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How rival NFC West teams have already dug holes for themselves in 2025

The LA Rams have made some savvy moves this offseason. So how do they stack up against NFC West Division rivals? Let's check it out.
ByBret Stuter|
Seattle Seahawks v Los Angeles Rams
Seattle Seahawks v Los Angeles Rams | Harry How/GettyImages
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Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals have fallen into a predictable pattern of starting out very well, but ultimately fading as the season wears on. Before their Week 11 BYE week last season, the Cardinals were at a record of 6-4, and boasted a record of 2-0 against NFC West Division opponents. They emerged from the BYE to play to a 2-5 record, and a 1-3 record against NFC West Division opponents.

If you wanted to see big and bold moves from the Cardinals, you may be torn. The Cardinals did sign former Philadelphia Eagles edge rusher Josh Sweat. The team also added a bit of QB depth by adding former New England Patriots backup QB Jacob Brissett. But in return, the team has lost three interior defensive linemen in:

  • IDL Khyiris Tonga (signed with the New England Patriots) | 22 tackles, 0 sacks
  • IDL Naquan Jones (signed with the Los Angeles Chargers) | 27 tackles, 3 sacks
  • IDL Roy Lopez (signed with the Detroit Lions) | 28 tackles, 1 sack

While the Cardinals will almost certainly be shopping for defensive linemen in the 2025 NFL Draft (a position that has abundant talent this year), their offense remains relatively intact. That is great news, as the Cardinals offense finished as the 12th-best scoring offense in the NFL in 2024. And with the team returning to a third-place schedule this year, some NFL analysts project the Cardinals as a team already in the discussion for the NFL Playoffs:

The question is, have the Cardinals done enough? They signed former Cincinnati Bengals LB Akeem Davis-Gaither, ex-Washington Commanders LB Mykal Walker, and former Los Angeles Chargers WR Simi Fehoko as well. But with the exception of Sweat and Davis-Gaither, these are more depth additions.

If the Cardinals stay healthy, they could find success in 2025. They enter the 2025 NFL Draft with their original allotment of seven picks, one in each round. But I haven't seen enough talent upgrades to their roster to move the needle just yet. In the competitive NFC West Division, they may win a few games, but I simply do not see the dominance from the Cardinals roster as it currently stands to win the division.

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