The NFC West was the best division in football last year. 3 of 4 teams made it to the playoffs. 2 of those teams made it to the NFC Championship Game. The winner of that game (Seahawks) went on to win the Super Bowl. The way the offseason shook out, it seems like this division is going to be in the conversation for toughest division again. The Rams made some huge moves on defense to complement their high-powered offense. The Seahawks are returning a majority of their starters but will have to navigate a new offensive play caller this year. The 49ers are once again dealing with the injury bug, but you can doubt Kyle Shanahan at your own risk. Then there are the Cardinals who you can pretty much lock in at 4th place in the division. This division will continue to be incredibly fun to watch and it is interesting that despite winning the division and the Super Bowl, the Seahawks are not favored to win the West this year.
Division Winner Odds
Los Angeles Rams – 11.5
- Head Coach – Sean McVay
- OC – Nate Scheelhaase
- DC – Chris Shula
- 2025 Record – 12-5
- Strength of Schedule – 27th Easiest
The Rams had a shot to get the Super Bowl last year. They just happened to run into the Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game. The Rams went 12-5 and looked unstoppable as they entered the playoffs. They scraped by in games against the Panthers and Bears. Then when they met the Seahawks for the 3rd time in the season, they lost 31-27 to the eventual Super Bowl champions. Based on how the actual Super Bowl played out, it could be said that the NFC Championship game was essentially the Super Bowl.
Falling short of their ultimate goal, the Rams hit the offseason with a plan to fill any remaining gaps that they had. They went out and traded for Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie. They also signed Jalyen Watson to address their defensive needs. There are rumors that Aaron Donald might return from retirement, which would further bolter this already frightening defense. Entering 2026, the Rams are the odds on favorite to win the Super Bowl.
Offense
Last year, Matthew Stafford achieved something that has been eluding him his entire career. He was voted the MVP for the 2025 NFL Season. He led the league in passing yards and pass TDs with 4707 yards and 46 TDs. He was the leader of the league’s top scoring offense as the Rams averaged 30.5 points per game. Despite turning 38 this February, Stafford has shown no signs of slowing down. If he remains healthy, the Rams will continue to be an offensive juggernaut. While they are trying to win now, they also addressed the future this offseason. They drafted Ty Simpson in the 1st round of the NFL Draft. Simpson will develop behind Stafford as long as he plays and will potentially take over the offense in the future.
Stafford was able to rely on Kyren Williams out of the backfield all year in 2025. Williams ran for 1252 yards and 10 TDs. His yardage total was 6th in the NFL in 2025. He also added 281 yards and 3 TDs through the air. Williams provides the Rams with the ability to run out the clock when needed. The Rams also utilize Blake Corum out of the backfield. Corum had 746 yards and 6 TDs of his own in 2025. This 1-2 punch has been effective and will continue to gain the “dirty yards” in an offense that is built to pass the ball.
The main reasons that this offense is built to pass, outside of having an MVP QB, are named Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. Puka Nacua led the league in receptions with 129 and was 2nd in the league in receiving yards with 1715. He also had 10 TDs. Nacua is incredibly talented and the Rams offense clearly runs through him. He is entering his 4th NFL season and will be in line for one of the biggest contracts that a wide receiver has ever signed. However, there have been several off the field issues over this offseason and there is a chance that it impacts not only the contract talks but his availability on the field. It remains to be seen if he receives any kind of discipline from the NFL. Should he miss time, Davante Adams will move back into the WR1 role. Last year, Adams led the league in TDs with 14. The 33-year-old might not be what he once was at his peak but plenty of teams would love to have him as their WR2.
Joining Nacua and Adams will be other receivers like Jordan Whittington, Xavier Smith and Konata Mumpfield. Whittington had 18 receptions for 171 yards last year. Smith had 303 yards on 18 receptions. Mumpfield had 92 yards and 1 TD last year. These receivers will have an opportunity for a larger role with the exit of Tutu Atwell and a potential Puka Nacua suspension looming.
Last year, the Rams essentially had a revolving door at the tight end position. While this might typically be viewed as a negative, the Rams used it to their advantage and essentially went with the “hot-hand” approach. This year, they look like they will be running it back with Colby Parkinson, Tyler Higbee, and Terrance Ferguson. Parkinson led the group with 408 yards in 2025. Higbee and Ferguson had 281 and 231 yards respectively.
