Will the LA Rams dominate the NFC West in 2022?

While the LA Rams are restocking the roster like all other NFL teams, the fans of the other NFC West teams are in the midst of a bit of multi-tasking. Even as they look toward the future with eager anticipation of what will come to their team via the 2022 NFL Draft, each team has a bit of mystery, controversy, and unsettling developments that are squelching the usual fanfare over the draft.

And it may get worst.

We know that the Seattle Seahawks are in a rebuild mode, but for some reason have maintained Pete Caroll, the oldest active head coach in the NFL, as their head coach. After several years of dispute and frustration with QB Russell Wilson, the Seahawks traded their quarterback to the Denver Broncos, and will now compete with QB Drew Lock.

The San Francisco 49ers took a solid gamble to invest in a future quarterback when the getting was good, trading up to select quarterback Trey Lance. The plan was to trade QB Jimmy Garoppol this offseason and go with Lance. But Garoppolo injured his throwing arm and required surgery. So no NFL teams stepped up with an acceptable offer, as their intended quarterback cannot throw a football while his throwing shoulder heals.

Meanwhile, the current market value of wide receivers has skyrocketed, which has coincided with a demand by their best receiver, Deebo Samuel, to be traded. That has all indications of becoming a rather tumultuous offseason for the Niners. They have been trying to walk the fine line between retooling and competing. Now? They may find it necessary to choose between one or the other.

Kyler conversation

The Arizona Cardinals are in a chapter of some rather tough talk in negotiations with their own quarterback, Kyler Murray. That has been reported by NFL.com’s Insider Tom Pelissero. And from my vantage point, I’m not convinced that Murray is the guy to lead their team.

Whether this was all just a narrative to establish a negotiation advantage or not, reports that Murray refused to step onto the field to finish out the Cardinals’ Wild Card Round loss to the LA Rams are very concerning. That’s not just poor sportsmanship and poor leadership, but it’s a huge red flag for immaturity, and I’m not certain that negotiating a long-term deal for that type of player is in the best interest of any NFL team, is it?

Of course, each NFC West team can put out their fires and be ready to compete in the five months or so before teams meet this season. But oftentimes it is the LA Rams who are somehow entangled in the NFL quagmire of too little money remaining from their salary cap allotment, too few NFL draft picks, or too few vital contributors on the roster.

This year, the LA Rams have a solid chance, just a chance mind you, to sweep the NFC West, something that has been very difficult to do. Will they do so? Well, that’s all the more reason to see how the Rams do in the upcoming draft, right?