The NFC West has had its ups and downs across the board with each team in the division. Lately, it has been the San Francisco 49ers that have taken control of the division due to the fact they have the best overall roster in the division, and arguably in the league as well. The Los Angeles Rams took their medicine from going all in for a Super Bowl and rebounded by hitting on the draft the last two seasons and clinching a playoff birth last season. The Seattle Seahawks have had unexpected success since trading away Russell Wilson and have also hit on their draft picks that they received from the Denver Broncos. Then there is the Arizona Cardinals, who in 2021 were a playoff team, but then came crumbling down once Kyler Murray tore his ACL late in the 2022 season.
Through the first major wave of the NFL legal tampering period and the official start of the new year, there have been countless number of signings across the league. Within in the NFC West, the Cardinals will be facing familiar faces and seeing new faces across from them twice a year next season. There are signings that the Rams, 49ers and Seahawks have done that puts pressure on the Cardinals on how to respond.
Here are the free agent signings that other NFC West teams have made that should worry Cardinals fans.
3.) Los Angeles Rams boost offensive line - sign Jonah Jackson and re-signed Kevin Dotson
The Rams were one of the shocking teams from last season, finishing 10-7 and making the playoffs. It was just a couple years ago where LA took a huge risk by going all in for Matthew Stafford, which would eventually end with the Rams raising the Lombardi Trophy as Super Champions after defeating the Cincinnati Bengals in 2022. Since then, they have dealt with multiple injuries across the board, but have been effective with drafting and developing their young guys.
One area that they excelled in last season was their offensive line, who for the most part was together a majority of the season. One of the key components on the line was guard Kevin Dotson, who signed a 3-year extension with the Rams. Dotson helped set the tone upfront and elevated the Rams’ offense by protecting Matt Stafford and helped lead the way for Kyren Williams in the backfield. In addition, the Rams also signed guard Jonah Jackson from the Detroit Lions. With this move, the Rams just improved the interior part of their offensive line which should make Kyren Williams happy going into next season.
The Cardinals, who have signed two defensive tackles in Bilal Nichols and Justin Jones, have a tough task to set the tone at the line of scrimmage with Jackson and Dotson. If the Rams are able to run the ball on the inside and keep Kyler Murray off the field, it will be a nightmare setup for Arizona.
2.) Seahawks bring back DL Leonard Williams
The Seahawks traded for Williams in the middle of last season where in 10 games, Williams racked up 4 sacks, 41 total tackles and 11 QB hits. Williams signed a three-year deal to stay in Seattle where he will be paid over $64 million in that span, which may seem like a lot but Williams can be a game-changer. The Cardinals’ offensive line is shaky as of right now and even though they added Jonah Williams on the outside, there is still a concern about the interior which is where Williams will line up.
As a player who is going to more than likely play over 80% of the defensive snaps, the Cardinals need to find a way to contain Williams and be able to run up against Williams with James Conner in the backfield.
1.) Leonard Floyd joins Nick Bosa, 49ers defense
This is a move that not a lot of people are talking about that should be mentioned. In his last four seasons, Leonard Floyd has had 9+ sacks including his 10.5 sack season with the Buffalo Bills last year. He led the Bills in sacks and created a pass rush that was so effective, it allowed guys like Greg Rousseau and A.J. Epenesa to excel as pass rushers. Joining Nick Bosa and the San Francisco 49ers defense, Floyd is the perfect fit to create two pass rushes from the outside with him and Bosa.
Jonah Williams and Paris Johnson Jr. will have their hands full with these two ferocious pass rushers and that should scare Cardinals fans as both of these teams meet each other twice this upcoming year.