[BobCarl]

Interesting format by PPF ... I'm not reading the entire 72-minute reading time article. I let Nate do it for us.

https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-2025-roste ... -x-factors


2025 PFF NFL Roster Rankings: NFC West Summary & Deep Dive
(by Nate Kessler, AI from SportsGPT)

PFF recently published their annual NFL Roster Rankings, offering a detailed look at strengths, weaknesses, X-factors, and rookies to watch for all 32 teams. Here's a breakdown focused solely on the NFC West — including where the Rams stand heading into 2025.

Los Angeles Rams (Ranked #6 Overall)
Strength: Wide Receiver Group
The Rams led the NFL in PFF receiving grade, thanks largely to Puka Nacua (92.6). With Cooper Kupp and Demarcus Robinson gone, LA added Davante Adams to partner with Nacua. That duo could be the most lethal in the NFC.

Weakness: Pass Protection
The Rams ranked 30th in pass-blocking. Stafford’s performance under pressure suffered, and LG Steve Avila’s injury and brief move to center didn’t help cohesion. They won 7 of 8 games when their OL graded above 62.5… and just 4 of 9 otherwise.

X-Factor: Steve Avila (LG)
Avila is key to stabilizing the interior OL. After a decent 2023 (65.0 PBLK grade), he regressed to 50.6 in 2024 due to injury. A healthy, consistent Avila is critical to Stafford’s pocket stability.

Rookie to Watch: EDGE Josaiah Stewart
With Jared Verse already thriving, Stewart could complete the pass-rush duo. He posted a 27.7% win rate and 92.3 PFF pass-rush grade at Michigan last year. Undersized but explosive — think situational havoc.

San Francisco 49ers (Ranked #14 Overall)
Strength: Coverage
3rd-best coverage grade in the NFL in 2024. Fred Warner continues to lead the league's most athletic LB corps. The secondary held strong despite a declining pass rush.

Weakness: Run Defense
Stunning drop-off: 5th-worst run-defense grade in the league. Outside of Nick Bosa, no defensive lineman graded even 60.0 in run D.

X-Factor: Christian McCaffrey (RB)
Injuries derailed his 2024. He’ll be 29 this season — can he stay healthy? SF’s offense needs him fully operational to remain explosive.

Rookie to Watch: EDGE Mykel Williams
Drafted to fix that run D. He posted an 86.6 run-defense grade at Georgia and could start immediately. Not flashy, but foundational.

🟣 Arizona Cardinals (Ranked #19 Overall)
Strength: Ground Game
James Conner led a bruising rushing attack with a 90.6 grade. The run-blocking line ranked 14th, giving the offense its best identity.

Weakness: Pass Rush
Bottom-two pass-rush grade. The additions of Josh Sweat and Calais Campbell aim to address this, but it’s a rebuild in progress.

X-Factor: Michael Wilson (WR)
With Marvin Harrison Jr. and TE Trey McBride demanding attention, Wilson must become a consistent WR2. He faded badly after Week 5 in 2024.

Rookie to Watch: CB Will Johnson
Stunned many by falling to the 2nd round. He logged a 91.3 coverage grade at Michigan and could instantly upgrade one of the NFL’s worst CB rooms.

🟢 Seattle Seahawks (Ranked #22 Overall)
Strength: Offensive Skill Players
Kenneth Walker III, Metcalf, Lockett, and Smith-Njigba led a unit that ranked top-8 in passing, rushing, and receiving. Smith-Njigba emerged with an 83.5 grade, finally living up to expectations.

Weakness: Offensive Line
Injuries and inconsistency led to a 26th-ranked pass-blocking grade. Seattle lost 6 of 10 games when OL performance dipped below 66.0.

X-Factor: QB Sam Darnold
Coming off a career-best season in Minnesota, Darnold replaces Geno Smith. His 88.5 play-action grade fits Seattle's system — but he needs time to throw.

Rookie to Watch: OL Grey Zabel
Played left tackle at NDSU, but could slot in at guard or center. Smart, athletic, and versatile — could be Seattle’s best OL investment since Cross.

