2011 NFL Draft: Eight NFC West Prospects Who Could Change the Balance of Power
Ah the NFC West. The often forgotten about NFL division was the butt of many jokes last year. In many ways it was deserved. After all, a team with a losing record won the title. That's bad.
Entering the 2011 season, the division is wide open. One could make an argument for each of the four teams to win it.
Because of that, the 2011 draft is all the more important. Any team that selects well may end up controlling the division for years to come.
The following is a look at eight guys who, if selected, may end up having a great impact on not only their respective teams, but the division as well.
In compiling this list, we looked at where teams were selecting and tried to find guys that possibly could end up being picked. This isn't a mock draft, so these things may not happen, but still fall in the realm of being realistic.
If you are a fan of an NFC West team, which guys in this year's draft scare you the most?
Arizona Cardinals Select Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
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The Cardinals have, arguably, the best receiver in the NFL. Larry Fitzgerald is un-coverable. He requires defenses to assign at least two guys on him, which as freed up Steve Breaston to become another threat.
When Kurt Warner was the quarterback, there weren’t many teams as scary. Last year, the Cardinals learned what life without a Hall Of Fame quarterback was like.
It was not pretty.
Whether it was Derek Anderson’s inconsistency or Max Hall’s not-ready-for-the-big-leagues deer-like stare, the Cardinals offense fell apart. The passing game had been Arizona’s main weapon and had won them the two previous NFC West titles.
By drafting Blaine Gabbert the Cardinals will again have someone to get the ball to Fitzgerald and company.
Many people believe that Gabbert is the best and most pro-ready quarterback in the draft. The Cardinals would have a young guy that would have some pretty impressive pieces around him, and his progress will only benefit.
Looking at the current crop of NFC West quarterbacks only St. Louis has a clear guy on their roster. Seattle only has Charlie Whitehurst, they may bring Matt Hasselbeck back, and even if they do, he only has one or two years left.
San Francisco also is searching for a quarterback and may end up bringing back much maligned Alex Smith back if no better option surfaces.
Drafting Gabbert would give the Cardinals one of the up and coming players to match St. Louis’s Sam Bradford. And he would be doing it with far superior wide receiver talent.
Having Gabbert in the fold may put Arizona in a position to become a force in the NFC West for years to come.
San Francisco Selects Patrick Peterson, DB, LSU
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The 49ers were supposed to have a dominant defense. Any team that is anchored by middle linebacker Patrick Willis is going to be tough to move against. San Francisco did dominate last year...against the run.
When it came to stopping the pass however, they struggled. To go with their sixth ranked run defense, they could only muster a 24th best pass defense.
They will look to correct this in the draft and Patrick Peterson is their guy.
Peterson may be the best overall player in the draft and should be there for the taking when San Francisco picks.
When San Francisco signed Nate Clements a few years ago, they hoped he would be an all-world, shut-down corner. That hasn't quite worked out, but Peterson seems to be just that. Signing Peterson gives them options with Clements as well.
Playing in a division with receivers like Larry Fitzgerald the resurgent Mike Williams and a young quarterback like Bradford, the 49ers need to stop the pass. Now, they'll be able to put Peterson on one of those guys and take them away.
With the back end covered, Willis can attack and San Francisco can become the dominant team the media has been trying to make them be for the past three years.
St. Louis Rams Select A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
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Finding a good quarterback is one of the hardest things to do in sports. The long list of busts far outweighs the number of really good quarterbacks in the league. Its one of the reasons they are paid so well and get all the girls.
Once you find one however, your work is far from over. You need to surround that guy with talent or his effectiveness will be limited; football is still a team sport after all.
In Sam Bradford, the Rams seem to have found their quarterback.
What they lack are some weapons for him to play with. They have an outstanding running back, but they desperately need some improved wide receiver play.
Drafting wide receivers, especially in the first round, is always a crap shoot, but Green seems like he is going to be a great player.
He’s tall, big and has great speed and would be a wonderful, and scary, match for Bradford. If the Rams are lucky enough to have him fall to them in the draft, they would be setting themselves up to have the best offense in the NFC West.
