2025 NFL Draft Wish List: NFC West

The NFC West is full of drastic change this offseason. Players like Geno Smith, DK Metcalf and Deebo Samuel are out of the division entirely. Cooper Kupp is now on the Seattle Seahawks after eight seasons with the Los Angeles Rams. It feels like all four teams are making major moves to establish themselves for long-term success. The next step in doing so is targeting rookies from their respective 2025 NFL Draft wish lists.

(Check out the full NFL Draft Wish List series: AFC East | NFC East | AFC North | NFC North | AFC South | NFC South | AFC West)

2025 NFL Draft Wish List: NFC West

San Francisco 49ers

• First pick: 1st round, 11^th overall
• Total first-rounders: 1
• Total selections: 11

With 11 total picks, including 11^th overall, the San Francisco 49ers will look to reload rather than rebuild. The elephant in the room is the pending contract extension for Brock Purdy. That deal should get done before the season starts. The 49ers’ 2025 NFL Draft wish list may include weapons on offense to surround Purdy during the lifetime of his extension.

It’s hard to imagine the 49ers drafting a wide receiver this weekend, but not completely out of the question. Brandon Aiyuk tore his ACL and MCL in Week 7 last season. He then had surgery just after Week 10. Deebo Samuel was traded to the Washington Commanders last month. Jauan Jennings, Demarcus Robinson and second-year receivers Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing fill out their current depth chart.

It’s more likely a running back is on San Francisco’s 2025 NFL Draft wish list. Christian McCaffrey will be 29 in June. He could be a cap cut candidate next offseason or perhaps even traded midseason this year. His backup is Isaac Guerendo, who turns 25 in June. He flashed upside as a rookie last year, but Guerendo has never handled a full workload. He had just 231 total carries across five college seasons including a career-high of just 132 in 2023.

Kaleb Johnson (Iowa) is a rookie running back the 49ers should consider selecting. They have four top-100 picks. Johnson is fresh off a 240/1,537/21 rushing season in 12 games proving he can succeed with a heavy workload. Johnson has solid size, speed, and would thrive with head coach Kyle Shanahan’s zone blocking schemes.

Tight end may also be on the 2025 NFL Draft wish list for San Francisco. George Kittle turns 32 during the season which is the final year of his contract. The 49ers met with Harold Fannin Jr. (Bowling Green) for a top 30 pre-draft visit. He’s an excellent receiving tight end who’s tough to bring down after the catch.

Arizona Cardinals

• First pick: 1st round, 16^th overall
• Total first-rounders: 1
• Total selections: 6

The Arizona Cardinals have the fewest picks among the NFC West teams and need just as much as their divisional rivals, if not more. The offense should look very similar to last year. With so few picks, the Cardinals’ 2025 NFL Draft wish list probably doesn’t contain any legitimate impact players for fantasy football.

If Arizona is going to target any fantasy football relevant position, it may be running back. To much surprise, James Conner played a career-high 16 games with a career-high 283 touches last season. Conner turns 30 in less than two weeks. The Cardinals would save $8 million next offseason by releasing Conner with just a $2.25 million dead cap hit.

Arizona did draft Trey Benson in the second round of last year’s draft. He logged just 63 carries in 13 games. That includes just two games of 10 or more carries topping out at 11 in Week 2. That’s not to say Benson isn’t capable of a workhorse role, although he never topped 156 carries in two years as a starter in college.

The Cardinals could add a do-it-all running back like Cam Skattebo (Arizona State) or specifically target speed from players like Bhayshul Tuten (Virgina Tech) or Jaydon Blue (Texas). Either way, it wouldn’t be until the third round (78^th) or later assuming they don’t make any trades. They should target two defensive starters with their first two picks, at least, of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Seattle Seahawks

• First pick: 1st round, 18^th overall
• Total first-rounders: 1
• Total selections: 10

After their 2025 offseason fire sale, the Seattle Seahawks have some of the best capital in the 2025 NFL Draft. After their first selection at 18^th overall, the next four of Seattle’s nine remaining picks are inside the top-100. That includes 50^th, 52^nd, 82^nd and 92^nd overall.

The Seahawks signed quarterback Sam Darnold to a three-year, $100.5 million contract. It includes just $52.5 million in guaranteed money. If Darnold completely flops, Seattle can release him as a post-June 1 designation next offseason. That move would save them $27.5 million in 2026 with just $25.6 million in dead money across 2026 and 2027.

That said, the Seahawks could have a quarterback on their 2025 NFL Draft wish list. They may even try to target the position higher than expected if so. Tyler Shough (Louisville) is 26 years old, but he’s a true pocket passer who protects the ball. That’s significant given Geno Smith was just one interception shy of leading the league in 2024.

Whether it’s Darnold, Sam Howell, Drew Lock or a rookie under center in 2025 and beyond, the Seahawks need pass catchers. Seattle released Tyler Lockett and traded DK Metcalf this offseason. They account for 31.9% of the Seahawks’ 2024 target share.

Seattle added Cooper Kupp in free agency, but he and Jaxon Smith-Njigba both primarily play in the slot. That’s a conversation for another day. Adding either of Matthew Golden (Texas) or Jalen Royals (Utah State) for their speed on the outside would be ideal especially if they can be had in the second round.

Hopefully a running back isn’t on Seattle’s 2025 NFL Draft wish list. They selected Kenneth Walker III (2022) and Zach Charbonnet (2023) in the second round of back-to-back drafts. There is a chance one or both of these players are veteran draft weekend trade candidates. Obviously if one of them is moved, Seattle will be looking for depth in their backfield.

Los Angeles Rams

• First pick: 1st round, 26^th overall
• Total first-rounders: 1
• Total selections: 8

The Los Angeles Rams were the closest team to taking down the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles during the 2024-25 playoffs. Most of their 2025 NFL Draft wish list will be on the defensive side of the ball. The 2024 Rams allowed the seventh-most total yards (352.8) per game to opponents during the regular season, the most of any team to make the playoffs.

Even with an intent to target defensive depth, the Rams must prepare for the future of their offense. Despite adding Davante Adams at receiver, they did move on from Cooper Kupp, Demarcus Robinson and Tyler Johnson this offseason.

Jaylin Noel (Iowa State) and Xavier Restrepo (Miami) are top slot receivers in the 2025 NFL Draft that fill an obvious hole left behind by Kupp. Noel has the speed and versatility to be a special teams weapon. Restrepo is an excellent route runner that can get open and keep drives alive.

It will be interesting to see if the Rams invest in a rookie tight end and with what sort of draft capital. They notably attempted to trade up in the 2024 NFL Draft last year to select Brock Bowers If they do, that player could be a sneaky dynasty fantasy football stash. Tyler Higbee is set to be a free agent next year with Colby Parkinson set to hit the open market in 2027.

It’s possible the Rams select a quarterback this weekend. Matthew Stafford could decide to retire at any point, though he seems intent on playing at least two more seasons with the Rams. Jimmy Garoppolo is a free agent in 2026, and Stetson Bennett is the QB3 on the depth chart.

It’s difficult to say who and when the Rams may invest in a rookie quarterback, if at all. After the 26^th overall pick, they don’t pick again until 90^th. Their other six picks are all outside the top-100. Los Angeles could trade back from 26^th overall and open things up for themselves in Rounds 2 and 3 especially.