Breaking down the NFC West: Rams stick with Stafford; are the 49ers back?

David Wilson, Miami Herald on Aug 30, 2025

Published in Football

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The 2025 NFL season is set to get underway on Sept. 4 when the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles face the Dallas Cowboys.

The Miami Herald broke down each division and continues with the NFC West, looking at the Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks.

NFC WEST

Arizona Cardinals

— Coach: Jonathan Gannon (third season with the Cardinals; 12-22 in the regular season)

— Last season: 8-9 (third in the division)

— Key additions: QB Jacoby Brissett, DE Josh Sweat, DT Calais Campbell, DT Walter Nolen, CB Will Johnson

— Key subtractions: WR Zach Pascal, LB Kyzir White

— Looking ahead: After another season mired in mediocrity, the Cardinals made a major investment in their defense in the offseason, spending big on defensive end Josh Sweat, and picking defensive tackle Walter Nolen and cornerback Will Johnson with their first two picks in the 2025 NFL draft. Still, their season will live or die on Kyler Murray. The quarterback finally found a reliable No. 1 weapon last year in star tight end Trey McBride, but has still led Arizona to a winning record only once in his six seasons with the team.

Los Angeles Rams

— Coach: Sean McVay (ninth season with the Rams; 80-52 in the regular season, 8-5 in the playoffs)

— Last season: 10-7 (first in the division), lost in the NFC divisional round to the Eagles

— Key additions: WR Davante Adams, TE Terrance Ferguson, DT Poona Ford, DE Josaiah Stewart, LB Chris Paul Jr.

— Key subtractions: WR Cooper Kupp, DE Michael Hoecht

— Looking ahead: The Rams gave the Eagles a tougher test than anyone else in the 2025 NFL playoffs, but they still toyed with moving on from Matthew Stafford in the offseason. Ultimately, Los Angeles decided to stick with the star quarterback, which is probably the right move, as long as he can stay healthy. Stafford is still one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL and has a great group of weapons to work with, including wide receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, and running back Kyren Williams. The Rams’ defense is young and improving, too, and Los Angeles still has the potentially to be one of Philadelphia’s toughest challengers in the National Football Conference.

San Francisco 49ers

— Coach: Kyle Shanahan (ninth season with the 49ers; 70-62 in the regular season, 8-4 in the playoffs)

— Last season: 6-11 (fourth in the division)

— Key additions: QB Kurtis Rourke, RB Brian Robinson Jr., DE Mykel Williams, DT Alfred Collins, LB Nick Martin

— Key subtractions: WR Chris Conley, DT Javon Hargrave, LB Dre Greenlaw, CB Charvarius Ward, S Talanoa Hufanga

— Looking ahead: Last season was the season from hell for the 49ers, as superstar running back Christian McCaffrey missed nearly the entire season, and San Francisco went from overtime in the Super Bowl in 2023 to out of the NFL playoffs altogether last year. Don’t be surprised if the 49ers bounce back, though: McCaffrey is still around, as are star quarterback Brock Purdy, superstar tight end George Kittle, star tackle Trent Williams, star defensive end Nick Bosa and superstar linebacker Fred Warner — San Francisco remains easily one of the most talented teams in the league. The 49ers did lose a lot, though, and particularly on defense, with defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, star linebacker Dre Greenlaw, cornerback Charvarius Ward and safety Talanoa Hufanga all departing in free agency.

Seattle Seahawks

— Coach: Mike Macdonald (second season with the Seahawks; 10-7 in the regular season)

— Last season: 10-7 (second in the division)

— Key additions: QB Sam Darnold, WR Cooper Kupp, G Grey Zabel, DE Demarcus Lawrence, S Nick Emmanwori

— Key subtractions: WR DK Metcalf, T Jason Peters

— Looking ahead: Year 1 was a solid success for coach Mike Macdonald, but the Seahawks still decided to retool, trading quarterback Geno Smith the Raiders and wide receiver DK Metcalf to Steelers. In place of Smith and Metcalf, Seattle will trot out quarterback Sam Darnold — fresh off a 14-win season with the Vikings — and wide receiver Cooper Kupp, who was the best wideout in the league a few years ago, but now may be past his prime. The Seahawks’ path to success is winning with defense, led by star defensive tackle Leonard Williams, but the offense is riddled with question marks — and some real upside thanks to Darnold, Kupp, running back Kenneth Walker and wide receiver Jaxson Smith-Njigba.