NFC West draft preview

The NFC West was one of the most polarizing divisions in the league last season. On one end, the San Francisco 49ers made it all the way to the Super Bowl before succumbing to the Kansas City Chiefs. At the opposite end of the spectrum, the Arizona Cardinals finished the year 4-13, creating a three-way tie for the second-worst record in the entire league.

Regardless of last year's standings and overall team performance, every team in the NFC West has a chance to improve through the draft.

Here is a player that best fits every NFC West team's needs or schemes in this upcoming draft that these teams could take with their first pick:

Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

It is best for the Cardinals to not overthink their first selection. If their plans for the future include keeping their franchise quarterback Kyler Murray around, they need to get him some help.

The high-volume and high-production receiver will give the Cardinals a receiver they have not had since Larry Fitzgerald and could lead to the start of an elite offense.

Los Angeles Rams: Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA

With Aaron Donald retiring, the Rams need to quickly add another game-wrecker to their defensive line. Latu is the best pure pass rusher in the class and can get past any form of protection due to his wide array of moves.

Adding him to this d-line would recapture the spark that may have been lost with Donald leaving. While I doubt Latu’s production will be the same as one of the best defensive players of all time, it would make the Rams defense a tad more scary than what it currently is.

San Francisco 49ers: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State

The defending NFC champions will likely need to trade up to get the 6-foot-6, 324-pound offensive tackle out of Oregon State, but they have shown a willingness to trade up and grab players in the past.

Fuaga would fill a gaping hole at right tackle for the 49ers as a player who can start right away. There are some questions about whether he can stay at tackle, but Shanahan’s offense should be able to hide his pass protection weaknesses well in his scheme.

Seattle Seahawks: Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State

Though not their biggest need heading into the 2024 NFL Draft, Verse going to Seattle would be an amazing pickup for a Mike Macdonald defense. Verse is the perfect fit to play outside linebacker in Macdonald’s hybrid 3-4 scheme; similar to how Justin Madibuike was used by Macdonald in Baltimore.

The 6-foot-4, 254-pound edge rusher will probably not be on the board when the Seahawks pick, but if he is, they have to draft him.

Brennan Kirkpatrick is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him please email him at blk5545@psu.edu.