On paper, the Seattle Seahawks had a perfectly respectable 2024 season. They finished second in the NFC West with a 10-7 record, improving their 2023 performance. Nonetheless, general manager John Schneider made more significant changes to his roster than his three fellow NFC West GMs this offseason.
That may not be true in terms of sheer numbers. John Lynch of the 49ers may end up with a slightly bigger turnover. But [Schneider is the only one](https://12thmanrising.com/seahawks-john-schneider-continues-win-2025-nfl-draft-taking-jalen-milroe) of the four to trade his starting quarterback and top receiver, while also releasing a handful of players who seemed to be integral when the 2024 season began.
Arizona, which has been sputtering along since its strong run in 2021, made several moderately big moves, and the defending division champs from Los Angeles essentially made one major change.
We’ll see soon enough how all the juggling will play out, but for now, let’s do a quick rundown of what the four NFC West teams have done in free agency thus far, with an eye toward potential busts that could set them back.
Who are the riskiest free agents signed by each NFC West team this off season?
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### Arizona Cardinals – Josh Sweat, DE, Four-years/$76.4 million
Head coach Jonathan Gannon is the former defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles. Since arriving in Arizona, he has had two primary missions: jump-start Kyler Murray and build an elite defense. So far, he has made small strides in each area. His overhaul of the defense is beginning to show some signs, but the Cardinals still lack a strong pass rush.
Last year, though they finished in the middle of the league regarding sacks, their overall pressure numbers remained stuck near the bottom.
Enter Josh Sweat, a pass rushing specialist who played under both Gannon and Cards’ DC Nick Rallis when they were all in Philly a few years ago. When they were together, Sweat made the Pro Bowl one year and followed it up with his best season as a pro, registering double digits in both sacks and tackles-for-loss in 2022.
He has not returned to that level, but was very good in 2024. His eight sacks were three better than anyone in a Cardinals’ jersey managed last year.
Sweat played on an elite defense in Philadelphia, with upper-echelon players on the line, at linebacker, and in the secondary. That will not be the case in Arizona. The Cardinals also signed Dalvin Tomlinson, a strong run-stopping defender, to bolster, and his presence should help free Sweat. But Sweat will not have a player like Jalen Carter drawing attention.
So, will Sweat play like Josh Sweat in a new environment, or will he turn into Dre’Mont Jones? If it’s the latter, that could set Arizona’s defensive progress back.
### Los Angeles Rams – Tutu Atwell, WR, One-year/ $10 million
The defending division champions made one significant move on offense this offseason. They parted ways with Cooper Kupp (I bet you know where he ended up) and brought Davante Adams to take his spot. In many cases, I would say that giving a two-year, $44 million deal to a 32-year-old receiver would make that player an obvious bust candidate.
But I just am not getting those vibes from Adams. Though it’s clear he does not have the same elusiveness and explosion that he possessed in his prime, Adams’ productivity has barely diminished. Where it has, substandard quarterback play and generally poor offensive schemes have been more to blame than the player.
I suspect Adams will be fine catching balls from Matt Stafford in a Sean McVay offense. However, I am not so sure about how Atwell will fare as the nominal third receiver behind Adams and Puka Nacua. That concern comes from the fact that we have already seen this story—four years of Atwell in LA have yet to produce 100 career catches.
Some within the Rams organization saw enough progress last year to keep him around for another season. I really didn’t see it on the field, but I obviously do not study such things the way that McVay and Les Snead do.
Atwell still looks like a fast receiver who makes occasional plays but has never developed into a threat consistent with his physical gifts. Ten mill is a lot of money for 42 catches, 13.4 yards per catch, and zero touchdowns, which were his numbers in 2024.
### San Francisco 49ers – the entire defensive backfield cohort, 1-2 years/$9.4 million
The 49ers suffered massive losses to their defense this offseason. It was especially dire in the secondary. Charvarius Ward and Isaac Yiadom logged a lot of snaps in 2024. Due to injury, Talanoa Hufanga did not, but he was still a vital part of the Niners’ defensive backfield as recently as 2023. Veteran depth pieces like Tashaun Gipson, Nick McCloud, and Rock Ya-Sin are also gone.
San Francisco still has an excellent core of talent at the back end of its defense, but depth is now a significant issue. That is most obvious with the injury to safety Malik Mustapha, who had played well in Hufanga’s absence last year. Mustapha could easily miss a good chunk of the upcoming season as he recovers from an ACL injury.
That would put extra pressure on two newcomers – Richie Grant and Jason Pinnock - to hold the fort. Both have proven to be average players throughout their careers. And depth is not an issue confined to safety. With the departure of so many cornerbacks, newcomers Siran Neal and Tre Brown (late of Seattle) will also need to step up.
Lynch did not invest heavily in any of his new defensive backs. They are all low-cost, low-risk moves. But one or two must pan out, or that strategy could prove disastrous.
But the Seahawks could have a free agent bust of their own. The signing could change the fortunes of the NFC West title chase.
### Seattle Seahawks – Sam Darnold, QB, three-years and up to $100.5 million
There is not much we need to go over this, right? Bringing in a new starting quarterback is always a boom-or-bust scenario. The contract [Darnold signed with Seattle](https://12thmanrising.com/sam-darnold-pitched-shaky-ground-entering-2025-for-seahawks) will seem like a major bargain if he can come close to replicating what he did through the first 17 weeks of 2024.
If he plays more like he did in the final couple of games, which is also closer to what he has done through his other six NFL seasons, then the Seahawks are in big trouble.
There is a glass-half-full way to see this year as glorious for Darnold and the Hawks. Seattle should put up points if the lines stay healthy and the new offensive coordinator maximizes some solid talent.
There is also a storyline in which Darnold gets sacked 60 times, and fans are clamoring for an unprepared Jalen Milroe by week eight. I think the former option is more likely. I wish I could laugh off the second a little more easily.
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