00:00The NFC West is wide open in 2025, but don't take my word for it.
00:05Every coach in the division during training camp has talked about the goal of winning the title.
00:10Even the San Francisco 49ers, who finished with just six wins last season.
00:17One look at how it went down last year and you can see why.
00:21The Los Angeles Rams had to go to the fourth tie-breaking procedure,
00:25strength of victory, to beat out the Seahawks and make the playoffs.
00:29The X factor for the NFC West this year may be the Arizona Cardinals.
00:35Arizona led the division in scoring last year and finished second in points allowed.
00:40The front office used the first five picks in the draft to improve that defense even more.
00:45They also signed free agents Josh Sweat and Calais Campbell.
00:49On offense, quarterback Kyler Murray is 100% healthy and will run more.
00:54And so will his receivers, according to Michael Wilson.
00:57Just stating objective facts, I think the last two years we've been sort of on the bottom tier
01:03of generating explosives in the passing game.
01:07And so that's going to be an emphasis for our receiver core is not only getting vertical
01:13and being a threat down the field, but also getting yak yards in.
01:16Who will provide the yards after catch for San Francisco?
01:19Debo Samuel's gone.
01:21Brandon Ayuk and Jawan Jennings are injured and Jennings wants a new contract.
01:25It's a good thing the Niners revamped their defense after losing several players to free agency.
01:31They also brought back former Jets head coach Robert Salah to beat the D.C.
01:35In Seattle, the best defense in the division is ready to take the next step.
01:39Can new quarterback Sam Darnold keep pace?
01:43He takes over for the departed Geno Smith and will rely on steady receiver Cooper Cup,
01:48who came over from the ramps.
01:50But it's third-year receiver Jackson Smith and Jigba who could be the game-breaker.
01:55That's why he tops our list of players who could break out in 2025.
02:00Smith and Jigba led the team in receptions and receiving yards last year.
02:04Now he's number one, with D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett gone.
02:08The Rams are hoping for a big season from running back Kyron Williams.
02:12The Niners' number one pick, Michael Williams, will be counted on right away, rookie or not.
02:18And ready for a big second season is the number four overall pick from a year ago, Arizona's Marvin Harrison Jr.
02:26Speaking of the Rams, they might lean more on Kyron Williams now that Matthew Stafford has yet to practice in training camp with a sore back.
02:34L.A. also signed Devontae Adams in the offseason to help Stafford out, but the two have yet to work together.
02:39Head coach Sean McVay says there's no urgency to rush him back.
02:44Let's keep a positive mindset and let's continue to attack this thing to try to be able to get our hands around it
02:48so that he can feel as good as possible when we open up against Houston.
02:52I do think it's important to be able to get some work in, but not at the expense of following the plan that we've talked about.
02:58And so I think the truest thing is stay one day at a time.
03:02Everyone is taking it one day at a time in the NFC West.
03:05With a lot of unknowns, it wouldn't be a surprise if it was another rollercoaster ride that saw all four teams in contention at some point during the season.
03:15For Straight Arrow News, I'm Chris Francis.
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