The offensive line is returning their starting 5 which is great for the continuity of this team. At left tackle will be Alaric Jackson. The right tackle will be Warren McClendon Jr. The guards will consist of Steve Avila at left guard and Kevin Dotson at right guard. At center will be Coleman Shelton. If this group continues to do their job, this offense will continue to operate at a very high level.
Defense
The defense for the Rams was ranked 10th in the NFL in points allowed. They were allowing 20.4 points per game. While most teams would love a Top 10 defense, the Rams went out and made some big swings to improve theirs.
Up front, they will still have the line made up of Poona Ford at nose tackle and Braden Fiske and Kobie Bryant at the end’s positions. Ford had 47 total tackles and 2 sacks in 2025. Fiske had 30 total tackles and 3 sacks in his 2nd season. His production dipped after a solid rookie year. He will have a great chance to improve his production this year. The other end is Kobie Bryant who ha 48 total tackles and 7 sacks. All 3 of these players should benefit from the addition of Myles Garrett as the offenses will be focusing on him and freeing them up to get after the quarterback. There is also a lot of smoke surrounding the return of Aaron Donald, which would make this formidable line even scarier.
The edge rushers for this defense creates an incredibly formidable defensive front. Byron Young is still on the roster after a season where he recorded 82 total tackles and 12 sacks. He was tied for 8th in the NFL in sacks. The big addition and storyline this offseason was the trade centered around Myles Garrett. The Rams sent Jared Verse and several draft picks to Cleveland in exchange for Myles Garrett. Garrett is the league’s best defender and just set the single season sack record in 2025. He recorded 23 sacks on a team that was rarely leading, meaning that his opportunities were much more limited. A player of his stature elevates this great defense to an elite one.
The interior linebackers for this team are Nate Landman and Omar Speights. Landman had a breakout season in 2025 recording 132 total tackles, 2.5 sacks, 1 interception, and 8 TFLs. After 3 years of struggling to stay on the field in Atlanta, Landman made his mark in LA. Speights had 85 total tackles in 2025. This young duo will be responsible for shoring up the middle of this defense while the defensive front wreaks havoc.
The secondary was the other area that had a major shakeup in the offseason. The Rams initially sent several draft picks to the Chiefs for cornerback Trent McDuffie. McDuffie is entering his 5th year and has already had success in his early career. He has earned 1st team and 2nd team All-Pro honors and won a Super Bowl with the Chiefs. He brings a ton of experience and talent to this secondary that was pretty thin last year (compared to this year). Then in free agency, the Rams decided to bring in another Chiefs cornerback. They signed Jayklen Watson to be their CB2. Watson is also entering his 5th year in the league. He has struggled with injuries through his career but when healthy, he is as good as any corner in the league. This tandem, which has a proven track record, greatly improves a defense that was already good to begin with.
Round out the secondary will be Kamren Kinchens and Kam Curl at the Safety position. Kinchens had 84 total tackles and 2 interceptions in 2025. He is entering his 3rd year in the NFL and is looking like he will build on a solid sophomore year in the league. Curl had 122 total tackles and 2 interceptions in 2025. He is a 6-year veteran that brings a certain amount of consistency and accountability to the position.
Summary
The Rams are Super Bowl favorites for a reason. They have a loaded roster and were arguably the best team in the NFC last year. Unfortunately for them, the Seahawks won the argument and actually went on to win the Superbowl. The offseason was busy for the Rams, and it might not be 100% done as they await a decision from Aaron Donald. the additions of Myles Garrett, Trent McDuffie, and Jaylen Watson make this team so formidable, it seems almost like a forgone conclusion that they will go on a deep playoff run.
All that said, they will face challenges this year. Their success will depend on the health of Matthew Stafford, who is 38 years old and has had his fair share on injuries. Their schedule is going to be brutal. They will be starting the season in Australia which might cause issues early on in the year. However, I still believe that this team will make the most of the opportunity in front of it and will win 12 or more games. I would also be comfortable betting on them to win the NFC outright and maybe even the Super Bowl.
