some of these players are simply not going to make the team. Even for those who do, targets are going to be hard to come by with Boldin, Crabtree and Vernon Davis gobbling up most of them.

Jermaine Kearse, WR SEA

When you think of Kearse, the first thing you likely think of is his spin cycle maneuvering into the end zone during the Super Bowl win for the Seahawks. Unfortunately, the Seahawks have brought back Sidney Rice and also drafted Paul Richardson and Kevin Norwood to compete for a spot on the depth chart. Kearse is a good player, but his road to sure playing time is suddenly muddied. The Super Bowl touchdown is quite likely going to be the high point of his career.

Zac Stacy, RB STL

I’m not saying Tre Mason is suddenly the starter in St. Louis because there’s a long way to go there. However, I also don’t think his addition through the draft strictly alters the value of Benny Cunningham and Isaiah Pead, either. Stacy was one of fantasy football’s great stories last year, but he’s being treated as if he’s a sure thing in many dynasty leagues. For all his success last year, he still failed to surpass 1,000 rushing yards or average more than four yards per carry. Stacy is the unquestioned starter, but Mason is a very gifted runner who could really challenge for playing time sooner, rather than later.

Marcus Lattimore, RB SF

Lattimore is one of my favorite players in the league and someone I desperately want to succeed. However, the addition of Carlos Hyde really throws a wrench into Lattimore’s dynasty value. My concern with Lattimore has always been the first injury and not the second one as even before he shredded his knee for the second time, he didn’t look like the same player he was at the beginning of his career. Dynasty owners need to show patience here, but it’s obvious the 49ers still see him as a wild card and someone they simply can’t count on to get fully healthy. Even if he does miraculously come back, San Francisco is now absolutely stacked at the position.

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ken kelly