NFL Betting: NFC West Free Agency Thoughts After Week 1

NFL Betting: NFC West Free Agency Thoughts After Week 1

Written by on March 26, 2020

In 2019, the San Francisco 49ers took off like a rocket while tying Baltimore for a league-high 13 wins in the regular season. Frisco went on to reach Super Bowl 54 and although they succumbed to Patrick Mahomes and company late, they’ll also enter 2020 as one of the top favorites to bring home the Super Bowl 54 hardware. Joining the Niners as legitimate Super Bowl contenders is a Seattle Seahawks team that was one yard away from sweeping the Niners and denying them home field advantage throughout the playoffs. While the Rams struggled through a Super Bowl hangover, the still managed to win nine games. Last, but not least, Arizona was impressive under No. 1 overall draft pick Kyler Murray and first-year head coach Kliff Kingsbury. Now, let’s find out how all four teams in the NFC West fared in free agency with their NFL Odds and Super Bowl Odds Updated.

NFC West Free Agency Thoughts After Week 1

San Francisco 49ers

Additions/players brought back:

  • EDGE Arik Armstead (re-signed for five years, $85 million, $48.5 million guaranteed)
  • S Jimmie Ward (re-signed for three years, $28.5 million)
  • C Ben Garland (re-signed for one year, $2.25 million)
  • EDGE Ronald Blair III (re-signed for one year)
  • 13th overall pick (via trade with Indianapolis)

Losses:

  • DI DeForest Buckner (via trade)
  • WR Emmanuel Sanders
  • TE Levine Toilolo

After going 13-3 in the regular season and reaching Super Bowl 54 last season, where the eventually succumbed to Kansas City, San Francisco had a modest free agent signing period. The Niners traded defensive lineman DeForest Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts for the 13th overall pick in this year’s NFL draft. That move will both, save Frisco some cash while bringing back another talented player. The Niners also lost veteran wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders and I believe that will hurt their passing attack. San Francisco did re-sign talented safety Jimmie Ward and veteran center Ben Garland, but overall, the 49ers had an average free agency.

  • Grade: C
  • Odds to Win the NFC West: -110
  • Odds to Win NFC: +480
  • Odds to Win Super Bowl: +800

Seattle Seahawks

Additions/players brought back:

  • TE Greg Olsen (signed for one year, $7 million)
  • DI Jarran Reed (re-signed for two years, $23 million)
  • EDGE Bruce Irvin (signed)
  • TE Jacob Hollister (second-round tender)
  • C B.J. Finney (signed for two years, $8 million)
  • T Cedric Ogbuehi (signed)
  • T Brandon Shell (signed)
  • CB Quinton Dunbar (via trade)

Losses:

  • DI Quinton Jefferson
  • EDGE Ezekiel Ansah
  • T Germain Ifedi
  • WR Josh Gordon
  • T George Fant
  • G Mike Iupati

The Seahawks were as active as any team in the league in free agency after going 11-5 a year ago and reaching the playoffs, even if the guys they brought in aren’t exactly household names. Seattle did manage to land veteran tight end Greg Olsen and they re-signed defensive lineman Jarran Reed while adding veteran edge rusher Bruce Irvin. The Seahawks also replaced tackles Germain Ifedi and George Fant with Cedric Ogbuehi and Brandon Shell, although I’m not sure either is an upgrade at the position. Seattle also lost edge rusher Ezekiel Ansah and defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson while letting the troubled Josh Gordon seek employment elsewhere. Overall, I’m not sure the Seahawks did enough to give superstar quarterback Russell Wilson the help he is so clearly lacking.

  • Grade: C
  • Odds to Win the NFC West: +350
  • Odds to Win NFC: +1000
  • Odds to Win Super Bowl: +1600

Arizona Cardinals

Additions/players brought back:

  • WR DeAndre Hopkins (via trade)
  • WR Larry Fitzgerald (re-signed for one-year, $11 million)
  • RB Kenyan Drake (transition tag)
  • EDGE Devon Kennard (signed for three years, $20 million)
  • DI Jordan Phillips (signed for three years, $30 million)
  • LB De’Vondre Campbell (signed for one year, $8.5 million)
  • T D.J. Humphries (re-signed)

Losses:

  • RB David Johnson (via trade)

The Cardinals had a fine first season under Kyler Murray and Kliff Kingsbury in going 5-10-1 while competing hard in every game last season. Making things even better is that Arizona absolutely robbed Houston of superstar wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins in exchange for aging running back David Johnson and his completely awful contract. The Cards also re-signed future Hall of Fame wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald while putting the franchise’s transition tag on underrated running back Kenyan Drake. Last, but not least, Arizona also made a handful of good moves on the defensive side of the ball by adding edge rusher Devon Kennard, defensive lineman Jordan Phillips and linebacker De’Vondre Campbell. Overall, the Cards had one of the best free agent signing periods of any team in the league.

  • Grade: A
  • Odds to Win the NFC West: +500
  • Odds to Win NFC: +2400
  • Odds to Win Super Bowl: +4500

Los Angeles Rams

Additions/players brought back:

  • C Austin Blythe (re-signed)
  • T Andrew Whitworth (re-signed for three years, $30 million, $12.5 million guaranteed)
  • DI A’Shawn Robinson (signed for two years, $17 million)
  • EDGE Leonard Floyd (signed for one year, $10 million guaranteed)

Losses:

  • LB Cory Littleton
  • CB Nickell Robey-Coleman
  • EDGE Dante Fowler Jr.
  • DI Michael Brockers
  • S Eric Weddle
  • RB Todd Gurley (cut)

The Rams recorded a solid 9-7 record in 2019, but it clearly a step backwards from their 2018 campaign that saw them reach Super Bowl 53 opposite of New England. To make matters even worse, LA had an uninspiring free agent signing period that saw them part ways with once, former star running back Todd Gurley, veteran edge rusher Dante Fowler Jr, linebacker Cory Littleton, cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman, safety Eric Weddle and defensive lineman Michael Brockers. While the Rams did re-sign center Austin Blythe and tackle Andrew Whitworth while adding defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson, overall, Los Angeles failed to improve their roster much, if at all.

  • Grade: D-
  • Odds to Win the NFC West: +400
  • Odds to Win NFC: +1300
  • Odds to Win Super Bowl: +3000