Bet – Over 11.5
Arizona Cardinals – 3.5
- Head Coach – Mike LaFleur
- OC – Nathaniel Hackett
- DC – Nick Rallis
- 2025 Record – 3-14
- Strength of Schedule – 32nd Easiest
The Cardinals finished last in the NFC West last year and decided that it was the end of the road for Jonathan Gannon. The team had a tough 2025 as they struggled to find any kind of success. They were 23rd in points scored on offense, averaging 20.9 points per game. They were worse on defense, allowing 28.7 points per game, which was 29th in the league. The team went out and hired a new coaching staff and are hopeful that they will be able to turn the franchise around.
The Cardinals hired Mike LaFleur to be the head coach of the team. LaFleur is the brother of Packers head coach, Matt LaFluer. He was most recently the offensive coordinator for the Rams. He brought in Nathaniel Hackett to be the OC. Hackett was most recently the Jets OC in 2024. Hackett has had success as the OC of the Packers from 2019-2021. His recent stops do not inspire much confidence but maybe this is where he can turn things around. The DC is Nick Rallis, who has been the DC in Arizona since 2023. He apparently made a good enough impression to stay on staff.
Offense
The Cardinals quarterback situation is not an enviable one. They have Jacoby Brissett as their starter currently. Brissett is entering his 2nd season as a member of the Cardinals and is currently entrenched as the starter. After Kyler Murrary was shut down for the season in 2025, Brissett started 12 games and threw for 3366 yards, 23 TDs, and 8 interceptions. Murray is now a member of the Vikings, so it is 100% Brissett’s job to lose. The Cardinals also have Gardner Minshew and Carson Beck as the backups. Minshew has been in the league and has been both a starter and backup. He can fill in if Brissett is either injured or not playing well. Beck is a rookie out of Miami and had a decent showing in the Hall of Fame game. He is dealing with a rib injury, so his future is yet to be determined.
The Cardinals took Jeremiyah Love out of Norte Dame with the 3rd overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft. Love is already drawing comparisons to Adrian Peterson’s running style. He is an exciting player that will bring some explosiveness to this offense that they have been missing out of the backfield. Last year’s leading rusher on the team was Michael Carter with 333 yards. As long as the offensive line shows up, Love should be able to achieve that mark by Week 4. Backing Love up will be Tyler Allgeier. Allgeier comes over from Atlanta where he had 514 yards and 8 TDs. He will play a very similar role to the one that he played while in Atlanta. He is a physical back that is used in short yardage situations. Love is currently dealing with an ankle injury so Allgeier might be in line for a much larger role than anticipated. James Connor is also still on this roster and is coming back from injury.
The receivers for the Cardinals are going to be an exciting piece of this offense. Marvin Harrison is WR1 and is reaching a critical point in his NFL career. He is entering his 3rd year in the league after being drafted with the 4th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. He has not lived up to expectations so far. He had 885 yards and 8 TDs in his rookie year. Last year, he had 608 yards and 4 TDs. He also missed 5 games due to injury. He has been inconsistent so far in his career and this is the year that he needs to breakout.
The breakout receiver last year was not Harrison but was Michael Wilson. Wilson had the best year of his career. He was 2nd on the team in receptions, yards, and TDs. He had 1006 yards and 7 TDs. He became a highly targeted receiver for Jacoby Brissett down the stretch. He should be able to continue building on his success in 2025 as we enter the 2026 season. The other receiver of note on the roster will be Kendrick Bourne, who comes over from the 49ers.
The main receiving threat on this team is tight end Trey McBride. McBride led the team in all major receiving stats. He had 126 receptions for 1239 yards and 11 TDs. He was 2nd in the NFL in receptions and TDs and was 6th in receiving yards. He has emerged as a premiere receiving tight end and is considered to be the next great tight end in the league. The offense should continue to be centered around McBride while involving the other weapons available.
The offensive line will be an area of concern for this offense. When you draft a running back high in the draft, you need to make sure that you have a solid line to block for him. The Cardinals may have put the cart before the horse here. They only added one new starter to the line. Currently they have Paris Johnson as the left tackle and Elijah Wilkinson at the right tackle. They added Isaac Seumalo from the Steelers. He was a Pro Bowle 2 seasons ago and will start at left guard. At right guard will be Isaiah Adams who started 11 games last year. At center will be Hjalte Froholdt who has been a starter in Arizona for the last 3 seasons.
