The 2009 NFL Draft is in the books, here is a look at the NFC West's Draft Summaries, by team.
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals didn’t have many holes offensively outside of running back. The team line this off-season was that Tim Hightower would enter ’09 as the starter with Edgerrin James sharing the ball. After the two combined for a sub 3.3 YPC with the rookie Hightower failing to break three yards per tote, that pronouncement was hollow. So with the selection of Chris “Beanie” Wells with their first round pick (31 overall), you can throw out all that rhetoric about Hightower and pencil Wells into the primary starting RB role.
Summary: Wells enters ’09 as arguably the rookie in the best situation to contribute immediately with Edgerrin James (if he’s not released) as the primary backup & Tim Hightower in a 3rd down / complementary role. The only player with fantasy value in ’09 is Wells, likely as a RB3 to start.
San Francisco 49’ers
The 49’ers offense has been dismal since the team jettisoned Jeff Garcia & Terrell Owens earlier this decade. With the selection of WR Michael Crabtree in the 1st round (10 overall), RB Glen Coffee in the 3rd & QB Nate Davis in the 5th, the team has added key elements to diversify and provide depth for the future.
Summary: Crabtree will instantly be the 49’ers top playmaker on the outside but for a team focused on running the ball, that will translate into no more than fantasy WR4 numbers in ’09. The other WR’s take a mild hit from this pick but Josh Morgan & Isaac Bruce weren’t fantasy starters anyway. Coffee will be a change of pace & insurance pick against a Frank Gore injury, while Nate Davis is a developmental quarterback who won’t see the field for a couple of years but has intriguing talent.
St. Louis Rams
The Rams went defensive with all their early selections with the exception of the #2 overall pick, which they used on what they hope will be a franchise left tackle, Jason Smith.
Summary: If Smith lives up to the billing, this will help alleviate the loss of Orlando Pace and provide running holes for Steven Jackson & time to throw to Marc Bulger. Generally this is a very good sign for the Rams offense as they needed to get younger & more athletic along their front, and Smith provides a jolt of both.
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks took arguably the draft’s safest player in LB Aaron Curry (#4 overall) who should be an IDP tackling machine. On the offensive side of things, the ‘hawks added the draft’s top C (Max Unger) and a quality slot receiver in the 4th in Deion Butler.
Summary: Unger helps improve the ‘hawks offensive line but its difficult to see that making a major difference in ’09. Butler won’t challenge for much playing time in ’09 but he could help out in 4 receiver sets behind T.J. Houshmanzadeh, Deion Branch & Courtney Taylor. 6th round pick, QB Mike Teel from Rutgers, has some potential but he’ll need a couple of years to develop (if ever).
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