Best and Worst offseason moves by every team: NFC West
AFC
EAST | NORTH | SOUTH | WEST
NFC
EAST | NORTH | SOUTH | WEST
Arizona Cardinals
Best: Acquiring Chandler Jones from Patriots for Jonathan Cooper, 2nd-round pick
The Cardinals were able to acquire one of the best young pass-rushers in the league coming off his best season yet. Bruce Arians hasn't had an every-down, elite pass-rusher since he's arrived in Arizona and he didn't have to give up too much to finally land one. Considering the lack of depth among pass-rushers in the draft, a second-rounder and a disappointing guard for Chandler Jones gives the Cards great value.
Worst: Not drafting a QB to sit behind Carson Palmer
Arizona didn't have a ton of immediate needs to fill at the draft, but there is no heir apparent to 36-year-old Carson Palmer on the roster and this seemed like a good draft to go after one. Late-rounders Connor Cook, Dak Prescott, and Cardale Jones all have starter potential, but need some time to learn. The Cardinals passed on Jones and Prescott to take center Evan Boehm with the 128th overall pick. The organization won't crumble on a fourth-round pick, but it was a missed opportunity to find a potential long-term replacement at quarterback.
Los Angeles Rams
Best: Leaving St. Louis returns the NFL to Los Angeles
Watching games in St. Louis over the past few seasons, one question continually came to mind: Where is everybody? The Rams didn't have much of a crowd or an atmosphere at the Edward Jones dome and now they get to be the center of the NFL universe for a while. It wasn't the smoothest exit from Missouri, but it has been quite a welcome to Hollywood and it will get even better when their state-of-the-art facility is built. If the Rams are smart, they'll be able to turn themselves into a top free-agent contender for years to come.
Worst: Drafting troubled tight end Tyler Higbee in 4th round
The Rams set themselves up to make every pick count, giving up their first-, third-, and two second-round picks for the right to draft Jared Goff with the first overall selection. With their second pick of the draft, which was actually the 110th overall, the Rams picked Tyler Higbee from Western Kentucky. Higbee is currently being charged for assault, evading police, and public intoxication from a incident that occurred just weeks before the draft. He may never play for the team; not the way to make a pick count.
San Francisco 49ers
Best: Firing head coach Jim Tomsula
It was tough to find a good move from the Niners this offseason. They're basically the new Oakland; no one wants to sign there. One move in the right direction was firing NFL head coach impersonator Jim Tomsula. Why he was ever in a head coach position is a mystery. His replacement, Chip Kelly, doesn't have a great track record in the NFL frontman department either, but getting rid of Tomsula was a good call after a disastrous season.
Worst: Not trading Colin Kaepernick to the Broncos or anywhere else
Kaepernick has not had a very pleasant experience in a 49ers uniform the last few years and momentum from offseason workouts expects Blaine Gabbert to get a very legitimate chance to be the team's starting quarterback. Keeping Kaepernick around while Gabbert leads a ragtag team under a new coach has a very similar feel to the Kirk Cousins-RG3 saga in Washington. Trading Kaep this offseason may have been the team's best chance to get out of this mess before it gets ugly. Paying a backup just under $16 million rarely goes well.
Seattle Seahawks
Best: Drafting trio of running backs to help replace Marshawn Lynch
The Seahawks may have been slightly blindsided by Marshawn Lynch's retirement announcement during the Super Bowl, but they recovered in plenty of time. Thomas Rawls is already on the roster, but the Seahawks grabbed receiving specialist C.J. Prosise in the third round, bruiser Alex Collins in the fifth, and speedster Zac Brooks in the seventh. Lynch did it all for the Seattle backfield and now it's found a group to help replace one of the greats.
Worst: Signing Brandon Browner back to the Legion of Boom
Browner was once a solid piece for the Seahawks shutting down over-sized receivers and tight ends, but that day has passed. The 6-foot-4 cornerback led his position in penalties last year and was routinely burned as a part of the Saints' record-worst pass defense. He gets run past on a regular basis and no longer has the skills to make up for his pedestrian foot speed. He will undoubtedly see his fair share of targets with Richard Sherman patrolling the opposite sideline in Seattle.