Defense
The Cardinals were one of the worst defensive units in the league. They allowed 28.7 points per game, which was 29th in the league. They were allowing 230 pass yards and 126 rush yards per game, which was ranked 24th and 25th respectively. Typically, this type of performance would inspire several changes. So it is a little bit of a head scratcher to see DC Nick Rallis return as the leader of this defense. Former head coach Jonathan Gannon must have been the scapegoat for the lack of production on this side of the ball.
The defensive front will have 2 new starting defensive tackles. Roy Lopez was brought back to Arizona after spending a season in Detroit. Lopez had previously played for the Cardinals in 2023 and 2024. Last year, he recorded 30 total tackles and 2 sacks for Detroit. Next to him will be Walter Nolen III. Nolen was on the roster last year but only appeared in 6 games. He had 11 tackles and 2 sacks for Arizona last year. He was drafted with the 16th overall pick in last year’s draft and was carried high expectations before being sidelined with injuries. This year, he has the opportunity to make a name for himself on this defense that struggled against the run last year.
The edge rushers for this team will be Josh Sweat and Darius Robinson. Sweat led the team last year with 12 sacks. He also had 30 total tackles and 4 forced fumbles. He is a vital piece of this defense that the Cardinals desperately need to continue performing at high level. Unfortunately, he is dealing with a knee injury and was added to the PUP list for the moment. Reports show that he will be back sooner rather than later, so it shouldn’t be an issue. Darius Robinson is a player that needs to step up this year. He is entering his 3rd year and only has 2 career sacks.
The linebackers will be made up of Mack Wilson, Zaven Collins, and Cody Simon. Wilson will be playing the middle linebacker position. He missed about half the season last year with injuries. In just 8 games, he recorded 60 total tackles. With him back to full health, the Cards get a big piece of their defense back. Playing at the strong side backer will be Zaven Collins. Collins is entering his 6th season in the league with Arizona. Last year he had 40 total tackles and 1.5 sacks. Cody Simon rounds out the group at the weak side backer. He had a very solid rookie year and recorded 76 total tackles and forced 1 fumble. He should be able to continue to grow as an important part of the future of this defense.
The starting corners for Arizona will be Will Johnson and Denzel Burke. Johnson is entering his 2nd season. Johnson was a highly touted corner out of Michigan but dealt with some injuries that forced him to fall to the 2nd round of the draft. He played in 12 games during his rookie year and recorded 37 tackles. Hopefully this next year will prove to be healthier and more productive for Johnson. Denzel Burke will also be entering his 2nd season. He started 8 games but appeared in all 17 for the Cardinals last year. He had 49 total tackles and 3 interceptions.
Starting at safety will be Budda Baker and Andrew Wingard. Baker has been one of the better safety’s in the game. He has appeared in 8 straight Pro Bowls and is the leader of this secondary. Last year, he recorded 120 total tackles and 1 interception. The Cardinals will need his consistent production to continue this year, particularly after losing Jalen Thompson in the offseason. In the place of Jalen Thompson will be Andrew Wingard who has played for Jacksonville for the past 7 seasons. Last year, he had 84 tackles and 1 interception.
Summary
The Cardinals have made some changes to their staff but kept the same personnel on the defensive side of the ball. They added some key pieces to their offense but are fighting the injury bug at this time. The 1st year of Mike LaFleur’s tenure will be a test of his leadership. The Cardinals have the toughest schedule in the NFL and have been given the lowest win total prediction by the books. Unfortunately, given their lack of talent on defense, their strength of schedule, and questions at quarterback, I do not believe that there are 4 wins on the schedule for the Cardinals. I would take their under.
Bet – Under 3.5 (+115)
Seattle Seahawks – 10.5
- Head Coach – Mike Macdonald
- OC – Brain Fleury
- DC – Aden Durde
- 2025 Record – 14-3
- Strength of Schedule – 23rd Easiest
The Seahawks were the only team in 2025 that went home happy. They went 14-3 on the season, won their division, ran through the playoffs, and took home the Lombardi at the end of the season. They managed to build an incredibly balanced and talented roster that had very few gaps. The offense was the 3rd highest scoring in the league while the defense allowed the fewest points in the league.
Much like failure, success has a way of bringing change in the NFL. OC Klint Kubiak was given the head coaching position of the Raiders after the season ended. Several players, including Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker, were offered big contracts to sign elsewhere. The Seahawks might be at the mountaintop currently but the road to repeating has already thrown some adversity their way.
