NFL Week 9 FTN Staff Bets
FTN Staff
With the NFL Draft right around the corner, FTN is taking a moment to look at each division one at a time. We’re going team-by-team to identify biggest needs and moves the franchises should be looking at before or during the draft, which starts April 28.
First on the plate is the NFC West, the home of our 2021 Super Bowl champions. The Los Angeles Rams brought in Matthew Stafford last year and it paid off big time. This division contained three playoff teams in total, making it maybe the league’s best group. Let’s take a look at what the teams in this division need to do come draft day.
Follow along with our whole 2022 NFL Draft Wish List series:
2022 NFL Draft Wish List: NFC West
Below we’ll take a quick look at each team, their pick haul, and their key needs to address in the draft.
Los Angeles Rams
- First Pick: Third round, 104th overall
- Total first-rounders: 0
- Total draft picks: 8
As the Rams begin their quest to repeat as Super Bowl champions, the team mostly needs help on the defensive side of the ball. They will need to replace Von Miller, as well as add more linebacker and defensive back depth. On the offensive side, they could stand address a need at guard, with starting guard Austin Corbett moving on to Carolina in free agency. The issue in addressing these needs, of course, is the Rams’ famous lack of early-round picks — Los Angeles doesn’t draft until late in the third round, and this draft is not exactly deep in interior linemen in particular.
An ideal fit for them would be Damone Clark out of LSU at pick 104. This senior linebacker exploded onto the scene in 2021, totaling 135 tackles and 5.5 sacks. With a 6-foot-3, 239-pound frame paired with his 4.5 speed, he is a wrecking ball in the second level of a defense. Pairing him up with veterans Bobby Wagner, Leonard Floyd and Justin Hollins will allow him to learn the game from some of the best. He will also be able to let loose and play free which is the perfect situation for him at this stage in his career.
Arizona Cardinals
- First Pick: First round, 23rd overall
- Total first-rounders: 1
- Total draft picks: 8
After falling short in the playoffs in 2021, the Cardinals do not have a ton of holes to fill overall. However, losing both Christian Kirk and Chandler Jones this offseason have opened a few spots of need. Most importantly, though, the team needs to address the cornerback position. On top of this, they need to address some depth on the defensive line, tight end and wide receiver — and the good news for the Cardinals and their fans is that these positional classes are pretty deep this year. They should be able to address these needs nicely.
Targeting a corner in Round 1 seems like a great move for the Cardinals. This was a clear position that they struggled with in 2021, and they should have some strong options early. A player like Trent Mcduffie or Andrew Booth makes a ton of sense if either one falls to them. If neither falls to them, they will have the ability to pivot to another position of need edge. If the Cardinals leave Round 1 with some defensive help, all will be well in Glendale.
San Francisco 49ers
- First Pick: Second round, 61st overall
- Total first-rounders: 0
- Total draft picks: 9
Overall, the starting lineup in San Francisco is filled in well, aside from starting guard. This is probably their biggest need after Laken Tomlinson moved on. A close second is cornerback, where they struggled mightily last season. After these two positions they really need to just add depth all over the roster. This will allow them to take the best available player in most rounds.
When it comes time for the 49ers to make a selection at pick 61, addressing the cornerback position makes the most sense. Because the interior line class is not very deep, they will have to take a shot on that later in the draft. Tariq Woolen is a player who is drawing a lot of attention and could fit well into this defense. He’s a huge corner, standing at 6-4, 205 pounds, even more impressive is that he ran a 4.26 40 at this size. All the physical tools are there to mold into a solid outside corner.
Seattle Seahawks
- First Pick: First round, 9th overall
- Total first-rounders: 1
- Total draft picks: 7
As the Seahawks transitioned from perennial contender to apparently in a rebuild, the number of needs around this franchise have exploded. They need to address the trenches on both sides of the ball along with the quarterback situation. It doesn’t stop there either — they also are in need of cornerback and linebacker help as well, all while filling out the overall depth of the roster.
Their first three picks can allow the team to address a lot of needs if they keep all three picks and take best player available. The tough call for them will be whether to trade up for a quarterback or sit and wait. If they stay at pick 9, addressing cornerback makes the most sense. Adding either Ahmad Gardner or Derek Stingley Jr. could be a huge boost to the rebuild efforts. Both players can step in Day 1 and be playmakers in the secondary. Then they can address the offensive line and other positions with picks 40 and 41. This all, of course, assumes the team doesn’t blow up the strategy by either trading up to get a much-needed quarterback or taking one with their first-rounder.
