NFC West 2022 offseason needs: NFL’s top division features battle to try and catch champion Rams for supremacy

The NFC West flexed its muscle as the best division in football — again. Three teams from the division made the playoffs and two remained on conference championship weekend (Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers), with the winner claiming the Super Bowl title (Rams). 

Los Angeles has the Vince Lombardi Trophy, but San Francisco has made the conference championship game in two of the last three years. The Rams and 49ers have two of the most talented rosters in football and are expected to compete for a championship again next season. How will the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks respond? 

Arizona made the postseason for the first time in six years, yet faded down the stretch after a 7-0 start. The Cardinals ended the regular season 4-6 before suffering a wild card playoff loss to the Rams. Seattle had its first losing season under Russell Wilson, who missed three games due to a finger injury — resulting in a career-low in passing yards and a 6-8 record in games he started. 

Playing in the most competitive division in football, all four NFC West teams will be trying to one-up each other this offseason in order to make a playoff run like the Rams did last season. All of the NFC West teams are good enough to make the postseason, so let’s break down what each team in the division needs to do to improve their rosters in 2022.

Note: Salary cap figures courtesy of Over The Cap.

Los Angeles Rams

Needs: G, LB, WR

How does a team that won the Super Bowl defend its title? That’s what the Rams will try to accomplish in 2022 as they seek to become the first team since the 2003-2004 New England Patriots to repeat as champions. Los Angeles already received a major boost with Sean McVay returning in 2022 after the head coach turned down TV money, but the next step is to retain key players. 

Odell Beckham Jr. was a major boost for the Rams, as his seven receiving touchdowns (including…