Overview of the 2026 NFC West Preview
The Athletic’s NFC West preview breaks down the division team by team, using the same framework as the rest of the offseason series: what’s exciting, what to watch early, what could go wrong, and what counts as success. The big picture is that the Rams and Seahawks look like the class of the division, the 49ers remain dangerous but feel extremely fragile, and the Cardinals are one of the league’s most intriguing high-variance teams thanks to a revamped offense and a younger, still-developing roster.
Los Angeles Rams
Why they’re so exciting
- The Rams may have the highest ceiling of any team in the league.
- Their appeal is the combination of:
- an elite quarterback situation,
- one of the best play-callers in football,
- star receivers,
- and a defense that could be dominant.
- The discussion centered heavily on the idea that the Rams could plausibly finish with both the best offense and the best defense.
Biggest offensive questions early
- How they use the “other 40%” of the offense beyond the core stars.
- Terrance Ferguson is the player to watch:
- vertical threat as a rookie,
- but the staff wants more than just deep usage,
- especially if he can contribute as a blocker and on underneath routes.
- Blake Corum may have a bigger role:
- more explosive than Kyren Williams,
- could bring more outside-zone and counter concepts.
- The offense still funnels through Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, and Kyren Williams, but the “new wrinkles” matter.
Defense and special teams
- The Rams’ defense could become ridiculous with added size, physicality, and flexibility on the back end.
- The team emphasized:
- stronger cornerback bodies,
- more dime and nickel versatility,
- and a pass rush that can overwhelm protections.
- Special teams were flagged as a sneaky key area:
- the Rams made staff/personnel changes to avoid the kind of hidden-yardage issues that can swing playoff games.
What’s keeping them up at night
- The biggest concern is expectation pressure:
- anything short of a Super Bowl feels like failure.
- The roster is also old and top-heavy:
- aging stars,
- injury risk,
- and very little margin for error.
- The offensive line depth, especially tackle, is a concern.
- There’s also some worry about Stafford’s durability and how any drop-off up front affects the offense on third down.
What success looks like
- Only one answer: win the Super Bowl.
- Anything else would feel disappointing given the roster and the level of expectation.
Seattle Seahawks
Why they’re so exciting
- The Seahawks are viewed as a legitimate elite defensive team.
- Mike Macdonald is treated like a special defensive mind who:
- anticipates tendencies,
- creates difficult decisions for offenses,
- and can make the defense greater than the sum of its parts.
- They’re built to be tough, layered, and frustrating to play against.
Defensive identity
- The defense is described as:
- mean, physical, and hard to decipher.
- The Seahawks excel at:
- limiting explosive plays,
- disguising coverages,
- and forcing offenses into uncomfortable calls.
- The front is the engine:
- even with some turnover, the pass rush and overall structure remain the unit’s superpower.
Offensive questions early
- The offense may be better than people think.
- The biggest storyline is Brian Fleury’s version of the offense after Clint Kubiak left.
- The staff prioritized continuity:
- same general offensive tree,
- similar ideas,
- and someone whose mind aligns with Macdonald’s.
- Key things to watch:
- how much they keep from last year,
- whether the run game evolves,
- and whether the passing game can be more than just “good enough.”
What’s keeping them up at night
- The biggest concern is secondary depth.
- The show highlights that the Seahawks are clearly scrambling for cornerback help:
- the depth chart behind the top guys looks thin,
- and if injuries hit, the defense could lose its edge quickly.
- The other concern is the age of the defensive line:
- a lot of the rotation is older,
- so the “waves of pass rushers” advantage could fade if bodies break down.
What success looks like
- At minimum, make it back to the Rams playoff game and win at least one postseason game.
- The expectation is not necessarily a Super Bowl or bust, but anything short of a solid playoff run would feel disappointing for a defending champion.
San Francisco 49ers
Why they’re so exciting
- The core reason for optimism is simple: Kyle Shanahan drawing up plays for a healthy Brock Purdy and a better skill group.
- The 49ers added more punch outside:
- a true vertical X receiver in Mike Evans,
- plus more overall talent and size at the receiver spots.
- The offense should feel much more like a version of itself again if the health holds.
Offensive themes
- The big emphasis is on finally getting back to a real outside-the-numbers, downfield threat.
