Winners and losers from the NFC West for the 2024 NFL draft
By Jake Luppino
The Seattle Seahawks entered the 2024 NFL Draft embarking upon a new journey. With a new head coach in place for the first time in 14 years, it was going to be interesting to see how John Schneider approached it. While the draft philosophy remained the same, the expected production from the players is what will be the difference.
Mike Macdonald is going to bring a new identity to Seattle. One that is much needed as the rest of the NFC West seems to be on the come-up. Of course, the San Francisco 49ers are the top dog. But, the Los Angeles Rams had a plethora of picks entering this draft coming off a surprising season that resulted in a playoff appearance. Arizona, in the midst of establishing a new culture, is expecting the youth on this team to bring a more successful 2024 season.
The post-draft high is almost second to none. All 32 teams walk away from the event with a feeling of euphoria, thinking their roster has improved and they are now one step closer to the Super Bowl. While that is a nice thought, it is not the case. I would say only a 1/3 of the teams actually get a boost from the rookies selected, and I'm not just referring to their rookie campaign.
Grading the NFC West: Winners and losers of the draft
For the Seattle Seahawks, they have experienced both ends of the spectrum. Over the last two years, they have been the beneficiary of draft picks popping. They now have a young nucleus of players who are playing at a high level and getting paid very little to do so. Hopefully, the 2024 NFL Draft will add an additional boost to this roster in an attempt to address some of its needs.
The same can be said for a team like the San Francisco 49ers, who have been riding with Mr. Irrelevant, Brock Purdy. Or, the Los Angeles Rams, picking for the first time in the first round since 2016. Here are the winners and losers of the 2024 NFL Draft.