NFC West Snapshot (2025 Outlook)
Team Strength Weakness X-Factor Rookie to Watch
Rams WR Talent (Nacua/Adams) Pass Blocking Steve Avila (LG) Josaiah Stewart (EDGE)
49ers Coverage Unit Run Defense Christian McCaffrey Mykel Williams (EDGE)
Cardinals Running Game Pass Rush Michael Wilson (WR) Will Johnson (CB)
Seahawks Skill Positions O-Line Sam Darnold (QB) Grey Zabel (OL)

Final Word:
The Rams are the highest-ranked NFC West team in these rankings and arguably the best equipped for a deep playoff run — but they’ll need better pass protection to get there. The 49ers remain dangerous but flawed, while the Seahawks and Cardinals are intriguing sleepers with high-variance rosters. Should be a wild race out West in 2025.

(Posted by Nate Kessler – AI from SportsGPT)

[BobCarl]

2025 NFL Roster Rankings (PFF)
1. Philadelphia Eagles
2. Baltimore Ravens
3. Detroit Lions
4. Kansas City Chiefs
5. Buffalo Bills
6. Los Angeles Rams
7. Houston Texans
8. Minnesota Vikings
9. Denver Broncos
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
11. Washington Commanders
12. Los Angeles Chargers
13. Green Bay Packers
14. San Francisco 49ers
15. Dallas Cowboys
16. Atlanta Falcons
17. Chicago Bears
18. Cincinnati Bengals
19. Arizona Cardinals
20. Indianapolis Colts
21. Pittsburgh Steelers
22. Seattle Seahawks
23. Las Vegas Raiders
24. Miami Dolphins
25. Jacksonville Jaguars
26. New England Patriots
27. New York Giants
28. New York Jets
29. Carolina Panthers
30. New Orleans Saints
31. Tennessee Titans
32. Cleveland Browns

[RainalldayRam]

Looks about right to me, except for Detroit. Maybe should be lower after losing all-pro center
and coordinators?

[69RamFan]

We beat the Bills, and came close to beating the Eagles in the playoffs,
while the Chiefs got blown out by the Eagles,
then Detroit, while losing two close games last season and the year before,
while they lose an all-pro Center and their OC.
Based off the growth of our team and the addition of FA/Draft,
I would put us higher than sixth,
I would say fourth a head of KC & Buffalo. IMO

[safer]

I think we are fairly placed. Tampa Bay should be moved up a couple spots---really, thou, this list is pretty valid to me.

[Elvis]

Worth remembering this is a roster ranking, not a power ranking.

Chiefs seem high to me. They're doing it with Mahomes, great coaching and not a whole lot else.

As far as the Rams go, any way you slice it they're a legit contender. Now they gotta go out and do it...

[Joe Pendleton]

thanks BC, for posting "Nate".. i especially liked "the final word" part.. great stuff!

[snackdaddy]

Kenneth Walker III, Metcalf, Lockett, and Smith-Njigba led a unit that ranked top-8 in passing, rushing, and receiving.

Someone might wanna remind PFF that Metcalf and Lockett are no longer on that roster if they're using last year's ranking to come up with that determination. Since that comment mentioned passing that would include their starting QB in that ranking. He's also gone. I don't think many will consider Darnold an upgrade there.

[Dare]

This is why I laugh at PFF as do professional coaches.

Stewart is Hoecht's replacement who was a rotational player. He isn't replacing Young that PFF doesn't know who he is. I bet Fiske has a bigger impact than Stewart. Yeah Stewart looks like a good rookie but to think he's a rookie starter over Young and is a bigger factor than Turner and Fiske is beyond laughable.

They act like Young, Turner and Fisk are non-factors. They are bigger factors in regard to defensive success than Stewart.

PFF is a bad joke for and this stuff simply proves it. Avila was not the weak link on the OL it was Jonah Jackson who PFF completely ignore.

[BobCarl]

As far as the Rams go, any way you slice it they're a legit contender.

For Sure.