1. Los Angeles Rams

You know they really want to win another Super Bowl when they go and get the best defensive player in Myles Garrett. Shoring up their secondary was a must and now there is talk that Aaron Donald might comeback from retirement (spoiler, he did). Oh and QB Matthew Stafford is coming off a MVP season as well.

2. Seattle Seahawks

The defending Super Bowl champions know that their task to repeat won’t be easy. They play in a tough division and they lost RB Kenneth Walker to free agency. That defense is stacked though and QB Sam Darnold has finally found a forever NFL home.

3. San Francisco 49ers

Like every team health is a major concern, but especially so for the Niners who have been so close to winning a Super Bowl title under this current regime.

4. Arizona Cardinals

They have some intriguing pieces on offense, but that defense needs a lot of work still. Will first time head coach Mike LaFleur have success in this role as opposed to his time as an offensive coordinator?

Head Coach: Sean McVay

Key Position: Secondary

The biggest and most glaring weakness on the Rams roster last season was with their defensive backs. If they hadn’t traded for Myles Garrett and if Aaron Donald didn’t come back out of retirement, this would have been the story of their offseason. They traded for Trent McDuffie almost immediately when the window to conduct transactions was opened. Then they signed Jaylen Watson to reunite this duo from Kansas City. Now that they have top tier cornerbacks there should be less pressure put on safeties Quentin Lake, Kam Curl and Kamren Kitchens to pick up the slack on the back end.

Key Acquisitions: DL Aaron Donald (retirement), DL Myles Garrett (Cleveland Browns), CB Trent McDuffie (Kansas City Chiefs), CB Jaylen Watson (Kansas City Chiefs)

Key Rookies: QB Ty Simpson, TE Max Klare

Head Coach: Mike Macdonald

Key Position: Running Back

As with most Super Bowl winners the offseason that follows is usually brutal with the amount of roster turnover. That was the case with Seattle and it started with the MVP of Super Bowl LX (60), RB Kenneth Walker departing for Kansas City in free agency. With the lack of activity on the free agent front, it was apparent that they would look to the draft to get Walker’s replacement. They did with the selection of Jadarian Price who was the backup to Jeremiyah Love at Notre Dame. With the injury to RB Zach Charbonnet late last season, Price will be the primary ball carrier to start the season. Once Charbonnet returns that will lessen the load on Price to replace what they once had with Walker.

Key Acquisitions: DE/LB Dante Fowler Jr. (Dallas Cowboys), RB Emanuel Wilson (Green Bay Packers), CB Terrion Arnold (Detroit Lions)

Key Rookies: RB Jadarian Price, DB Bud Clark, CB Julian Neal

Head Coach: Kyle Shanahan

Key Position: Defense

Injuries absolutely decimated this group last season. DE Nick Bosa, DL Mykel Williams and LB Fred Warner all suffered season ending injuries. Yet, they managed to develop key players on the fly and clinched a playoff spot and ousted Philadelphia in the Wild Card Round. If Bosa, Williams and Warner return to full health that will change their fortunes this season and help keep the pressure off the rest of the unit to fly under the radar. Bringing back Dre Greenlaw helps Warner immensely knowing he has a solid backer to patrol the other side of the field. Trading for Osa Odighizuwa was a sneaky good move and puts another pass rusher up the middle to pair with Williams who can also play end opposite Bosa. The secondary has a cohesive group led by CB Deommodore Lenoir who is becoming an elite corner.

Key Acquisitions: WR Mike Evans (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), LB Dre Greenlaw (Denver Broncos), CB Jack Jones (Miami Dolphins), DT Osa Odighizuwa (Dallas Cowboys), WR Deebo Samuel (Washington Commanders), WR Christian Kirk (Houston Texans)

Key Rookies: WR De’Zhaun Stribling, DE Romello Height, RB Kaelon Black, DT Gracen Halton

Head Coach: Mike LaFleur (Offensive Coordinator – Rams)

Key Position: Quarterback

Sometimes it’s a good problem to have multiple options for one position on the football team. QB Jacoby Brissett had an insane stretch as the starting quarterback last season. Victories didn’t follow much, but he was finding TE Trey McBride and WR Michael Wilson week in and week out. Brissett was holding out for an extension and got it, but he is merely a stopgap for the future of this franchise. Gardner Minshew was brought in, but he suffered a season ending injury when he replaced the injure Patrick Mahomes last year. Drafting Carson Beck in the third round was an intriguing choice. There was at time when Beck was playing in college that he was a surefire top-10 pick. That didn’t pan out in the end, but buying him low could be a motivating factor for him and that could help Arizona if he takes that big leap in his development. If not they will have another high draft choice to get a quarterback next year.

Key Acquisitions: RB Tyler Allgeier (Atlanta Falcons), DL Andrew Billings (Chicago Bears), WR Kendrick Bourne (San Francisco 49ers), WR Devin Duvernay (Chicago Bears), LB Jack Gibbens (New England Patriots), OL Isaac Seumalo (Pittsburgh Steelers), T Elijah Wilkinson (Atlanta Falcons), DB Andrew Wingard (Jacksonville Jaguars), QB Gardner Minshew (Kansas City Chiefs)

Key Rookies: RB Jeremiyah Love, OL Chase Bisontis, QB Carson Beck