Are you ready for some football? We are going to blink, and the 2025 NFL season will be upon us as training camps for all 32 teams start this month. There is plenty to dive into this year with quarterbacks switching teams, major coaches making a return, and plenty of teams getting much better, while some probably needed some more help. Here is our 2025 NFC West preview.
Last Year
I thought the Rams were going to do the whole rebuilding thing but instead they charged ahead with a new defensive line and Matt Stafford at the helm and won the NFC West with a 10-7 record. And in typical Rams fashion, they made a little run, taking down the Vikings and nearly knocked off the Eagles to make it to the NFC Championship game. Seattle was right on their tails, also winning 10 games. The Hawks were led by a new first year head coach but saw themselves separate from Geno Smith this offseason and brought in Sam Darnold instead. The Cardinals were…the Cardinals. Average at best and bad at worst. They didn’t move the needle much at all. The biggest surprise in the division was the San Francisco 49ers. They battled constant injuries and off the field tragedies that resulted in just six wins a year after playing in the Super Bowl. Injuries to Brandon Aiyuk, Christian McCaffrey, and at times Brock Purdy completely dismantled this team in a way no one saw coming.
Favorite to win in 2025
Despite that six-win season, the 49ers are back in the driver’s seat according to Vegas. They flipped their roster this season, getting rid of expensive contracts of players that weren’t living up to the bill while also extending franchise cornerstones like Brock Purdy, George Kittle, and Fred Warner. The biggest win of the offseason came in the form of a defensive coordinator as they reunited with Robert Saleh and that alone should account for a few wins for this Niners team. The window for a Lombardi Trophy is closing so San Francisco needs to capitalize with this roster while they can.
Offensive Player to Watch: Sam Darnold
It’s a bold move to get rid of a quarterback that won you 10 games a year before, but the Seahawks felt like they could do it and they even went out and got Cooper Kupp to give the offense some more juice. If this decision doesn’t pan out and Darnold isn’t the guy, it’s grounds for a shakeup in the front office. You can’t miss on quarterbacks.
Defensive Player to Watch: Jared Verse
Verse was a major disruptor in his rookie season, going for over 60 tackles and 4.5 sacks. We wondered who would take over as the leader with Aaron Donald’s retirement and it looks like Verse is the frontrunner. I want to watch and see if he takes a Defensive Player of the Year jump in year two.
Prediction
The 49ers have the easiest schedule in the NFL. In fact, it’s been graded as the easiest schedule for any NFL team in a decade. That alone is enough to win this division and return to their divisional throne. Record (11-6)