The 2026 NFL season is right around the corner, and it's time to make some bold predictions for every team across the league, starting with the NFC West.
One of the most hotly contested divisions in the league should provide must-see TV quite often again in 2026, thanks to the defending Super Bowl champions in the Seattle Seahawks, and the easy favorites to win the Lombardi Trophy this year in the Los Angeles Rams. The Seahawks will have to prove they can replace their offensive coordinator and Super Bowl MVP running back, while the Rams will have to live up to the immense pressure that comes with being the Super Bowl favorite.
The San Francisco 49ers made some offseason additions in hopes of getting back into that top tier in the division, but it'll be a tough task. Nobody will be worried much about the Arizona Cardinals, but they'll still have some impressive offensive weapons who should put up some quality production when they have the ball.
Here are four things I think will happen in the NFC West this season:
Michael Wilson Becomes WR1 in Arizona
When the Cardinals spent a top-five pick on Marvin Harrison Jr. in 2024, the expectation was that he would quickly establish himself as not just the top target in Arizona, but one of the best pass-catchers in the league. Instead, tight end Trey McBride became the team's go-to option in the passing game, and now he's in danger of losing his top spot on the receiver depth chart to Wilson.
A third-round pick in 2023, Wilson showed flashes of potential over his first two seasons before breaking out with just over 1,000 yards receiving in 2025. He's proven to be a more consistent, reliable presence than Harrison up to this point, and there's no reason to believe that trend won't continue in 2026. Even if McBride continues to be the top option in Arizona's aerial attack, Wilson should build on last year's success and put up even bigger numbers this season, outpacing Harrison.
Rams Don't Win the Super Bowl
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It might not seem bold to say that one of the other 31 teams in the league will take home the Lombardi Trophy, but considering how many are expecting the Rams to run away with it at this point, it feels worthy. This roster was already built to compete for another championship in 2026, but trading for Myles Garrett put the Rams in their own tier in terms of on-paper talent on both sides of the ball.
With Garrett leading the defense and terrorizing opposing quarterbacks, and Matthew Stafford coming off an MVP season to lead Sean McVay's offense yet again, it's hard to blame anyone for picking the Rams to win it all this year. But getting out of their own division will be hard enough, and making it through the playoff gauntlet will be its own challenge, both of which this team found out the hard way last year. Injuries will be inevitable, as they are for every team, but I won't be surprised if this "championship or else" run ends in disappointment.
Mike Evans Starts a New 1,000-Yard Streak
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During his 12-year run with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Evans became the first player in NFL history to start his career with 11 straight seasons with at least 1,000 yards receiving, tying Jerry Rice for the league record of 11 such seasons for an entire career. Injuries kept him from extending that streak last season, and he decided to start a new chapter in his Hall of Fame career by signing with the 49ers this offseason.
Now suiting up for Jerry's old team, Evans should be back to full strength, and ready to prove he's still got plenty in the tank. Evans will turn 33 years old before Week 1, and he'll obviously have to avoid the injuries that held him back (and have nagged at him in general in recent years), but Kyle Shanahan's offense should open up tons of opportunities for Evans to get back to his usual level of production, adding a 12th 1,000-yard season to his gold jacket case.
Jadarian Price Puts Up Bigger Numbers Than Jeremiyah Love
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At Notre Dame, Price played second fiddle to Love, who got the lion's share of the touches and most of the headlines during their college career as teammates. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Love is once again getting more attention, but it's Price who landed in a more advantageous situation at the next level. The final pick in the first round, Price joins a Seahawks backfield that just saw Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III leave in free agency.
Much like Ashton Jeanty last season (a top-10 pick to a rebuilding team), Love could have a hard time finding running room behind Arizona's offensive line. The Cardinals also signed Tyler Allgeier in free agency, and veteran James Conner is still around. In Seattle, Zach Charbonnet is still working his way back from a season-ending knee injury, and Price brings more explosiveness and versatility to the defending champs' offensive backfield. Price will have a better supporting cast, and potentially more touches as he emerges from Love's shadow and proves he's worthy of being a featured back in his own right.
