NFC West power rankings after J.J. Watt signs with Arizona Cardinals

This might now be the most exciting team, and one of the most gifted rosters in the NFL, plenty capable of challenging for the NFC West crown in 2021.

Arizona already had a swarming defense, led by Chandler Jones and impending free agent Hassan Reddick, but adding J.J. Watt to coordinator Vance Joesph’s front-seven makes the Cardinals’ defense one that will strike fear into opposing quarterbacks across the league and a worthy counterpoint to the NFC West’s arms race.

While Watt might not be the same player who was named Defensive Player of The Year three times and a First-Team All-Pro selection five teams, he remains a productive and disruptive force up front. Last season, Watt just five sacks but added 17 quarterback hits, 11 quarterback hurries, five knockdowns, and 29 total pressures.

Last season, the Cardinals went 2-4, but lost those four games by just 7.6 points per game, and three of their eight losses were by one score or less. Adding another disruptive player up front could swing the outcome of some of those games.

Given the Seattle Seahawks’ woeful offensive line play in recent years and the strife surrounding Wilson this offseason, and adding Watt to a defense that allowed 23 points per game last season has the chance to be a real upgrade. If quarterback Kyler Murray takes a monumental leap in his third season, and second throwing to All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins, this could be the year the Cardinals get across the finish line and win the division.