For a significant stretch of the 2024 season, the Arizona Cardinals appeared ready to claim the NFC West divisional crown. In the final two months of the year, their playoff hopes vanished. The Los Angeles Rams won the NFC West, claiming the division's only playoff spot.
The Cardinals will hope to finish the job in 2025.
Arizona has enjoyed a successful offseason thus far, signing impact defenders like Josh Sweat, Dalvin Tomlinson, and Calais Campbell and extending Trey McBride.
Their division rivals have been active too. Both the Seahawks and Rams have made major changes on offense, while the 49ers have shed significant veterans on both sides of the ball.
How do the Arizona Cardinals stack up in a competitive NFC West pre-NFL Draft?
The NFC West is set to look drastically different in the upcoming season.
The Seattle Seahawks have been the division's most active team. They traded away quarterback Geno Smith and receiver D.K. Metcalf in exchange for extra picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. Seattle then filled their opening under center with former Viking Sam Darnold. They completed their offensive overhaul by bringing in Cooper Kupp from the Rams.
Seattle still has major needs at cornerback and the interior of the offensive line. They have the draft capital to fill out their roster, but this team shows cause for concern as things stand.
The Los Angeles Rams were the center of national attention early in the offseason as the Matthew Stafford trade saga dragged on. In the end, the Rams reached an extension with their quarterback, putting all rumors to rest. Along with the new deal, they gifted Stafford with a new pass catcher in Davante Adams.
While the rest of the division made moves to progress, the 49ers seemed to take a step back. San Francisco lost identity-shaping veterans like Deebo Samuel, Charvarius Ward, Dre Greenlaw, and Talanoa Hufanga. After all of those casualties, their most notable addition was Mac Jones.
The 49ers seem to be a franchise in decline. With Brock Purdy set for a massive pay raise, San Francisco can no longer afford the star-studded roster that made them contenders.
Are the Cardinals the favorites in the NFC West?
The Arizona Cardinals may be ready to shock the NFL by winning the NFC West for the first time in a decade.
Both the 49ers and Seahawks are in the middle of major transitions. The Rams should be competitive, but they're relying on the health and continued performance of offensive stars who are past their primes.
After acing free agency, Arizona looks at least as threatening as any of their division rivals. If they hit on their top picks in the upcoming draft, the Cardinals should be feared in the West.