Trying to stop the three headed monster of Bradford-Jackson-Green will keep other NFC West defensive coordinators awake at night. It might also result in a lot of banners being hung in the Edward Jones Dome.
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Seattle Seahawks Select Danny Watkins, OL, Baylor
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Seahawks general manager John Schneider has said repeatedly that they would like to find an offensive and defensive lineman in this draft. Watkins would satisfy that need.
Now, with the 25th pick in the first round, Watkins would be a reach. There is reason to believe that Seattle may be looking to trade out of the first round, picking up another later round pick, which would allow them to pick up Watkins.
Watkins is big, physical and has a mean streak in him. He is one of those “dirt bags” Jim Mora was pining for.
Watkins would help Seattle rebuild their weak offensive line. Despite having some good running backs they were last in the league in rushing last year.
There simply was no place to run.
Watkins could slide in nicely at right tackle to provide a book end with last year’s first round draft pick Russell Okung. This could give Seattle the means to pound teams, something they haven’t been able to do for years.
With an improved running game, Seattle would buy some breathing room for whichever quarterback ends up under center. They haven’t been able to run the past four seasons, which has allowed teams to tee off on Matt Hasselbeck to the point where he looks like a shadow of himself.
With some of the improving defenses in the NFC West (especially St. Louis and San Francisco), Watkins would give the Seahawks some needed punch.
Arizona Selects Brooks Reed, DE, Arizona
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As bad as Arizona was with the ball last year, they were equally bad without it. Drafting Brooks Reed from the University of Arizona would give the Cardinals some much needed help.
Reed is an outstanding pass rusher, has a great motor and is sure to be a fan favorite. He has been compared to Clay Matthews, and not just because they have the same hair-do.
Like Matthews, Reed will make a ton of plays in the backfield and be a presence for the Cardinals. With the offense, they could be building with Gabbert and Fitzgerald, having a pass rush will lead to sacks, turnovers and great field position.
Also like Matthews, Reed could have an immediate impact on the Cardinals 23rd ranked pass defense. With the young guns the NFC West will feature in the next few years, having a guy like Reed will be a must.
San Francisco Selects Andy Dalton, QB, TCU
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It could be argued that the 49ers had the most talent in the NFC West last season. Despite that talent they underachieved, stumbled out of the gates, played yo-yo with their starting quarterbacks and in the end cleaned house.
In comes Jim Harbaugh from nearby Stanford.
Harbaugh has personally flown to meet with former TCU quarterback Andy Dalton and reports are that he is enamored with him.
Dalton is a perfect fit for the West Coast, quick and accurate throws that Harbaugh will be running with the 49ers. Dalton will be handed a team with some weapons, including all-pro tight end Vernon Davis.
Dalton to Davis could wreak havoc on the NFC West for years to come.
St. Louis Selects Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame
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With a solid defense, a great running back, young quarterback and a first round wide receiver, the Rams selection of Kyle Rudolph could make them perennial NFC West favorites.
Quick, can you name some great Rams tight ends? There haven't been many, but that's about to change.
Rudolph would fill a need and help in the development of Bradford. He would also make the Rams a deadly team inside the red zone. Who do you key on? Stephen Jackson? AJ Green? Or the tight end over the middle?
Rudolph is 6’6” and has great speed, making him really tough for linebackers or safeties to try to pick him up. When the Rams select him on the second day of the draft, that cheer you will hear is coming from Sam Bradford’s house.
Seattle Selects Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State
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For the first six games of last year, you could not run the ball on Seattle. Red Bryant, Colin Cole and Brandon Mebane made it tough on opposing linemen and running backs.
Seattle was 4-2 in those six games, which is not a coincidence. Then, all three of those guys got hurt and the Seahawks only won three more games, and their run defense was non-existent.
They desperately need depth up front. Paea provides that and more. He is a beast who set the NFL Combine record for the bench press, and will help Seattle develop a dominant run defense which keys their defense.
Frank Gore and Stephen Jackson have been warned.
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