This story was originally published by Dead Spin
NFC West Division preview
2024 predicted order of finish, record
San Francisco 49ers (12-5)
The 49ers have plenty of playmakers and signed “hold-in” WR Brandon Aiyuk to an extension. But LT Trent Williams remains a holdout and without him the line might not give Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, Aiyuk and Co. enough time to make plays. Will the 49ers regress after losing (again) to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl?
Los Angeles Rams (10-7)
With WR Cooper Kupp returning, the Rams have one of the best receiving tandems in the league with Puka Nacua, who was the runner-up for Offensive Rookie of the Year last season. RB Kyren Williams also had a breakout season in 2023, giving QB Matthew Stafford plenty of options. One massive worry: the Rams have to replace retired three-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald.
Seattle Seahawks (8-9)
For the first time since 2009, someone other than Pete Carroll will be calling the shots in Seattle. Former Baltimore defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald fills his shoes, hoping to revamp a defense that finished 25th in points allowed each of the past two seasons. Veteran QB Geno Smith remains at the controls, with a new OC in Ryan Grubb.
Arizona Cardinals (6-11)
After losing eight of their first nine games last season with QB Kyler Murray sidelined by a torn ACL, the Cardinals went 3-5 after he returned. First-round pick WR Marvin Harrison Jr. gives Arizona a No. 1 receiver it has lacked since Larry Fitzgerald retired.
–NFC West top MVP candidates
RB Christian McCaffrey
If McCaffrey isn’t the first pick in every fantasy draft, something is wrong. He rushed for 1,459 yards and 14 TDs in the regular season last year, plus caught 67 passes for 564 and seven more scores when he was third in MVP balloting. Then he had five more postseason TDs in leading the 49ers to the Super Bowl, which they lost to Kansas City in OT. A calf strain kept him out of most of training camp and all of the preseason games.
QB Brock Purdy
Purdy was fourth in the MVP balloting last season, behind Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson, Buffalo’s Josh Allen and teammate Christian McCaffrey. The former Mr. Irrelevant from the 2022 draft proved his rookie season was no fluke, despite coming off UCL surgery last year. He completed 69.4% of his passes for 4,280 yards and 31 TDs in the regular season.
QB Kyler Murray
Want a dark-horse candidate for MVP? Murray was a leading contender in 2021 before fading late, then suffered a gruesome ACL injury in 2022. The Cardinals led the league in total offense after he returned from the injury in Week 10 last season, with 414.3 yards per game.
–NFC West breakout players
49ers CB Deommodore Lenoir
Started all 17 games last season, breaking up 10 passes and intercepting three while playing both outside and in the slot. Has improved each year and has plenty of motivation as he enters the final season of his rookie contract.
49ers S Ji’Ayir Brown
The third-round pick out of Penn State played in 15 games as a rookie last season, recording 35 tackles. Brown didn’t start until Talanoa Hufanga was sidelined with an injury, but is listed as the starting free safety heading into the 2024 campaign.
Rams edge Byron Young
The 2023 third-round pick started 16 of 17 games last season and finished eighth in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. He had 61 tackles last season, including eight sacks. He’ll need to increase that output with DT Aaron Donald having retired.
Rams DB Quentin Lake
The third-year player, the son of four-time Pro Bowl selection Carnell Lake, was voted a captain by his teammates, an honor his dad didn’t get until his 10th season. Lake filled the nickel defender role Jalen Ramsey previously held last season, but can cover the slot or serve as a safety.
Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Smith-Njigba got off to a slow start as a rookie last year, in part because of a fractured wrist suffered in the preseason. He still finished with 63 receptions for 628 yards and four TDs and new coach Mike Macdonald has called him a “massive piece” in first-year coordinator Ryan Grubb’s system.
Seahawks DT Byron Murphy II
The second defensive player taken in the 2024 draft at No. 16 overall, the 300-pound rookie should help Seattle stem the opponents’ running game. He’ll be a big part of new coach Mike Macdonald’s rotation on the D-line.
Cardinals WR Marvin Harrison Jr.
The fourth overall pick in the 2024 draft out of Ohio State brings more than just good genes. He was the 2023 Fred Biletnikoff winner as college football’s top receiver. He’ll be the No. 1 receiver the Cards have been missing since Larry Fitzgerald retired.
Cardinals OL Paris Johnson Jr.
After playing all 17 games at right tackle last season as a rookie, the 2023 sixth overall pick out of Ohio State will be moving to the left end of the line to protect Kyler Murray’s blind side. He’ll have big shoes to fill as D.J. Humphries, Johnson’s mentor, was released after nine seasons.
Week 1 outlook
Cardinals at Bills, Sunday, Sept. 8, 1 p.m. ET
The Cardinals have a tough opening matchup on the road, though at least it shouldn’t be snowing at Highmark Stadium. The Bills have won the AFC East in each of the past four years, but could be challenged this time as they had quite the roster turnover in the offseason, with QB Josh Allen losing his top two targets in Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis.
Broncos at Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 8, 4:05 p.m. ET
Remember a couple of years ago when the Broncos opened at Seattle in Russell Wilson’s first game in orange and blue? Seattle won that one 17-16. Wilson is already gone, with the Broncos turning the reins over to rookie Bo Nix out of Oregon, the 14th different starter at QB for the Broncos since Peyton Manning retired after Super Bowl 50.
Rams at Lions, Sunday, Sept. 8, 8:20 p.m. ET
After winning their first division title in 30 years last season, the Lions led San Francisco by 17 points in the third quarter of the NFC Championship game before faltering. That should give the Lions plenty of motivation in 2024. Rams QB Matthew Stafford, formerly of the Lions, can flash his Super Bowl ring at Lions QB Jared Goff, formerly of the Rams.
Jets at 49ers, Monday, Sept. 9, 8:15 p.m. ET
Jets QB Aaron Rodgers, a Bay Area native, calls it a comeback at age 40 after missing all but four offensive snaps in 2023 because of a torn Achilles. The Jets’ defense should be strong with CB Sauce Gardner and DL Quinnen Williams, but they’ll have their hands full with the 49ers’ multiple targets.
–Field Level Media
