NFC West Free Agency Winners and Losers

Arizona Cardinals

Grade: B

• Signed TE’s Jeff King and Todd Heap
• Signed WR Chansi Stuckey
• Traded for QB Kevin Kolb
• Signed LB Stewart Bradley
• Signed OL Daryn Colledge
• Signed DE Nic Eason
• Re-signed OL Deuce Lutui
• Signed CB Richard Marshall

In my opinion, the Cardinals added a bunch of average or below average players in free agency that will slightly mask their deficiencies offensively and defensively, but they made one move that could keep the franchise from being incompetent over the next few years. Acquiring Kevin Kolb to run the quarterback position isn’t exactly a low risk move ($63 million, DRC gone, 2nd round pick gone), but it is going to significantly increase their chances of keeping Larry Fitzgerald around after this season.

The Cards upgraded their tight end position significantly by bringing in King and Heap, as well as drafting Rob Housler, but the offensive line remains a concern even with the signing of Daryn Colledge.

Just two years ago, this team had one of the best wide receiver groups in the NFL, now they may have one of the worst, even with Fitzgerald in the fold. Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston have both left the team, and now they are left with Andre Roberts and/or Early Doucet as a relatively unknown number two receiver. Both guys definitely have potential, so we’ll see what they make of it. They missed out on the Braylon Edwards sweepstakes to division rival San Francisco.

Seattle Seahawks

Grade: A

• Signed WR Sidney Rice
• Signed TE Zach Miller
• Signed OL Robert Gallery
• Signed QB Tarvaris Jackson
• Signed DT Alan Branch
• Signed DL Jimmy Wilkerson
• Re-signed DL Brandon Mebane
• Re-signed DE Raheem Brock
• Signed K Jeff Reed
• Re-signed RB Leon Washington
• Re-signed LB Leroy Hill

The Seattle Seahawks made a gigantic quartet of signings when they brought in Robert Gallery, Sidney Rice, Zach Miller, and Brandon Mebane. Really, those were four of the best players on the free agent market at their respective positions, and the Seahawks managed to add them all. If they had a QB of the caliber of Mike Vick, the nation would know a lot more about what the Seahawks did.

The biggest problem is, Seattle failed t0 re-sign Matt Hasselbeck, who went to Tennessee, and that could really hinder their hopes for 2011. Tarvaris Jackson is simply a capable starter, and nothing more. Charlie Whitehurst could still be the future, but that remains to be seen. If Seattle had a quarterback of the future, they might be in line to be one of the teams to beat in the NFC.

We will see if this approach works out for them, though, as sometimes big name free agency can be a huge disappointment for teams. The additions of two young weapons in Rice and Miller to the offense are probably the two most underrated moves made this offseason. Those guys will be building blocks for this offense.

San Francisco 49ers

Grade: C+

• Re-signed QB Alex Smith
• Re-signed DL Ray McDonald
• Signed CB Carlos Rogers
• Signed S Madieu Williams
• Signed S Donte Whitner
• Signed WR Braylon Edwards
• Signed C Jonathan Goodwin

The 49ers got a piece for their offense that could really help them take this division. Braylon Edwards might be a bit of a head-case, but he and Michael Crabtree form a pretty potent duo, at least on paper, for the Niners. I also like the moves they made int he secondary, picking up a pair of former top draft picks in Carlos Rogers and Donte Whitner. Those guys are not washed up by any means, so they might be able to really help this team in a year of transition.

I actually like bringing back Alex Smith. It’s important for these guys to have continuity at the quarterback position, and while they invested a high draft pick in Colin Kaepernick, I think Smith could use this final year in San Francisco as motivation to really perform at a high level. Will he sink or swim? So far, his NFL career seems to be on life support, but he keeps finding himself on the field for San Francisco. Let’s see if he can respond with the coaching staff giving him one more chance.

St. Louis Rams

Grade: B+

• Signed DL Justin Bannan
• Signed WR Mike Sims-Walker
• Signed RB Jerious Norwood
• Signed RB Cadillac Williams
• Signed OL Harvey Dahl
• Signed CB Al Harris
• Re-signed G Jacob Bell
• Signed S Quintin Mikell

I am a big fan of what the Rams have been doing under the Steve Spagnuolo regime. Fantasy sleeper alert–Mike Sims Walker. In the Josh McDaniels offense, passing will be prevalent, so getting a legitimate veteran receiver in there for Sam Bradford to throw to was essential this offseason. Not only did the Rams get a pretty good one, they got a guy who has been a budding star in this league on a team that doesn’t pass a lot and had inconsistencies in the passing game.

Not only do I like the signing of Sims-Walker, I really like that the Rams went out and got some depth at running back (finally) by adding Jerious Norwood (speed) and Cadillac Williams (third down). One has to wonder what this will do for Steven Jackson, but I can’t imagine it hurts him all that much. This offense is really moving forward with Bradford in a very favorable offensive system, and now he has some new toys to play with.