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NFL Draft Grades: NFC West

Michael Hickey / Getty Images Sport / Getty

With the 2020 NFL Draft officially complete, theScore's NFL editors hand out their initial grades for how teams fared over the course of the three-day event.

NFC
EAST | NORTH | SOUTH | WEST
AFC
EAST | NORTH | SOUTH | WEST

Arizona Cardinals

Round Pick Player
1 8 LB Isaiah Simmons
3 72 OT Josh Jones
4 114 DT Leki Fotu
4 131 DT Rashard Lawrence
6 202 LB Evan Weaver
7 222 RB Eno Benjamin

Grade: B+

The biggest steal of the draft was already when the Cardinals got DeAndre Hopkins for a second-rounder. But teams may look back on this first round and wonder why they passed on the uber-athletic Simmons, who should be Arizona's Swiss Army knife in a way similar to how the Los Angeles Chargers use Derwin James. Jones was projected as a late first-rounder prior to the draft, so it was great value to nab the offensive tackle when he slipped to the third. As a bonus, he fills the Cardinals' biggest need: protecting Kyler Murray.

Los Angeles Rams

Round Pick Player
2 52 RB Cam Akers
2 57 WR Van Jefferson
3 84 LB Terrell Lewis
3 104 S Terrell Burgess
4 136 TE Brycen Hopkins
6 199 S Jordan Fuller
7 234 LB Clay Johnston
7 248 K Sam Sloman
7 250 G Tremayne Anchrum

Grade: B

The Rams aggressively retooled their offense early, finding potential replacements for running back Todd Gurley and wide receiver Brandin Cooks in Akers and Jefferson, respectively. The latter was a particularly strong selection at No. 57. Los Angeles didn't have a first-round pick (again) after trading for Jalen Ramsey, which stopped them from getting a top-tier offensive lineman who could start in 2020. The NFC West team then failed to address that weakness until its last pick. But, in the end, Jared Goff will be a much happier man than he was prior to the draft.

San Francisco 49ers

Round Pick Player
1 14 DT Javon Kinlaw
1 25 WR Brandon Aiyuk
5 153 OT Colton McKivitz
6 190 TE Charlie Woerner
7 217 WR Jauan Jennings

Grade: B

Kinlaw arguably has the biggest pass-rushing upside among all defensive tackles and is a natural replacement for DeForest Buckner, who was traded for the No. 14 pick. With their second Day 1 selection, the 49ers jumped on Aiyuk, who Kyle Shanahan said was his No. 1 receiver. With his elite skills after the catch, the former Arizona State standout is a perfect fit in the 49ers head coach's scheme. San Francisco also avoided having a huge hole at left tackle - as Joe Staley retired - by trading for another top-tier veteran in Trent Williams for pennies on the dollar.

Seattle Seahawks

Round Pick Player
1 27 LB Jordyn Brooks
2 48 DE Darrell Taylor
3 69 OL Damien Lewis
4 133 TE Colby Parkinson
4 144 RB DeeJay Dallas
5 148 DE Alton Robinson
6 214 WR Freddie Swain
7 251 TE Stephen Sullivan

Grade: C-

As usual, the Seahawks zagged while the rest of the leagued zigged during the draft, though they finally stood pat in their original first-round slot. Few projected Brooks as a first-rounder, though, as he's more of a throwback thumper than a modern-day do-it-all linebacker. Both Day 2 picks did fill Seattle's need to boost its pass rush without Jadeveon Clowney and improve Russell Wilson's protection, but neither was good value at their respective spots.

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