Seattle Seahawks
Projected Record: 9-7

Seattle hopes to bounce back from a disappointing 2009 season. Veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck appears to be healthy, and the Seahawks also hired USC head coach Pete Carrol to handle things on the sidelines. Those two factors alone should be enough to put the Seahawks back in contention in a mediocre NFC West.

The Seahawks were able to pick up some key pieces in this year’s draft. Russel Okung appears ready to step up and take the place of perennial pro tackle Walter Jones, who retired this offseason. Earl Thomas is a ball-hawking safety who will infuse youth and athleticism into a secondary that struggled last season. Golden Tate should provide another target for a Seattle passing game that struggled with injuries, consistency and big-play production. Running back Leon Washington, who was acquired in a draft-day trade with the Jets, hopes to bounce back from a lower leg injury and add some big plays to the running game and special teams.

Lofa Tatupu and Leroy Hill still provide experience and solid play at linebacker. Second-year linebacker Aaron Curry will need to continue to improve and become a leader on defense. Chris Clemons has big shoes to fill at defensive end to replace Patrick Kerney, who retired this offseason. Lawyer Milloy, while experienced, remains a drag on coverage, so Earl Thomas’ development is critical for the Seattle secondary.

There are a lot of questions surrounding the Seahawks, but the division they play in gives them some margin for error. Seattle still has the most experienced quarterback in the division, and with some defensive changes, I don’t see any reason Seattle can’t win the NFC West.

arizona cardinals
Projected Record: 8-8

The Cardinals have won the NFC West for the past two seasons. However, Kurt Warner’s retirement leaves the Cardinals vulnerable. Matt Leinart is under a lot of pressure to perform well this season. Derek Anderson was signed as a free agent to fill in at quarterback if Leinart struggles.

Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Breaston make up one of the best wide receiver duos in the league. Beanie Wells will continue to get more carries this season, as he displayed the explosiveness and power the Cardinals have lacked in their running game in recent seasons. Tim Hightower also provides a nice change of pace for Arizona in the running game.

Although Arizona’s defense struggled in the playoffs last season, there are still reasons to be excited about the Cardinals’ defense. Arizona spent its first-round pick on nose tackle Dan Williams and its second pick on linebacker Daryl Washington. Both are expected to contribute this year. Darnell Dockett continues to anchor the defensive line and shows no signs of slowing down. Free agent acquisition Kerry Rhodes hopes to fill the void left by Antrel Rolle, who left via free agency. Adrian Wilson remains one of the most physical safeties in the league and will continue to make receivers pay for running up the middle.

The defense has enough talent to generate turnovers and make plays in stretches. However, like many defenses, they play much better with an advantage. The loss of Kurt Warner is huge for this team, not just from a production standpoint, but from a leadership standpoint as well. If Matt Leinart can fill that void, the Cardinals have a chance to be three-time champions as NFC West camps. If not, the Cardinals are looking for a .500 season.

san francisco 49ers
Projected Record: 8-8

The 49ers got off to a fast start last year by entering the season 3-1. After the fast start, they stumbled to an 8-8 finish. Injuries to offensive lineman Joe Staley, running back Frank Gore and quarterback position inconsistency (Shaun Hill, Alex Smith) were the main causes of the 49ers’ downward spiral a year ago. This year, the 49ers hope to return to the postseason for the first time since the 2002 season.

The 49ers got young and talented on offense by drafting tackle Anthony Davis and guard Mike Iupati. Alex Smith has been named the starting quarterback and this is probably the last season for him to prove he’s not a first-round bust. Vernon Davis finally emerged as playmaking scouts predicted he would when he first arrived in the league in 2006. Second-year receiver Michael Crabtree should be more productive with full training camp and offseason minicamps under his belt. Frank Gore and Glen Coffee lead a 49ers running attack that has to be effective in taking the pressure off Alex Smith. The draft-day trade for Tedd Ginn, Jr. will help bolster special teams.

Patrick Willis is the new Ray Lewis. Willis is an absolute tackling machine and his high intensity and determination rubs off on his defensive teammates. The 49ers also added safety Taylor Mays in the draft. Although May’s stock has dipped a bit due to his questionable pass coverage, I think head coach Mike Singletary will find a place for May’s hard-hitting, aggressive nature in the secondary. Takeo Spikes and Nate Clements are solid veterans who bring leadership and experience to a young defense.

The 49ers could be a true dark horse in the NFC West, and possibly the entire NFC, if they can get some consistency at the quarterback position. Their defense and running game are already playoff-caliber. I really want to pick San Francisco to win the NFC West, but I think their quarterback woes will have them on the outside looking in.

St. Louis Rams
Projected Record: 3-13

The Rams only tasted victory once last season, so they have nowhere to go but up. By virtue of his lone win, St. Louis used the first pick in the draft to select quarterback Sam Bradford. Bradford missed most of his senior season with a throwing shoulder injury. The key to the Rams’ long-term success is finding a way to develop Bradford at a moderate pace without hurting him. Sounds easy, but when you pay someone $50 million in guaranteed money, development tends to speed up.

Seeking to maximize their investment in Bradford, the Rams selected tackle Roger Safford to help watch their back. They also selected wide receiver Mardy Gilyard, who adds some youth and quickness to a receiving corps that struggled to make big plays last year. Steven Jackson will get even more carries than he did last year as the Rams try to keep the pressure off their young quarterback. Donnie Avery and Laurent Robinson need to step up and stay healthy, as they are the only receivers on the roster with more than two seasons of experience.

The Rams were able to give up free safety Oshiomogho Atogwe, which helps a young defense that needs leadership and playmaking ability. Chris Long needs to continue to improve and become the top pass rusher the Rams thought they were getting when they drafted him in 2007. James Butler and Kevin Dockery are veterans head coach Steve Spagnuolo brought in to provide direction and leadership on the field to a defenseman who struggled to find an identity last year.

The Rams are young on both offense and defense with a lot of potential on both sides of the ball. How this potential is realized will ultimately decide the long-term success of the Rams, as well as the fate of head coach Steve Spagnuolo. This year, however, expectations remain pretty low for the Rams. As long as they win a few games (3 or 4) and can develop Bradford, I think Rams fans (and management) will be happy.