Seattle Seahawks (Last Year: 9-7).
Season Summary:
Unlike in 2005, when they were unlucky to be playing against a corrupt officiating crew in the Super Bowl, the Seahawks were extremely fortunate to be competing in the worst division in football. If you put them in any of the other seven divisions, they wouldn't have qualified for the postseason.
Unrestricted Free Agents:
RB Josh Scobey, WR Bobby Engram, TE Jerramy Stevens, TE Will Heller, G Chris Gray, G Pork Chop Womack, C Robbie Tobeck, DE Joe Tafoya, DE Kemp Rasmussen, OLB D.D. Lewis, CB Jimmy Williams, S Ken Hamlin, K Josh Brown.
Restricted Free Agents:
FB Josh Parry, WR D.J. Hackett, OT Sean Locklear, DT Craig Terrill, MLB Niko Koutouvides, CB Jordan Babineaux, S Oliver Celestin.
Potential Cap Casualties:
WR Darrell Jackson.
Cap Status (as of 2/14): $17.2 million under.
Offseason Needs:
- Guard: You may have noticed that Shaun Alexander's yards-per-carry average decreased by 1.5 this past season. The Seahawks need to find someone who can fill the hole Chris Gray will leave behind if he signs with another team. Re-signed Chris Gray and Pork Chop Womack; drafted Mansfield Wrotto.
- Defensive End: No one on Seattle's defensive line had more than four sacks in 2006. That's pathetic! If the Seahawks can't land Dwight Freeney, they should consider taking an end with their second-round pick. Signed Patrick Kerney; drafted Baraka Atkins.
- Re-Sign Josh Brown: Josh Brown is one of the top kickers in the NFL. The Seahawks can't afford to let him walk. Brown franchised.
- Re-Sign Ken Hamlin: There aren't many better options than Ken Hamlin this offseason, so Seattle should make an all-out effort to resign its free safety. Signed Deon Grant and Brian Russell.
- Defensive Tackle: Seattle was ranked 26th against the run because it was too small up front, which prevented Lofa Tatupu from playing up to potential. It also didn't help that Marcus Tubbs missed nine games. The Seahawks need depth at this position. Drafted Brandon Mebane.
- Tight End: I think it's safe to say that Jerramy Stevens has worn out his welcome in Seattle. The team should bring in someone reliable like Daniel Graham. Signed Marcus Pollard.
- Cornerback: Remember how Seattle was signing guys off the street? Good times, right? No! Depth is a must. Drafted Josh Wilson.
- Wide Receiver: This only applies if the Seahawks can't retain Bobby Engram. If that happens, Nate Burleson will see a lot of playing time, and that's never a good thing. Drafted Courtney Taylor and Jordan Kent.
Analysis: With the Rams, 49ers and Cardinals all bound to improve – OK, maybe not the Cardinals – the Seahawks need to take care of business this offseason if they wish to enjoy another year as division champs.
St. Louis Rams (Last Year: 8-8).
Season Summary:
To be honest, I had no idea the Rams were 8-8. I seriously thought they were 6-10 or something. Ever since Kurt Warner and Marshall Faulk stepped out of the lime light, everything St. Louis has done has been under the radar for some reason. I can't even think of anything to say about their season summary.
Unrestricted Free Agents:
RB Tony Fisher, RB Stephen Davis, FB Paul Smith, WR Kevin Curtis, WR Shaun McDonald, WR Willie Ponder, OT Todd Steussie, DE Brandon Green, DT Jason Fisk, OLB Raonall Smith, MLB Isaiah Kacyvenski, CB Travis Fisher, P Matt Turk.
Restricted Free Agents:
TE Aaron Walker, G Adam Goldberg, C Larry Turner, OLB Brandon Chillar, S Dwaine Carpenter.
Potential Cap Casualties:
RB Marshall Faulk (retirement), G Adam Timmerman, OLB Dexter Coakley.
Cap Status (as of 2/14): $22.9 million under.
Offseason Needs:
- Defensive Tackle: St. Louis has been ranked in the bottom 10 against the run for a few years now. It's time for it to find a stalwart defensive tackle who can clog the middle. Drafted Keith Jackson.
- Defensive End: There's Leonard Little... and... Leonard Little. Take away Little's 13 sacks, and the Rams had only 21 of them. That has to change. Drafted Adam Carriker and Clifton Ryan; traded for James Hall.
- Middle Linebacker: If Patrick Willis is available, the Rams should go after him; acquiring Willis would permit Will Witherspoon to move to outside linebacker, which is his natural position. Signed Chris Draft.
- Guard: Adam Timmerman, who turns 36 in August, has probably played his last game as a Ram. A substitute will be needed if he leaves.
- Wide Receiver: Both Kevin Curtis and Shaun McDonald are free agents; the Rams must keep at least one of them. Signed Drew Bennett and Dante Hall; drafted Derek Stanley.
- Offensive Tackle: We all saw what happened when Orlando Pace got hurt. St. Louis needs better depth at offensive tackle; not some old stiffs named Todd Steussie. Drafted Ken Shackleford.
- Safety: It's not the most pressing need, but the Rams could use an upgrade at safety. Signed Todd Johnson.
- Cornerback: Depth is needed at corner. Signed Mike Rumph and Lenny Walls; drafted Jonathan Wade.
Analysis: The Rams have maintained one of the worst defenses in the NFL for a few years now. Will this be the offseason they finally turn it around? If so, pencil them into the playoffs.
San Francisco 49ers (Last Year: 7-9).
Season Summary:
The 49ers took major steps forward in rebuilding their franchise. Give Mike Nolan a lot of credit; no one knew who he was when San Francisco hired him, yet he could have his team in the playoffs this year.
