2026 NFL Preview: One Burning Question For Every NFC West Team
Here is my perspective as a 49ers fan on how the rest of the NFC West appears going into the 2026 season.
Key Departures:
Key Additions:
The Seahawks enter this season with much of the same roster from last year’s Super Bowl-winning team. The biggest loss is Kenneth Walker III, and there’s no clear RB1 to replace him. Zach Charbonnet is returning from injury, and rookie Jadarian Price is talented but still an unknown commodity.
Another unknown is first-year offensive coordinator Brian Fleury, who comes over from the 49ers after serving as the tight ends/run game coordinator. The strength of this team remains Mike Macdonald’s defense, and it will be interesting to see how Seattle responds as defending champs.
Key Departures:
Key Additions:
The Rams come into this season with a retooled defense. Trading for Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie should elevate this unit to another level, and rumors of Aaron Donald returning could make this one of the top defenses on paper.
On offense, Matthew Stafford is coming off an MVP season, but he’s 38 this year. His health will dictate how far the Rams can go.
Key Departures:
Key Additions:
The Cardinals enter the Mike LaFleur era with a lot of opportunities. Jeremiyah Love has the potential to be special with the right pieces around him. Marvin Harrison Jr. will be looking to bounce back from a sophomore slump. Trey McBride is a stud at tight end, but outside of that, unless something unexpected happens, Arizona feels like a front-runner in the Arch Manning sweepstakes.
Key Additions:
Key Departures:
Last season felt like everyone was injured. Winning a road playoff game in Philly with Kittle going down early, a young defense missing two captains, no pass rush, and practice squad players stepping up — this team didn’t hear a bell and kept swinging… until the Seahawks game, where it got ugly.
But this season has a different feel. Mike Evans was a great pickup and will open up the offense. Deebo returning feels right, and the buzz around rookie De’Zhaun Stribling will be fun to watch. George Kittle may or may not be ready for Week 1, which will show up more in the run game, but Jake Tonges has proven he’s capable in the passing game.
Depth behind CMC is questionable with Jordan James injured in camp and Isaac Guerendo already hurt. Rookie Kaelon Black looks like RB2 at this point. The biggest question on the offensive line is who starts at LG — Robert Jones or Connor Colby.
It’s going to be exciting to see Brock Purdy operate this offense with these weapons.
The departure of Robert Saleh was big but predictable based on how he had the defense playing last season. Raheem Morris feels like the right hire given his experience and success. Warner and Greenlaw back together is exactly what this young defense needs.
The addition of Osa Odighizuwa and the return of Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams, along with C.J. West and Alfred Collins, should make for a solid defensive line. Finding a pass rusher is still a priority — it was non-existent for most of last season.
Lenoir, Green, and Stout are solid as the top three DBs, and Mustapha, Brown, and Sigle as the top three safeties all have something to prove.
Eddy Pineiro is so money he doesn’t know how money he is. The punter battle between Corliss Waitman and Jack Bouwmeester will be one to watch.
There are a lot of decisions to be made in camp, and it will be fun to see how the roster shakes out — which undrafted players make the team, which under-the-radar signing shines, and which rookie looks like the next star.
Based on the offseasons of each NFC West team, it’s clear that the 49ers, Seahawks and Rams will be the front-runners, with the Cardinals in rebuilding mode… but stranger things have happened.
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