The four NFC West teams made three picks in Round 1, and the Seattle Seahawks further distanced themselves from their respective rivals on Thursday night.
In fact, the rest of the West tripped all over themselves in pursuit of the divisional lead that, unfortunately for them, just fell a little more out reach.
With the third pick, the Arizona Cardinals selected an unnecessary Lamborghini in Jeremiyah Love. We’ll acknowledge this is always the conversation around rebuilding teams, and about running backs in particular, and is often overblown.
There is not a team I trust less to turn things around in any sort of reasonable timeline than the Arizona Cardinals, except the Jets.
The Cardinals did – without question – take one of the most incredible talents of the past few years, let alone the best in this draft. But they’re rolling out the combination of Gardner Minshew and Jacoby Brissett at quarterback. They signed Tyler Allegier to decent money in free agency. Even if you think those guys are alright, the roster is not. The defense is atrocious – 4th most points allowed in the league last year. The offensive line is not good. This is not the situation to drop in a running back with the third overall pick.
He’ll be fun and maybe even phenomenal, and the Cardinals will still lose a bunch of games next year. I guess we’re hoping things align a little better in 2027?
With the 13th pick, the Los Angeles Rams select Matt Stafford’s replacement, Ty Simpson. Passing up the opportunity to grab a true difference maker for “the future” is quite the bold move to say the least.
Perhaps Stafford has said more behind the scenes. Either way, the team separated from the Super Bowl champions by fractions and inches, did not improve their stock in Round 1.
With the 27th pick, the San Francisco 49ers traded down to 30 and then out of the first round. They got some middle round value, adding a 3rd and a 5th. That’s not horrible value, but again, the jury is totally out on whether this is the draft to make these moves. Some say that’s where the only real talent is, that there are ‘starters not stars’, and some say the total talent is depleted, which will equally impact the later picks.
Either way, not a single one of the NFC West rivals made a selection in Round 1 that brings them any closer to taking down the Seahawks.