- Mike Evans changes the geometry of the offense:
- gives Purdy a ball-winner,
- stretches the defense vertically,
- and lets Shanahan expand beyond the condensed, short-area version of the offense from last year.
- There’s also excitement around younger pass-catching pieces and whether the room can offer more versatility.
Defensive questions
- The defense is the bigger concern:
- can they generate pressure?
- can they get back to being functional against the run?
- The front was terrible last year by pressure and sack metrics, and the preview asks whether:
- Nick Bosa is healthy,
- Osa Odighizuwa helps,
- and whether the run defense is no longer a liability.
- There’s also curiosity about Raheem Morris’ version of the defense:
- different scheme,
- different front structures,
- possibly more five-down looks.
What’s keeping them up at night
- This is one of the most fragile rosters in the league:
- Bosa’s health,
- CMC’s workload and wear,
- Mike Evans’ injury history,
- and other key veterans are all concerns.
- The team feels rickety:
- if the injuries hit again, the floor can crash hard.
- The other concern is existential:
- what if this core is simply past its peak, and the best version of the 49ers is already behind them?
What success looks like
- The uncomfortable answer: for this roster, it feels like anything short of a championship won’t really satisfy anyone.
- Even a good season might not feel like success because the core has already been so close so many times.
Arizona Cardinals
Why they’re so exciting
- The Cardinals might be the most interesting “what if” team in the division.
- Their offense now has a lot more talent and a much clearer stylistic identity:
- Jeremiah Love adds explosive run-game upside,
- Trey McBride remains a centerpiece,
- Marvin Harrison Jr. could finally be used in a way that better fits his strengths,
- and Michael Wilson is a strong complementary piece.
- The most optimistic takeaway is that the offense may finally be designed in a way that unlocks its young stars.
Offensive evolution
- The new coaching staff is expected to:
- use more motion,
- get the receivers into better routes,
- and move Marvin Harrison Jr. around more instead of keeping him as a static X receiver.
- The fit is especially important for Harrison:
- more condensed sets,
- more intermediate and in-breaking routes,
- fewer situations asking him to win in ways that don’t suit him.
- There’s also excitement about whether Jeremiah Love can justify being a top-three pick by becoming a true home-run hitter.
Defense and health
- The Cardinals’ defense may be much better if the team is simply healthy.
- Their 2025 season was wrecked by injuries, including:
- key defensive linemen,
- multiple DBs,
- and several major contributors missing time.
- The defense already showed signs of being at least solid when healthy, and the hope is that:
- Walter Nolen,
- Will Johnson,
- Garrett Williams,
- and other young defenders can make real leaps.
What’s keeping them up at night
- The main concern is that all the defensive talent remains theoretical:
- flashes, injuries, and “maybe next year” vibes.
- There’s also uncertainty about whether Marvin Harrison Jr. will become the true difference-maker people expected when he was drafted.
- The coaching staff is new enough that there’s a real question of whether this is the right long-term direction.
What success looks like
- Success is less about wins and more about proof of concept:
- Jeremiah Love looks like a star,
- Marvin Harrison Jr. pops,
- Michael LaFleur’s offense looks real,
- and a couple of young defenders become actual needle-movers.
- If that happens, the Cardinals can feel good even if the record isn’t impressive because of a brutal schedule.
Biggest NFC West takeaways
1. The Rams and Seahawks are the division’s clear front-runners
- The Rams have the higher offensive ceiling and possibly the highest overall ceiling in the NFL.
- The Seahawks have the more stable defensive identity and the clearest “we can win this way every week” profile.
2. The 49ers still have elite upside, but the floor is scary
- If healthy, they can absolutely be dangerous.
- But the roster is old, fragile, and likely closer to decline than ascent.
3. The Cardinals are the best long-term “bet on the process” team
- Their offense has a much better shape now.
- Their young talent gives them a path to becoming a real problem if the development hits.
4. Health is a massive theme across the division
- For San Francisco and Arizona especially, the difference between a good season and a disappointing one may come down to whether the key players simply stay on the field.
Final takeaway
The NFC West preview presents the division as one of the most compelling in football:
- Los Angeles has a championship-or-bust roster,
- Seattle has a defensive machine and a strong culture of continuity,
- San Francisco still has big-game talent but a scary injury profile,
- and Arizona might be the most fun team to watch if the new offense clicks.
If you want, I can also turn this into a team-by-team bullet cheat sheet or a shorter executive summary.