Offense
Sam Darnold was the story of this offense last year. After bouncing around the league for years, he proved everyone (including myself) wrong. All he did in his first year with Seattle was win games. He threw for 4048 yards 25 TDs and 14 interceptions. When the post season came around, he entered full on game manager mode and threw for 672 yards, 5 TDs, and 0 interceptions in 3 games. That kind of reliability is what will win you plenty of games, especially when your defense is number 1 in the league. Darnold has spent the offseason getting his flowers but based on interviews and clips from Hard Knocks, he is a humble guy that is ready to get back to work.
The Seahawks did lose their starting running back to free agency as Kenneth Walker signed with the Chiefs this offseason. In his place is going to be Zach Charbonnet, who has been playing a supporting role for 3 years but has gotten more opportunities as he continues to produce. Unfortunately, he is still recovering from a torn ACL and his timeline for return is uncertain. In his place will be Jadarian Price, who was drafted with the 32nd overall pick in this years NFL Draft. Price played behind Jeremiyah Love at Norte Dame but was still seen as the 2nd best running back in this draft. He will most likely split carries with George Holani and Emmanuel Wlson until Charbonnet returns to full health.
The Seahawks had the league’s leading receiver in 2025. Jaxon Smith-Njigba took his game to another level last year as he led all receivers with 1793 yards. He also had 119 receptions and 10 TDs. He was one of those players that was difficult to place bets on in 2025 because his yardage totals were always very high, so it was hard to wrap your head around it. Then all he did was produce on an incredibly consistent basis.
While JSN is the clear WR1, the Seahawks brought in talented receivers last year to surround him. They brought in Rashid Shaheed over from New Orleans in a mid-season trade. Shaheed provides blazing speed and is a deep ball threat for this offense. He also has return ability and recorded a punt return and kick off return for a touchdown last year. The Seahawks also signed Cooper Kupp last offseason after he was released by the Rams. Kupp’s production is probably on the tail end of his career but he provides leadership on-and-off the field. He also provides a reliable target for Darnold when all other targets are covered. Other receivers of note on this roster will be Chris Horton, who is a speedster, and Jake Bobo, who can be a red zone threat.
The starting tight end is AJ Barner. Barner is entering his 3rd year in the NFL and is coming off of his best season so far. He had 52 receptions for 519 yards and 6 TDs last season. He has been growing into a real receiving threat but can also block in the run game. He should continue to carve out a role in this offense.
The Seahawks return their starting 5 offensive linemen. At left tackle is Charles Cross while Abraham Lucas starts at right tackle. The guards will be played by Greg Zabel at left guard and Anthony Bradford at right guard. At center will be Jalen Sundell.
Defense
The defense for the Seahawks was the best in the league in terms of points allowed. They employed a very good pass rush that allowed the rest of the defense to play free and work on taking away the ball. Starting up front for 2026 will once again be Leonard Williams and Jarran Reed at the end positions. Byron Murphy II will start at the nose tackle position. Williams is a highly productive defensive lineman. He had 62 tackles and 7 sacks last year. His size and athleticism allows him to disrupt offenses and get to the ball carrier with ease. Jarran Reed is a veteran in the league and had 31 total tackles and 2.5 sacks last year. Byron Murphy is the young guy on the line as he enters his 3rd season. He had 62 tackles and 7 sacks last year, which was very impressive for a young nose tackle. This can continue to be special in 2026.
While they have a good rush up the middle, the Seahawks also have very solid pass rushers coming off the edge. Demarcus Lawrence was brought in last offseason after spending 11 seasons in Dallas. Lawrence came in and recorded 53 total tackles and 6 sacks last year. While he was not the sack leader, he provided an additional rusher and a veteran presence on the field. On the other side of the line will be Uchenna Nwosu. Nwosu had 35 total tackles and 7 sacks last year. This duo should continue to have success.
The interior linebackers are Ernest Jones and Drake Thomas. Jones is a highly productive linebacker who is always finding ways to get tackles. He had 126 total tackles and 5 interceptions last year. Drake Thomas had 96 total tackles and 3.5 sacks in 2025. This duo is going to be tough to get past, especially when playing in concert with the rest of this defensive front.
