Top post-draft needs: NFC West
Pressing remaining needs for the Cardinals, Rams, 49ers and Seahawks
This is the sixth part of an eight-part series in which Football Outsiders looks at the biggest post-draft needs for every NFL team. Last week consisted of the AFC teams, by division, while this week will focus on the NFC.
Today, Outsiders looks at the NFC West.
Arizona Cardinals: Left tackle
The Cardinals came into the offseason with the idea they would get failed left tackle Levi Brown under contract at a cheaper rate, then move him to right tackle, where his dreadful pass-blocking wouldn't be quite as big a liability. Arizona had a chance to draft Iowa's Riley Reiff at No. 13 overall but instead went with Notre Dame receiver Michael Floyd to help bolster a receiving corps that has been in need of a solid second option since Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston were sent packing.
We're not necessarily saying that drafting Floyd was the wrong move -- if the Cardinals felt he was the best player on their board, selecting him was the best they could have done at the spot. But in the short term, this is a team that finished 27th in Adjusted Sack Rate last season. Instead of assuring itself a solid left tackle with a high pick, Arizona is hoping it will strike gold with late-round tackle picks Bobby Massie, Senio Kelemete and Nate Potter.
To read the rest of Football Outsiders' analysis of the Arizona Cardinals, plus the biggest post-draft needs for every other team in the NFC West, you must be an ESPN Insider.
-
ESPN The Magazine subscribers
-
Need more information?
SPONSORED HEADLINES
MORE NFL HEADLINES
- Romo out at least 3 weeks after surgery
- Broncos' Moore vows to make up for gaffe
- Gronkowski has 4th surgery on left forearm
- Chargers rookie sorry he wore Raiders cap
MOST SENT STORIES ON ESPN.COM
The NFL on ESPN.com

- Follow the NFL on ESPN on Facebook
- Fantasy Football on ESPN.com | Play
- NFL preview home | NFL Nation blog
CLAYTON/FOX/SCHEFTER
- Fox: 49ers determined to reach goals
- Clayton: Packers, Patriots take it easy
- Schefter's 10 Spot: Rookie QBs ready?
MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
WEEK 1 PICKS
BOUNTY BANS OVERTURNED
- Story: Players' punishment lifted
- Bryant: Vilma's fight for his name
- Chadiha: Players' win a gut punch to Goodell
- Brandt: Ruling a blow to Goodell's power
- SportsNation: The right move?
FINAL WORD
2013 NFL DRAFT
- Ranks:
Scouts top 150 | Kiper Big Board - McShay: Top 150 numbers and trends
- McShay: Week 2 matchups to watch
- Kiper's top 5s: Seniors | Juniors
- Cheat Sheets: QBs | RBs | TEs | WRs | OL
- Defensive Cheat Sheets: DL | LBs | DBs
MORE NFL COVERAGE
- Sprow: Packers have top WR/TE group

- Polian: Which rookie QBs can win now?

- Edwards: How Vontae Davis helps Colts

- Joyner: A rookie QB revolution is upon us
- Photo gallery: Art Modell

- Clayton: Modell was mostly a model owner
- Chadiha: Meet The Indispensables
- Double Coverage: Pats-Titans breakdown
- Yasinskas: New looks for NFC South QBs
- Fleming: Rodgers is the best franchise QB
- Jaworski: The old Peyton Manning?

- Outsiders: Week 1 Upset Watch
- Joyner: Packers' D will take huge leap

- Hensley: Big Ben aims for 'elite' club
- MVP Watch: Rodgers a shoo-in?
- Rookie Watch: Why Luck is special

- Hill: A less fun NFL kickoff
- Scouts Inc.: Week 1 previews

- Seifert: Packers focused on four key stats
- Horton: How Eagles adapt to Kelly's scheme
- Millman: 2013 NFL win total picks
- Tuley: Best early-season win-total bets
- Red Flags: NFC East | North | South | West
- Kiper: 2014 Big Board | Top TEs | OLBs | ILBs

