Free agent Darnell Dockett to choose between all four NFC West teams

Free agent defensive tackle Darnell Dockett will reportedly make a decision on Wednesday, with all four NFC West teams in contention.

Two things appear to be certain in the football life of Darnell Dockett:

1) He will make a decision about where to play in 2015 and

2) It will be in the NFC West.

Former Cardinals DT Darnell Dockett expected to decide today between 49ers and Cardinals, though Rams and Seahawks also interested.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 4, 2015

Seems Dockett loves life west of the country.

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As of now, the Cardinals have set the mark, offering Dockett a $4 million deal laced with incentives. The question is whether the 49ers, who had a very productive meeting with Dockett last week, is willing to either match or ante up just a bit more to pry him away from their divisional kinsfolk.

At the same time, Dockett is also the player who once said he’d like “to retire as an Arizona Cardinal.” Then again, those type of emotions tend to run wild when handed a six-year, $56 million deal ($30 million guaranteed), as Dockett was before the 2010 season.

Ah, good times….

San Francisco has the most riding on a Dockett decision. The team is hoping that signing Dockett would immediately resolve one of their biggest offseason questions, which is finding a potential replacement for an aging Justin Smith, who will turn 35 this season.

Stop…wait a minute. Yes, you’re wondering why the Niners are locked in on a player who will be 34 in May and is coming off an ACL injury that cost him the 2014 season. Prior to his injury, Dockett was one of the most durable players in the NFL, having missed just two of a possible 160 regular season games in his career.

Don’t discount the Rams and Seahawks for the services of the three-time Pro Bowler. Both teams would have immediate need for Dockett; in the case of the Seahawks, the thought of closing out his career with a chance to compete for a Super Bowl could outweigh the offers from both the Cardinals and Niners.

Dockett hasn’t played his hand yet on his Twitter account, with his last update coming on Monday, although he made one thing abundantly clear:

Whatever team Im on, we will WIN!!!!....... That's all I know. That's all I think about.
"I love you all" ✌️
— DARNELL DOCKETT (@ddockett) March 2, 2015

As of now, the entire NFC West, along with Dockett’s Twitter followers (215,000 strong and potentially growing based on where he signs), will await his decision. Regardless of where he lands, the winner of DockettFest ’15 will have an experienced defensive lineman whose versatility will be a difference maker for a team that has strong playoff possibilities entering next season.

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