Arizona Cardinals and the NFC: What's Next?

If you told me 12 months ago that the Arizona Cardinals would be at the top of the NFC West, let alone a Super Bowl contender, I would have told you to stop hanging around with wizards that have lightning bolts on their heads and wands in their hands.

Now I'm wondering where that boy wizard went to. In the 2008 season, I saw a Cardinals team different from that of my childhood: Top of the NFC West and inches away from winning a Super Bowl of their own.

But now, 12 months later, it’s back to square one for the Arizona Cardinals and head coach Ken Whisenhunt, as they prepare for a new season against old opponents with new faces.

The Seattle Seahawks have bumped up Jim Mora to head coach, and also grabbed OLB Aaron Curry, the No. 4 overall draft pick from Wake Forest, to pump up the 'Hawks line this year. The addition of Curry to Seattle's roster will help the defensive line take some  pressure off the Seneca Wallace/Matt Hasselbeck driven offense.

The St. Louis Rams picked up OT Jason Smith from Baylor and LB James Laurinaitis from Ohio State, among others in the 2009 NFL Draft, to help fix the broken Rams of recent years.

The 49ers even pose a threat to the Cardinals, with No. 10 overall pick WR Michael Crabtree. While the 49ers are still figuring out who their quarterback will be—Alex Smith or Shaun Hill—the addition of Crabtree will help the offensive game of the 'Niners.

What does this mean for the Cardinals? Well, besides contract problems/obligations of some of their key starters—notably WR Anquan Boldin and LB Darnell Dockett—it means  the cakewalk to the playoffs might not be as easy as last year.

The 2009 NFL Draft was good for the Cardinals as well, adding depth to the team where it was needed and building upon the team from last year. The only problem the Cardinals have in the near future is getting their veterans on the practice field.

And as soon as they do that, I'll start believing they can get back to the top of the NFC West, magic enhancers aside.