A capsule look at the NFC West heading into the 2026 season, with teams listed in predicted order of finish.
Los Angeles Rams
BetMGM says: Win Super Bowl: 5-1; Over-under win total: 11.5
Strengths: Many. But the most topical place to start is the defensive front, where Jared Verse has been swapped out for Myles Garrett. He’s joining Byron Young on the edges, an arrangement appealing enough to tempt defensive tackle GOAT candidate Aaron Donald into possibly coming out of retirement. The Rams have also added cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson to their defense. They’re deep at the offensive skill positions, led by receiver Puka Nacua. They’re stacked on both sides of the ball.
Weaknesses: Can the reigning MVP be considered a potential weakness? The fickleness of a 38-year-old NFL player’s body can, at least. Matthew Stafford is entering his 18th season with no indication that a decline is imminent, but the more miles you put on your star quarterback, the more natural it is to worry about durability. Clearly, the Rams identify with that idea at least a little, based on their choice to draft QB Ty Simpson 13th overall. Still, the point is that you have to squint to identify weaknesses on this roster.
Seattle Seahawks
BetMGM says: Win Super Bowl: 11-1; Over-under win total: 10.5
Strengths: Defense won Seattle the championship, and there’s no reason to believe it won’t be a superb unit again during the title defense. Leonard Williams, Byron Murphy II and Jarran Reed are an excellent trio on the interior defensive line. If 2025 trade deadline acquisition Rashid Shaheed can increase his production to capitalize on the attention on Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the receiver room should also be potent in Seattle.
Weaknesses: The Seahawks lost starting running back and Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III to Kansas City in free agency, leaving behind questions in the backfield — at least while Zach Charbonnet remains sidelined by the ACL he tore in January. Rookie Jadarian Price will be an X-factor, drafted at the end of the first round to help plug the hole.
San Francisco 49ers
BetMGM says: Win Super Bowl: 17-1; Over-under win total: 10.5
Strengths: Valor Christian High School’s own Christian McCaffrey is coming off one of the best years of his decorated career. He rushed for 1,200 yards while also amassing his most receptions and yards through the air since 2019. If he’s healthy, he’ll continue to touch the ball more than any player in the league. And quarterback Brock Purdy is steady at making sure the ball finds him, along with San Francisco’s other weapons.
Weaknesses: Heads, shoulders, knees and toes. McCaffrey, of course, is one of the most injury-prone stars in the NFL. Purdy missed half of last season. Nick Bosa is preparing to return from a torn ACL, and the 49ers’ pass rush tends to suffer dramatically without him. Ricky Pearsall has recently been placed on season-ending IR, thinning out a receiver room headlined by newcomers Christian Kirk and Mike Evans (and now Deebo Samuel).
Arizona Cardinals
BetMGM says: Win Super Bowl: 500-1; Over-under win total: 3.5
Strengths: Trey McBride has the enviable task of trying to live up to his monstrous 2025 season, in which he cemented himself as the best pass-catching tight end in the league. Flanked by Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson, he’s the centerpiece of a pretty talented group of skill players in Phoenix.
Weaknesses: Unfortunately, the Cardinals don’t have a quarterback capable of truly maximizing those players. Jacoby Brissett is likely to be their opening-day starter after the release of Kyler Murray. Gardner Minshew and rookie Carson Beck are waiting in the wings. Between the QB room and a potential bottom-10 defense, this roster remains pretty incomplete.
