In the latest of our analysis of the NFL Draft. We look at who’s in and who’s out across the NFC West Division teams. Plus, we compare the DraftKings’ odds swing between pre-draft and current Super Bowl odds to decide are the winners and losers of the NFL Draft.
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San Francisco 49ers
Division Odds: +115
Pre-Draft Super Bowl 55 odds: +900
Current Super Bowl 55 odds: +1000
| 49ers’ Ins/Outs | Players |
|---|---|
| Key Re-signings | Arik Armstead, DT; Jimmie Ward, S; Jason Verrett, CB; Dontae Johnson, CB |
| Key Trade Departures | DeForest Buckner, DT; Matt Breida, RB; Marquise Goodwin, WR |
| Key Free Agent losses | Levine Toilolo, TE; Anthony Zettel, DE; Sheldon Day, DT; Elijah Lee, LB |
| Key Free Agent signings | Tom Compton, G; Joe Walker, LB; Kerry Hyder, LB; Travis Benjamin, WR |
| Key Draft Pick | Javon Kinlaw, DT (1st round); Brandon Aiyuk, WR (1st round) |
The 49ers will look to get back to the Super Bowl for the second straight season. Last year’s game will probably always stay in this team’s mind, leading by 10 points with about six and a half minutes to go. Luckily, the team will bring a ton of players that helped them have the second-best running game in the NFL last season. In addition, Trent Williams will be heading to San Francisco as a nice insurance policy in case Joe Staley does indeed retire.
Last season was not a fluke in making a deep run like the 49ers did. The running game and stingy defense will continue to be how this team gets it done. If QB Jimmy Garoppolo can shake off some of the criticism from last season’s Super Bowl, perhaps he can take the next step – and that would be the ultimate difference between the 49ers winning the title or not.
Seattle Seahawks
Division Odds: +225
Pre-Draft Super Bowl 55 odds: +2000
Current Super Bowl 55 odds: +2200
| Seahawks’ Ins/Outs | Players |
|---|---|
| Key Re-signings | Jarran Reed, DT; Mike Iupati, G; Neiko Thorpe, CB |
| Key Free Agent Losses | George Fant, OT; Quinton Jefferson, DE; Al Woods, DT; German Ifedi, RT |
| Key Free Agent Signings | Greg Olsen, TE; B.J. Finney, OG; Bruce Irvin LB; Brandon Shell, OT; Cedric Ogbuehi, OT; Phillip Dorsett, WR; Benson Mayowa, DE |
| Key Draft Picks | Jordyn Brooks, LB (1st round); Colby Parkinson, TE (4th round) |
| Key Restricted Free Agent Tender | Jacob Hollister, TE (second-round tender) |
No matter what happens with injuries during the regular season, you can write it in with a Sharpee marker that the Seahawks will be in the playoffs. QB Russell Wilson continues to conduct magic tricks every time he touches the field. And who knows? If the Seahawks won that Week 17 game against the 49ers last season, maybe it would have been them in the Super Bowl against the Chiefs.
While the Legion of Boom no longer exists in Seattle, the defense now operates under the “bend but don’t break” philosophy. Not to mention, running the football is something this team does as well. In any event, the Seahawks can match up with just about every team, making them incredibly deadly.
Los Angeles Rams
Division Odds: +400
Pre-Draft Super Bowl 55 odds: +5000
Current Super Bowl 55 odds: +5000
| Rams’ Ins/Outs | Players |
|---|---|
| Key Re-signings | Andrew Whitworth, OT; Michael Brockers, DT; Donte Deayon, S |
| Key Trade Departure | Brandin Cooks |
| Free Agent Signings | Leonard Floyd, LB; A’Shawn Robinson, DT |
| Key Free Agent Losses | Cory Littleton, LB; Michael Brockers, LB; Dante Fowler, Jr., LB; Jojo Natson, WR; Todd Gurley, RB; Marqui Christian, S; Nickell Robey-Coleman, CB; Mike Thomas, WR; Greg Zuerlein, K |
| Key Draft Picks | Cam Akers, RB (2nd round); Van Jefferson, WR (2nd round) |
The Rams were just in the Super Bowl two seasons ago, but this doesn’t appear to be a team that is close to getting back to the glory days. After a couple of seasons doing expensive shopping on free agents, the Rams had to let so many people go. They’re not shopping at Barney’s any more – now they’re at TJ Maxx.
Head coach Sean McVay was starting to get the reputation as one of the best offensive minds in football. The Rams will certainly need the brainchild to come up with new and innovative ways to make up for some of these losses in talent.
Arizona Cardinals
Division Odds: +700
Pre-Draft Super Bowl 55 odds: +5000
Current Super Bowl 55 odds: +5000
| Jaguars’ Ins/Outs | Players |
|---|---|
| Key Re-signings | Larry Fitzgerald, WR; Chris Banjo, S; Brett Hundley, QB; Jonathan Bullard, DE; D.J. Foster, RB; Charles Washington, S; Max Garcia, OG; Marcus Gilbert, OT |
| Key Trade Acquisition | DeAndre Hopkins, WR |
| Key Trade Departure | David Johnson, RB |
| Free Agent Signings | Jordan Phillips, DT; Devon Kennard, LB; De’Vondre Campbell, LB; Trevon Coley, DT |
| Key Free Agent Losses | Damiere Byrd, WR; Rodney Gunter, DE; Pharoh Cooper, WR; Joe Walker, LB; Cassius Marsh, DE; Zach Kerr, DT; Jeremy Vujnovich, OG |
| Key Draft Picks | Isaiah Simmons, LB (1st round); Josh Jones, OT (3rd round) |
This is going to be an incredibly fun season for the Cardinals under Kliff Kingsbury. Not only is this likely the final season for future NFL Hall-of-Famer Larry Fitzgerald, but now the team welcomes in WR DeAndre Hopkins to pair up with him – and even a young and talented Christian Kirk. Not to mention, it’ll be last season’s No. 1 overall pick, Kyler Murray tossing them the ball.
The Cardinals got the steal of the draft in LB Isaiah Simmons from Clemson at No. 8 overall. This guy has the ability to play numerous positions on defense, so this should be fun to watch him and CB Patrick Peterson patrolling on the same defense.
There is some decent value in getting the Cardinals at +700 to win the division. After all, they did play the 49ers very hard last season. Arizona could very well take the NFC West, especially if the league can’t figure this offense that is about to hit them over the head like an anvil.
