NFL Draft: Biggest Needs NFC West Edition with FA Breakdown

We’re starting to wrap up these NFL Draft pieces and tonight’s the night they all come into fruition! It’s Thursday, and the draftees are ready for their future to be changed forever. Usually in the draft, there’s a clear top-three, but this year it looks as if anything goes!

Mar 5, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive lineman Myles Garrett runs the 40 yard dash during the 2017 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

If you’ve missed any of the other NFL Draft pieces we’ve discussed be sure to click on the divisions and let me know how you’re feeling about your favorite team’s possible pick(s)!

For now, however, we’re going to jump right into a team that’s currently changing it’s culture…

NFL Draft: San Francisco 49ers

Feb 9, 2017; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan speaks to the media between general manager John Lynch and chief executive officer Jed York during a press conference at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

After the recent hire of former Falcons offensive coordinator, Kyle Shanahan, the 49ers have been busy! They’ve already brought in former:

Bears QBs Brain Hoyer and Matt Barkley
Redskins WR Pierre Garcon
BIlls WR Marquise Goodwin
Ravens FB Kyle Juszczyk
Saints RB Tim Hightower

and that’s only a hand full-out of the almost 15-plus additions for the 49ers.

Kyle Shanahan is an offensive mastermind, no doubt, but the players are fundamentally worst in San Francisco than in Atlanta. I still think with these signees and picks in this draft, he’ll be able to piece together a respectable team for his first season.

Biggest Needs: Defense

Almost every defensive position needs to be addressed on this 49ers team. They need cornerbacks, an edge rusher, an inside linebacker, and a safety.

Last season, when NaVorro Bowman went down due to injury, it seemed the defense was unable to do anything. A great sign is that he’s been performing well in drills already and his return will bring back that defensive leader that they desperately needed last season.

Draft: Possible Pick: Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford

Jul 15, 2016; Hollywood, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal defensive end Solomon Thomas poses during Pac-12 media day at Hollywood & Highland. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

He’s fast, big, and explosive when it comes to attacking the quarterback, and a player like this should be added early.

Who knows if he’s going this early though with the way the draft names have been thrown around so I guess we’ll see tonight!

NFL Draft: Los Angeles Rams

Jan 1, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) walks to the field prior to the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /

Due to the trade the Rams made last season, they aren’t allowed to the first round party tonight. That is unless they made another crazy trade. They’re first selection won’t come till 37th overall, which is still a good spot for them to get a guard like Dan Feeney out of Indiana if available.

This team could honestly use just about every position so it would be pointless to aim it down to one need. Luckily, they’ve already brought in former:

Vikings C John Sullivan
Cowboys RB Lance Dunbar
Bills CB Nickell Robey

The addition of Lance Dunbar should fill the roll of Benny Cunningham, a guy they lost to the Bears earlier in the off-season.

Loosing seven-straight games isn’t really the way you want your season to end, but Sean McVay may be able to turn the fortune around. They have young cornerstones in place when it comes to Jared Goff and Todd Gurley.

If McVay can help Goff evolve just like he helped Kirk Cousins, this team could turn their fortune around in a hurry.

NFL Draft: Arizona Cardinals

Jan 1, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) runs to the field prior to the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /

The Cardinals are close to being contenders in the NFC, but with Carson Palmers age starting to show, a young back-up is something they need to think about.

They’ve brought couple of ball-players into Arizona already this off-season including former:

49ers S Antoine Bethea
Steelers LB Jarvis Jones
Chandler Jones (re-sign)

Bringing back Chandler Jones was huge! He’s a defensive playmaker who’s still only 27-years-old, and knows what it’s like to be apart of a championship caliber defense.

Biggest Need: Quarterback

Now this isn’t Arizona’s most immediate need, but the struggles that Palmer has shown as of late isn’t something you just want to sit on. It might be important to bring in a guy now so that he can develop under a specific system.

Draft: Possible Pick: Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson

Jan 9, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) calls a play against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

The current National Champion has shown that he can overcome quite a bit of adversity on his way to leading to team, and his accomplishment of defeating that Alabama defense should not be overlooked.

He’d be a great addition to every NFL franchise, and I personally think he’s the best quarterback option in this whole draft, and I know I’m not alone with that.

NFL Draft: Seattle Seahawks

January 7, 2017; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin (89) celebrates tight end Luke Willson (82) his touchdown scored against the Detroit Lions during the second half in the NFC Wild Card playoff football game at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

The addition of Eddie Lacy was huge, and the fact that his contract is based highly on incentives was the best possible option for Seattle. Sadly, without the money incentives, we’ve seen how unresponsive Lacy has been with his weight loss.

Biggest Need: Offensive Line

The Seahawks offensive line was horrid last season, and it seemed as if Russell Wilson was running for his life. Where the Seahawks pick, unfortunately, there might not be a game changing lineman worth that selection.