Seattle just locked up their star starting corner for the foreseeable future. Devon Witherspoon and the Seahawks agreed to a 4-year $132 million extension. Witherspoon has certainly earned the highest cornerback contract in NFL history. He has made the Pro Bowl in his first 3 seasons. He provides security on one half of the defensive side. Last year, he only allowed 375 passing yards. Playing on the other side of the field from him is Josh Jobe. Jobe is entering his 5th year in the league. He had 54 total tackles and 1 interception in 2025.
The Seahawks essentially have 3 starting safetys. Julian Love and Ty Okada will start at the Free Safety and Strong Safety positions. Nick Emmanwori is a safety but plays a hybrid role and gets used a nickel. Julian Love is a 7-year veteran who has been with Seattle for 3 years. He missed some time due to injury last year but is back to full health. Okada got more playing time last year and recorded 65 total tackles and 1 interception. He will probably continue to get more snaps as Emmanwori is working back from an ankle injury. Emmanwori was a great draft pick by the Seahawks and finished 2nd in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Summary
The Super Bowl champs are setting their sights on running it back this year. They are returning most of their starters and will maintain their defensive identity. If there was any question mark on this team, it would be the new offensive play caller. Will it remained similar to the Kubiak system last year or will there be some growing pains? Luckily, the defense will most likely be dominant once again and will provide some cushion for the offense as they figure things out. They have a decently tough schedule and play in one of the best divisions in the league. That being said, I believe that thy find a way to win 11 games and will make a real push to repeat this year.
Bet – Over 10.5 (-115)
San Francisco 49ers – 9.5
- Head Coach – Kyle Shanahan
- OC – Klay Kubiak
- DC – Raheem Morris
- 2025 Record – 12-5
- Strength of Schedule – 7th easiest
The 49ers had a much better than expected 2025 run. When I looked at them last year, there entire roster was seemingly hurt. I thought there was no way that they would be able to get to 12-5 and make it to the Divisional Round but that is what they did. The offense survived a Brock Purdy injury in the beginning of the year due to the heroics of Mac Jones, who also fought through injury. They ended the year 10th in the league in points scored by averaging 25.7 points per game. On defense, they benefitted from the coaching return of Robert Saleh. Despite missing key players all year, Saleh had the boys playing well above expectations. They finished the year 13th in the league in points allowed, allowing 21.8 points per game. Saleh left to take the head coaching job for the Titans, so we will see if new DC Raheem Morris can replicate Saleh’s success.
Headed into this season, the 49ers are once again one of the more injured teams in the preseason. They have a new DC in Raheem Morris who has had previous success as a DC and should be able to fill Saleh’s shoes. Head Coach Kyle Shannahan has been part of the injury headlines as well. He was in a pretty nasty car crash this summer and has been limited in his practice presence due to a concussion. It seems like the 9ers are stacking the deck against themselves once again headed into 2026.
Offense
Brock Purdy is seemingly one of the few offensive players that is not on the injury report for the 49ers. The starting quarterback has worked his way from MR. Irrelevant to one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL. Unfortunately, he was dealing with injuries last year and ended up missing 8 games during the regular season. He helped the 49ers win a playoff game before losing to the Seahawks 41-6 in the Divisional round. While Purdy was hurt, Mac Jones filled in. He had 2151 yards, 13 TDs, and 6 interceptions in 8 starts. He went 5-3 in those starts and proved that he is one of the better backup QBs in the league.
The running back room might be in some trouble this year. Christian McCaffrey can be the best running back in the NFL when healthy. Last year, he was essentially the entire offense for the 49ers. He was their leading receiver and rusher last year. He had 1202 rush yards and 10 TDs. He added 102 receptions for 924 yards and 7 TDs through the air. There have been recent reports that CMC has been experiencing “tightness” which might not sound like something to be concerned about, but he had a similar issue in 2024 that caused him to miss significant time. Behind him will be Jordan James, Kaelon Black, and Isaac Guerendo. All 3 have injury designations currently.
The wide receivers for the 49ers have to be one of the older groups out there. They signed Mike Evans in free agency after Evans spent 12 seasons in Tampa Bay. Evans had 11 straight years of 1000+ yards until 2025 where he only appeared in 8 games due to injury. If healthy, Evans can be dominant. However, the 32-year-old has struggled over the last several years with injury so it will be a player to keep an eye on. The 49ers also signed Deebo Samuel recently to bring him home to the 49ers. Samuel was a member of the Commanders last year where he had 727 receiving yards and 5 TDs. He was brought back to play his old role in this offense where he gets involved in the run game as well. He was signed mainly due to the injuries to Ricky Pearsall, who will miss the season, and Christian Kirk, who is carrying a questionable designation currently.