Unrestricted Free Agents:
FB Moran Norris, FB Chris Hetherington, WR Bryan Gilmore, TE Eric Johnson, C Jeremy Newberry, DE Bryant Young, DT Anthony Adams, DT Lance Legree, OLB Hannibal Navies, MLB T.J. Slaughter, MLB Jay Foreman, S Chad Williams, S Deke Cooper.
Restricted Free Agents:
RB Maurice Hicks, S Mike Adams, P Andy Lee.
Potential Cap Casualties:
OLB Jeff Ulbrich, ILB Derek Smith.
Cap Status (as of 2/14): $37.5 million under.
Offseason Needs:
- Two Safeties: Mark Roman and Keith Lewis just haven't gotten the job done. San Francisco could obtain Reggie Nelson with the No. 11 pick. The other safety should be someone like Ken Hamlin or Deon Grant, both of whom are free agents. Signed Michael Lewis.
- Outside Linebacker: No Niner registered more than 6½ sacks last year. Someone like Adalius Thomas would be a great addition. Signed Tully Banta-Cain and Colby Bockwoldt; drafted Jay Moore.
- Nose Tackle: San Francisco needs a huge, run-stuffing nose tackle to give the linebackers more freedom. Signed Aubrayo Franklin.
- Two Cornerbacks: One for a starting gig; one for depth. I'd love to see the 49ers go after Nate Clements or Asante Samuel via free agency. The other corner could come in the second round of the draft. Signed Nate Clements; drafted Tarell Brown and Dashon Goldson.
- Two Inside Linebackers: The 49ers could stop neither the run nor the pass last year. One reason for the former was the lack of talent at inside linebacker. A solution to one of the spots would be Donnie Edwards. The other could be addressed in April's draft. Drafted Patrick Willis.
- Two Wide Receivers: Antonio Bryant, San Francisco's top receiver, was nothing more than a mediocre malcontent. That's why he was cut. The rest of the receiving corps is in shambles. The team needs to add at least two quality wide outs to the roster, namely Donte' Stallworth and Kevin Curtis. Traded for Darrell Jackson; drafted Jason Hill; signed Ashley Lelie.
- Defensive End: San Francisco needs players up front to open up holes for the linebackers. Drafted Ray McDonald and Joe Cohen.
- Returner: The 49ers' kick and punt return teams were terrible. Something must be done here.
Analysis: The 49ers are the closest team to eclipsing the Seahawks in the NFC West. That, of course, assumes they'll actually spend some money this spring.
Arizona Cardinals (Last Year: 5-11).
Season Summary:
It seems like the Cardinals are always projected to finally make the playoffs in every preseason publication. Yet, they always manage to finish with just five or six wins. That was easy enough -- I wrote that last year.
Unrestricted Free Agents:
RB Marcel Shipp, WR Troy Walters, TE Fred Wakefield, OT Leonard Davis, G Chris Liwienski, DE Chris Cooper, OLB Orlando Huff, MLB Monty Biesel, MLB James Darling, CB David Macklin, CB Robert Tate, S Robert Griffith, S Hanik Milligan, S Jack Brewer.
Restricted Free Agents:
QB John Navarre, C Nick Leckey, C Alex Stepanovich.
Potential Cap Casualties:
QB Kurt Warner, OT Oliver Ross, OLB Calvin Pace.
Cap Status (as of 2/15): $32.1 million under.
Offseason Needs:
- Two Offensive Tackles: Let's be honest here: Arizona's offensive line is pathetic. Two premier offensive tackles are needed. I'd like to see the team spend some money on a free agent (Luke Petitgout) and one of its earlier picks (Tony Ugoh) on a pair of bookend tackles. I know Reggie Wells played better in the latter stages of 2006, but if the Cardinals want to seriously contend for a playoff spot, they'll find upgrades. Drafted Levi Brown; signed Mike Gandy.
- Nose Tackle: It wasn't an accident that Arizona was ranked among the worst teams at stopping the run. Why not go after Alan Branch in April's draft? Drafted Alan Branch; signed Ross Kolodziej.
- Safety: Robert Griffith is a free agent, but it really doesn't matter; he's too old to be re-signed. Unless the Cardinals plan on trading down for LaRon Landry, they should pursue Ken Hamlin in free agency. Signed Terrence Holt.
- Guard: Here's how bad the line is: The Cardinals brought in Milford Brown, a former member of the David Carr sack club, to actually bolster the front. Pathetic. They need to sign someone like Eric Steinbach or Chris Gray.
- Outside Linebacker: Arizona could definitely use an upgrade across from Karlos Dansby, where free-agent Orlando Huff currently resides. Indianapolis' Cato June would be a nice option.
- Defensive End: Chike Okeafor and Bert Berry are aging rapidly, so it's time for the Cardinals to find a long-term solution at defensive end. Signed Joe Tafoya and Rodney Bailey.
- Center: More help on the line. Both of Arizona's centers are free agents, but I'm not sure if either is good enough to start in this league. As with Reggie Wells, Nick Leckey played better in the latter stages of the season. But once again, the Arizona will need to do some work if it wishes to end its association with being the laughing stock of the NFL. Signed Al Johnson.
- Cornerback: If David Macklin defects for another team, Arizona will need depth at corner. Signed Rod Hood and Ralph Brown.
- Running Back: The Cardinals could use some depth behind Edgerrin James; current reserve J.J. Arrington averaged a laughable 1.4 yards per carry in 2006. Signed Terrelle Smith.
Analysis: It's hard to say that the future looks promising for the Cardinals, simply because they always find a way to finish 5-11 or 6-10, no matter what personnel they have.
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