NFC West draft capsules
10. ST. LOUIS RAMS (6-10)
LAST SEASON: QB Sam Bradford missed entire season with second consecutive left knee operation and offense never really got on track. Injuries on OL also made it tougher for backups Shaun Hill and Austin Davis to get much done. Defense showed major improvement under new coordinator Gregg Williams, going three weeks without allowing touchdown and piling up 40 sacks over last 11 games.
THEY NEED: OL, QB, DB.
THEY DON'T NEED: DL.
POSSIBLE FIRST PICK: LSU OT La'el Collins.
OUTLOOK: OL wafer-thin after OT Jake Long and C Scott Wells were released due to injury woes and with OT Joe Barksdale still free agent. Rams have six picks, less than full slate, after three years of largesse from Robert Griffin III deal with Redskins. They waited far too long last year to take possible QB successor to Bradford, ended up cutting sixth-rounder Garrett Gilbert. Now need one behind Nick Foles. Collins connection: Rams tapped LSU for DT Michael Brockers in first round of 2012.
15. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (8-8)
LAST SEASON: 49ers imploded following three straight trips to NFC title game, including Super Bowl appearance. Turmoil in organization led to departure of coach Jim Harbaugh. QB Colin Kaepernick regressed in second full season as starter. With defense riddled by injuries, Niners missed playoffs for first time since 2010.
THEY NEED: CB, LB, DL, WR, DL.
THEY DON'T NEED: RB, S.
POSSIBLE FIRST PICK: Washington CB Marcus Peters, Oregon DL Arik Armstead, Missouri WR Dorial Green-Beckham.
OUTLOOK: Niners will have new look under coach Jim Tomsula, with stalwarts RB Frank Gore, LB Patrick Willis, WR Michael Crabtree and G Mike Iupati among those who left. With last year's starting CBs Chris Culliver and Perrish Cox departed as free agents, upgrading that position might be top priority. Also would like to add speed receiver and bolster DL in case Justin Smith retires. GM Trent Baalke also could target LB following retirements of Willis and Chris Borland.
24. ARIZONA CARDINALS (11-5)
LAST SEASON: Cardinals made playoffs for first time in five years in their second season under coach Bruce Arians and general manager Steve Keim. Arizona opened season 9-1, but struggled down the stretch after injuries, including DT Darnell Dockett and QBs Carson Palmer and Drew Stanton. Cardinals were forced to go with third-string QB Ryan Lindley in playoffs and lost to Carolina 27-16.
THEY NEED: RB, LB, DL, CB
THEY DON'T NEED: QB, TE, ST.
POSSIBLE FIRST PICK: Wisconsin RB Melvin Gordon.
OUTLOOK: Cardinals have No. 24 overall pick in draft and could go couple of directions. They could use dynamic, workhorse running back and Gordon certainly will fit that bill if he's still available. A powerful runner with some speed, he was Heisman Trophy runner-up and Doak Walker Award winner after finishing with 2,587 yards rushing, second-most in FBS history. Arizona also could go with UCLA linebacker and Butkus Award winner Eric Kendricks since it could use some depth at that position, even with Daryl Washington expected back from suspension. In later rounds, Cardinals could add pass rusher, or DT to make up for loss of Dockett and CB to soften loss of Antonio Cromartie.
No. 63 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (12-4)
LAST SEASON: One yard, one debatable play call, and one remarkable defensive play by New England's Malcolm Butler kept Seahawks from being first repeat Super Bowl champions in a decade. It was successful season for Seattle, overcoming midseason strife to win NFC for second straight year. Seattle's defense remained best in NFL, RB Marshawn Lynch had another outstanding season that warranted contract extension, and QB Russell Wilson continued to amaze with his playmaking skills. But conclusion of Super Bowl is lingering sore spot.
THEY NEED: OL, CB, S, DE, DT.
THEY DON'T NEED: RB, TE, LB.
POSSIBLE FIRST PICK: Oregon C Hroniss Grasu, South Carolina G A.J. Cann.
OUTLOOK: Seattle made one of biggest splashes by trading for TE Jimmy Graham, but it came at cost. Seattle surrendered first-round pick and gave up center Max Unger. Finding depth on OL is biggest priority in draft. Additionally, getting more bodies for secondary will be important even with signings of Cary Williams and Will Blackmon.
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