Another key injured player to keep an eye on is George Kittle. Kittle is fighting back from an Achilles injury that he suffered last year. He is trying to get back to play in Week 1 but he will definitely be back at some point this year. Last year, he had 628 yards and 7 TDs in 11 games. Should he not be ready to go, Jake Tonges who filled in for Kittle last year. He had 293 yards and 5 TDs as the starter.
Up front, they will be returning 4 of 5 starters to the offensive line. At left tackle will be All Pro Trent Williams, who is entering his 17th season. At right tackle will be Colton McKivitz. At the guard position will be Robert Jones at left guard. He comes over from Miami after spending 4 seasons there. At right guard, will be Dominick Puni. At center, will be Jake Brendel.
Defense
The new DC for the 49ers will be Raheem Morris. Morris was most recently the head coach for the Atlanta Falcons from 2024-2025. Prior to that stint, he was the DC for the Rams from 2021-2023. He returns to the NFC West to take over the defensive play calling for the 49ers.
Up front, Alfred Collins will be the starting nose tackle. In his 1st year, he had 17 total tackles and 1 sack. At the defensive ends, the 49ers will have CJ West and Osa Odighizuwa. In his 1st year, CJ West had 21 tackles and 1 sack in 14 games. Odighizuwa comes over from Dallas in free agency. He is a 5-year starter and had 44 tackles and 3.5 sacks last year. He is currently listed as questionable on the injury report.
The edge rushers will be Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams. Both of who are listed on the injury report as well. Bosa is one of the leagues best pass rushers when healthy. However, he is dealing with a knee injury that has forced him to miss some of training camp already. It appears as though he will be able to return sooner rather than later. He is an important part of this pass rush that struggled last year in his absence. He only played 3 games last year before getting injured for the year. On the other side of the line, Williams is currently on the PUP list stemming from the ACL injury he sustained last year. The timeline for his return is undetermined at this point. In his place will be Keion White, who came over in a trade from the Patriots midseason in 2025.
The interior linebackers will be Dre Greenlaw and Fred Warner. Warner is one of the best middle linebackers in the game, when healthy. Last year, he was not healthy and missed significant time. It was the 1st time he missed games in his 8-year career. The 4-time 1st team All-Pro is a crucial part of this defense and him being back should elevate the entire unit. Dre Greenlaw comes back to the 49ers after spending 1 season in Denver. Prior to that, he had been with San Fran for 6 years. He has struggled to stay healthy over the past couple of seasons but when healthy, he has shown the ability to record 120+ tackles in a year. The 49ers are hopeful that he returns to that level of production this season.
Starting at cornerback will be Deommodore Lenoir, Renardo Green, and Upton Stout. Lenoir had 61 tackles and 2 interceptions last year. He only allowed 357 yards last year and has started to prove himself as solid starting corner. Green started 14 games in 2025 and recorded 60 tackles last year. Upton Stout is entering his 2nd season and is listed as the nickel back for this defense. Last year, he had 82 tackles and 1 sack.
At safety, the 49ers will have Ji’Ayir Brown and Malik Mustapha as their starters. Both were starters last year. Brown had 76 total tackles and 2 interceptions in 2025. Mustapha had 76 total tackles and 1 interception in just 12 games last year. He currently has a questionable injury designation and him starting the season might be in jeopardy.
Summary
The 49ers once again are entering the season as one of the more injured teams in the NFL. Seemingly all of their offensive weapons are banged up and CMC having some issues is definitely concerning. Kyle Shannahan missing time with the while he recovers from a car crash may also have serious ripple effects as the season begins. What is even more concerning is that this team is kicking off the season in Australia, so there is an added element of overseas travel to start the year. Travel is rarely good for injuries and I doubt that this team can get and stay healthy enough for the season. Their defense might be better than expected this year with Raheem Morris at the helm but again, they are a few injuries away from everything going to pieces. I do not think that they can keep avoiding the consequences of injuries in the win column this year and would expect a down year from the 49ers. I will once again take the under for the 49ers.
Bet – Under 9.5 (+120)
*Odds taken from DraftKings
*Strength of Schedule from Sharp Analysis
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