This is the final post from Adam's series analyzing the 2010 NFL Draft and what it means for each franchise.
Now we come to everybody's favorite punching bag, the NFC West. I like the 49ers as the clear favorite in this division. The Cardinals lost Kurt Warner, Anquan Boldin, Karlos Dansby, and Antrel Rolle. The Seahawks had a nice draft and added some pieces through trade, but they are still a team with significant holes. The Rams have some pieces for the future but are still one of the worst teams in the league. That leaves the 49ers who are young, lost nobody of significance, and added to their young talent base with a very nice draft.
Arizona Cardinals
6.32 Calvin, Jorrick, DB, Troy
7.26 Dray, Jim, TE, Stanford
Dan Williams was expected to be a top-15 pick, so at pick twenty-six, the Cardinals get him for a good value. If he proves worthy of his first round pick status, he forms a nasty duo with Darnell Dockett on the defensive line. Daryl Washington in the second round helps fill the void created when Dansby departed, but Dansby had some mighty big shoes to fill for a rookie. I like them getting Schofield who may have to sit out for a year, but before his ACL injury, he could have potentially been at least a mid-second round pick.
San Francisco 49ers
6.37 Williams, Kyle, WR, Arizona St.
7.17 Adams, Phillip, DB, South Carolina St.
Everyone likes the two big boys in the first round, which should turn the Niners' biggest weakness from last year into a strength this coming year. However, their secondary needed help and are still lacking in pass rushing ability. I like the selection of Taylor Mays based on value and need. If Mays can learn the position, he has the athleticism to become the next Ronnie Lott. Coach Mike Singletary should get everything out of him. Mays forms a nice, young tandem with Dashon Goldson who is a rising star in this league (quietly had 94 tackles, 4 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles, and 2 sacks in 2009). Navarro Bowman was seen as a very good value in the fourth round and he represents a nice successor to Takeo Spikes who is productive but aging. Anthony Dixon was a four-year back in the SEC and ran for 1,300 tough yards last year. He is huge and can carry the load. He complements the battering ram-style offense Singletary is assembling; pair him with Frank Gore, who is still among the top eight backs in the NFL, and that running game should be extremely effective. Nate Byham is 260 pounds and is regarded as the best blocking tight end in the draft, another piece to the Niners' run blocking and pass protection puzzle. Kyle Williams will complement another nice offseason addition in Ted Ginn Jr. Williams and Ginn represent two returners with more explosiveness than any returnmen the Niners have had lately. I think overall the Niners went with a solid, steady approach this offseason seeing that with the Cardinals' departures they should be the favorite. They are allowing Alex Smith to settle in after his most productive year as a pro. They have another year with Michael Crabtree who, once he was signed, looked like a future Pro Bowler. They have Vernon Davis who is now a Pro Bowl threat over the middle and now have an offensive line to allow all these threats to thrive. The defense was already very good and added a dynamic safety and linebacker. The return game should be dramatically improved.
Seattle Seahawks
4.13 Thurmond, Walter, CB, Oregon
7.38 Konz, Jameson, WR, Kent St.
Okung was not the most physically dominant tackle but was probably the best pass protector and surest prospect. He joins a leaky line though, which is protecting an aging quarterback. Earl Thomas is a great addition to their defense, which has struggled over the past few years. Golden Tate will be a very good receiver and complements young tight end John Carlson and veteran wideout TJ Houshmandzadeh. I still think this is a team with a lot of holes. Leon Washington and Justin Forsett provide an interesting combination in the backfield, but neither of those guys is really your bell cow, a back who you can just ride in a big game, especially behind a weak offensive line. Anthony McCoy is a very good player for getting him in the sixth round. He could have gone as early as the second and will form a nice duo with Carlson. Overall, this team is just an odd mix of aging veterans and underdeveloped young guys. They are just not consistent across the board and need a couple more good drafts to get back into contention again.
St. Louis Rams
5.18 Davis, Hall, DE, Louisiana-Lafayette
6.01 Onubun, Fendi, TE, Arizona
6.20 Sims, Eugene, DE, West Texas A&M
7.04 Johnson, Marquis, DB, Alabama
7.47 Hull, Josh, LB, Penn St.
Personally, I like Jimmy Clausen as the best quarterback in this draft, and I have the same fears about Bradford that have been manifested in Alex Smith. Bradford played in a spread offense where he was seldom pressured and had great talent around him. He messed up his shoulder twice as well and has never struck me as having the take-charge mentality necessary for this position. Still, most experts loved him and he does have some great physical tools. Roger Saffold is a very nice tackle to help bolster a line that already has last year's second overall pick Jason Smith, a very good center in Jason Brown, and a solid guard in Jacob Bell. Mardy Gilyard might be undersized but he is explosive, he loves football, and if nothing else, he can boost the return game. I like them nabbing Selvie in the seventh round; he had fourteen sacks two years ago and was thought to be a top-ten caliber pick before he was hit with a string of injuries. If he can get healthy he could be an absolute gem for this team. The Rams have a long, long, long way to go, but this is a start.
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