Latest PFF Power Ranking describes Rams as the 'team to beat' in NFC West

The Los Angeles Rams won the NFC West Division in 2024, despite falling to a 1-4 record to open the season. It was the second consecutive season that found the team sputtering to open a new NFL season. In 2023, the team plodded out to a 3-6 record before winning seven of its final eight games. Will the team get off to another slow start in 2025? Or is this the year for the team to road to life early? I really don't know. Per Pro Football Focus, the Rams are in line for another NFC West Division title. That is the conclusion of the latest 2025 NFL Power Rankings article.

And that fits what we know right now.

The Rams have lost some players, but the team returns veteran QB Matthew Stafford, WR Puka Nacua, and RB Kyren Williams. The front office has added WR Davante Adams as well, plus a healthy TE Tyler Higbee should suit up all season. And this is before the 2025 NFL Draft.

San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers will bring back QB Brock Purdy. But their offense appears to be in the midst of a huge makeover. The team has already traded RB/WR Deebo Samuel. Now look at the outbound free agents:

That's a lot of talent to replace. And while they are leaving, the 49ers are not exactly undergoing a new youth movement. Starting LT Trent Williams is 36 years old. Starting TE George Kittle is 31 years old. Even RB Christian McCaffrey, who is 28 years old, has been injured to the point where you have to wonder how many NFL seasons he has left in him.

The 49ers are undergoing a soft reboot in 2025, hoping to have all pieces in place to take over if and when the Rams roster falters at changing to a new QB.

Seattle Seahawks

Gone are QB Geno Smith. WR D.K. Metcalf, and TE Noah Fant. In are QB Sam Darnold and (it hurts to say) WR Cooper Kupp. I get it, seeing the Seahawks trying to rebuild the plane in mid flight. I just cannot see how new pieces will all fit together quickly enough for the Seahawks offense to win early. I'm not even sure that the one-hit wonder Sam Darnold can ever replicate the success he found by leading the Minnesota Vikings offense.

The Seahawks were the stiffest competition that the Rams faced in 2024. Both teams face similar challenges this offseason. The Rams seem to be the clear front-runner so far. Of course, anything goes in the NFL, and it's tough to call a season before the football is snapped. But it feels as though the Seahawks are following the 49ers' path to retooling their roster to be in a position to strike when the Rams finally move on from Matthew Stafford.

Arizona Cardinals

While the Arizona Cardinals fell off at the end of the 2024 NFL season, they did make impressive progress after several seasons of 4-13 records. While still not cracking the .500 barrier, the Cardinals finish at 8-9 does put them amongst the 'teams to watch' in 2025. And with draft picks in the 2025 NFL Draft at 16, 47, 78, 115, 152, and 225, they could improve even more.

The Cardinals added former Philadelphia Eagles edge rusher Josh Sweat, former Cincinnati Bengals LB Akeem Davis-Gaither, and former Washington Commanders LB Mykal Walker. Now, the coaches must synch everyone up. That could be a challenge.

The Cardinals were not bad on offense or defense. They were simply inconsistent. The Cardinals defeated the Rams in Week 2 by a score of 41-10, but lost to the Rams in Week 17 by a score of 13-9. They lost to the Washington Commanders by a score of 42-14 in Week 4, but defeated the San Francisco 49ers by a score of 24-23 the following week. It's a team with a strong rushing potency, but a bit shaky when flipping to an aerial assault.

Los Angeles Rams

The LA Rams have rebounded after a horrific 2022 NFL season to finish 10-7 in the past two seasons. But all the while, young players on the Rams roster were gaining strength, knowledge, and experience. Could it all come to a climax in 2025, as the talented youth on the team turn to winning in commanding fashion?

There are signs that the team is very close to doing so already.

If it all starts in the trenches, this team has a huge leg up on the competition. The Rams recorded 16 quarterback sacks in two postseason games. Five players on the defensive side of the football had greater than 1.0+ sacks. 11 players had a hand in bringing down the opposing quarterback.

On the offensive side of the football, the story was much the same. In 16 regular season games, QB Matthew Stafford was sacked just 28 times. Over that same number of games, feature RB Kyren Williams rushed 1,299 yards and 14 touchdowns. Despite injuries to offensive linemen throughout the season, the Rams found ways to be impenetrable up front. Even with a game of starting backups in Week 18, the Rams offensive line only allowed 31 quarterback sacks in 17 games. That was the sixth-fewest number of sacks in the league.

Of all four NFC West Division teams, the Rams roster has accomplished much of what other teams are now trying to do. This team has somehow restocked key roles on the team with young talented players, all the while continuing to win. With the offense only needing to restock at RT, QB, and TE to complete the set, and adding an ILB, and CBs on the defensive side of the football, the Rams could stay atop the NFC West for some time.

As always, thanks for reading.

Here are some Rams offseason articles that you may enjoy