IDP Depth Chart Evaluations: NFC West
Even though the NFL season just ended, free agency will be here before we know it. For dynasty leagues it’s important to know what each teams’ depth chart looks like because all it takes is for one free agent to leave town for an opportunity for a lesser known player. We’re going to go through each division and evaluate each team before free agency. Today our focus is the NFC West.
San Francisco 49ers
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Key free agents: Gerald Hodges, linebacker, Michael Wilhoite, linebacker, Nick Bellore, linebacker, Christopher Jones, defensive line.
Weakness: The weakness of this team is in the second tier, specifically at the inside linebacker position. They have an All-Pro in NaVorro Bowman but he tore his Achilles on October second and as we’ve learned in the past with this injury, patience is key. The 49ers ran out multiple combinations at inside linebacker in 2016 and they’re somehow all unrestricted free agents. Gerald Hodges, Michael Wilhoite and even Nick Bellore all played over 500 snaps last year. Ray-Ray Armstrong was signed to a two year contract in December but is coming off of a season ending torn pectoral injury suffered in week two. He’s great depth but not a difference maker.
Strength: I love what the 49ers have up front with Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner. The former college teammates have played just as well at the pro level and have the look of cornerstone players for this franchise to rebuild upon. They also have solid pieces in the secondary who offer a ton of upside and versatility in Jimmie Ward and Eric Reid.
Priority Free Agents: Gerald Hodges should be the main focus of the aforementioned free agents. He played very well in 2016 and deserves to get a contract from the 49ers. It’ll be real interesting to see how John Lynch approaches free agency for the first time. As a 49ers fan I would love to see Mychal Kendricks come over in a trade and return to a 3-4 defense.
Arizona Cardinals
Key free agents: Calais Campbell, defensive line, Tony Jefferson, safety, Chandler Jones, edge rusher, Kevin Minter, linebacker, Alex Okafor, edge rusher, Marcus Cooper, cornerback
Weakness: The Cardinals defense would benefit greatly by adding a true inside linebacker. There might not be a more creative defense in the league than the Cardinals unit with their multiple safety looks and mixing hybrid players like Deonne Bucannon into the fold, but the team occasionally gets pushed around up the middle.
Strength: The strength of this team is without a doubt the secondary led by Tyrann Mathieu and Patrick Peterson but one of the less heralded players was Tony Jefferson, who is set to become a free agent. Losing him would hurt the flexibility of what they like doing with Mathieu. Tyvon Branch isn’t what he once was but he sure isn’t a cornerback either. He could be an option to move back to an in-the-box safety should Jefferson leave the desert.
Priority Free Agents: Chandler Jones is the Cardinals’ top free agent priority after trading for the stud last year. His 11 sacks led the team and he had 49 total tackles. Coach Arians is already on record saying the team will use the franchise tag on him if necessary. Re-signing two of Jones, Campbell and Jefferson should be the top priority of this defensive unit but I’m betting Campbell gets a truck load of cash thrown his way and will play elsewhere in 2017.
Los Angeles Rams
Key free agents: Trumaine Johnson, cornerback, Dominique Easley, defensive line, T.J. McDonald, safety
Weakness: This team is going see a ton of transition during their switch to a 3-4 defense under Wade Phillips, but adding a cornerback should be at the top of the to-do list. Lamarcus Joyner, Trumaine Johnson and E.J. Gaines will be asked to play a lot of man-to-man coverage in this scheme and that’s going to be a problem.
Strength: I really like the front seven of this defense with Aaron Donald, Robert Quinn, Alec Ogletree and Mark Barron. The on-field transition to a 3-4 shouldn’t be much of an issue for these players but for IDP purposes we’re going to take two shots right to the pills. Aaron Donald will be moved from superstar defensive tackle to really good defensive end and Robert Quinn will be moved from defensive end to outside linebacker to be Phillips’ new Von Miller.
Priority Free Agents: The Rams need to push hard to bring T.J. McDonald back. He’s by far their most effective member of the secondary and should excel in this system. I expect them to bring Trumaine Johnson back as well but he’s an afterthought compared to McDonald.
Seattle Seahawks
Key free agents: Deshawn Shead, cornerback, Tony McDaniel, defensive line
Weakness: The closest thing this defense has to a weakness is the cornerback position. Obviously, Richard Sherman is an elite player at the position, but they could use more behind him. Deshawn Shead is a restricted free agent coming off ACL surgery that the Seahawks will fight to retain but it’s difficult to count on a player recovering from an injury like that. Finding a suitable backup to Earl Thomas could be in the cards as well. They noticeably struggled after he was lost to a broken shin.
Strength: This entire defensive unit is a strength. Even calling their corners a “weakness” is stretching it. They have studs at every level when healthy. Getting Earl Thomas back will only make the rich richer. Their rotation of defensive ends is incredible with Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril and Frank Clark. Clark is one of my favorite young IDPs in the game right now. I view him similarly to how I stashed Danielle Hunter of the Vikings.
Priority Free Agents: Even though he’s only a restricted free agent, Deshawn Shead is the player the Seahawks won’t allow out of the Emerald City. They’ll likely only have to slap a second round tender on him due to the injury but they’ll get the opportunity to match whatever offer he receives. He’ll be in a Seahawks uniform for the foreseeable future.
Follow me on Twitter @OlingerIDP
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