Over the next two weeks, we will unveil our preseason All-Division teams, as is our annual tradition around this time of year. As always, the rosters were compiled largely by a panel of one, though there was significant input from the writing and editorial staff at CBSSports.com after I took an initial run at the rosters on my own.
We began earlier this week with the NFC East, NFC North, and NFC South, and conclude the conference today with the NFC West. Next week, it's on to the AFC. Without further ado, the preseason All-NFC West Team...
Offensive skill positions
QB: Russell Wilson (SEA)
RB: Chris Carson (SEA)
WR: DK Metcalf (SEA), Tyler Lockett (SEA), DeAndre Hopkins (ARI)
TE: George Kittle (SF)
FLEX: Deebo Samuel (SF)
Let's start here: This division is SO GOOD. You could make a legitimate case for as many as three different quarterbacks, three different running backs, and seven different wide receivers to nab a slot on this roster. But alas, we can't just put every player in the division on the team.
So, Wilson it is. The Seahawks torpedoed the Let Russ Cook movement at the first sign of even moderate struggles last season, which is really unfortunate -- especially considering those struggles were related to over-aggressiveness spurred by the team's poor play on defense. With a new offensive coordinator, an upgraded offensive line, and one of the best receiver duos in the NFL, Russ should get right back to the level of play we've grown used to from him over the years. That level is simply higher than anything either Kyler Murray or Matthew Stafford has ever reached.
Carson's progression as a pass-catcher over the past couple seasons earned him the nod here over Darrell Henderson and Raheem Mostert. He's the lead ball-carrier but also likely to be the team's top receiver out of the backfield, and we don't know whether or not that's the case for his division-mates. Kittle was a lock for the roster. He's either the best or second-best all-around tight end in the NFL, an athletic marvel who is a true two-way contributor -- elite receiving and elite blocking.
It was ridiculously difficult to narrow down this group of receivers. How do you choose just four among Metcalf, Lockett, Hopkins, Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Cooper Kupp, and Robert Woods? Metcalf and Hopkins were the only locks, as they each figure to be top 10 wideouts this season. Their combination of size, athleticism, and target share all but ensures that. Then, we went with the explosive playmaking of Lockett and the Swiss Army knife versatility of Samuel. Could you make an argument for the consistency of Kupp or Woods, or the all-around potential of Aiyuk? Sure. I wouldn't even argue forcefully against it. But decisions had to be made, and we made them.
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Offensive line
OT: Trent Williams (SF), Mike McGlinchey (SF)
G: Justin Pugh (ARI), Gabe Jackson (SEA)
C: Alex Mack (SF)
Williams came back from a year away and picked up right where he left off. He's an elite left tackle, and now he's been paid like one. He's 33 years old but he's shown no signs of aging and plenty of players at that position have remained effective deeper into their 30s. Kelvin Beachum outplayed McGlinchey last season, but McGlinchey is six years younger and headed into his physical prime, working in a Shanahan scheme that puts players in position to succeed. He gets the nod here.
Pugh has turned into a very solid guard after flipping back and forth between guard and tackle early in his career. The Cardinals have upgraded some of the pieces around him, so he should get more shine this year. One of two former Raiders to get traded to a team in the NFC West, Jackson is a massive upgrade on what the Seahawks had at guard before his arrival. Were it not for Mack reuniting with Shanahan in the Bay, the Cardinals' Rodney Hudson would have gotten the center spot.
Defensive front
EDGE: Nick Bosa (SF), Chandler Jones (ARI)
IDL: Aaron Donald (LAR), J.J. Watt (ARI)
LB: Bobby Wagner (SEA), Fred Warner (SF)
FLEX: Arik Armstead (SF)
Imagine actually having to face this defensive front. Legit terrifying. I don't even have any more to say.
Defensive backfield
CB: Jalen Ramsey (LAR), Darious Williams (LAR), Byron Murphy
SAF: Budda Baker (ARI), Jordan Fuller (LAR)
Ramsey is the best corner in the NFL. The way Brandon Staley moved him around the formation last year solidified that, and Raheem Morris will surely allow him to do many of the same things this year. Williams had a surprising breakout season across from Ramsey, and despite his height (5-9) he has the length and ball skills to remain an impact corner this year. Murphy took a slight step backward last year, but honestly, the pickings are kind of slim at corner after Shaquill Griffin, Troy Hill, Richard Sherman, and Patrick Peterson departed the division in the offseason. Jason Verrett is still around but cannot be counted on to stay healthy. Tre Flowers and Ahkello Witherspoon have been... fine. So, Murphy's pedigree wins out.
Baker's success in his role should make teams think twice about over-valuing size at the safety position. He can do everything. (Except outrun DK Metcalf.) You might be wondering why Jamal Adams isn't the second safety here. The answer is because he is not really a safety. He lines up as a linebacker and edge rusher more than anything else and doesn't do all that many safety-like things. He finished last season with 9.5 sacks, three passes defensed, and no picks. Those are not safety numbers. Anyway, Fuller was one of the steals of the 2020 draft and the Rams trust him enough to give him the green play-calling dot on his helmet this year. He's going to break out in a big way.
Specialists
K: Jason Myers (SEA)
P: Michael Dickson (SEA)
RET: Richie James (SF)
I won't lie, I deferred to our resident expert, John Breech, when it came to the kickers and punters. He told me that Myers was the best kicker and Dickson the best punter in this division, and I believe him. All the returners from this division who did anything of note last season either left or are not longer in position to be a return man, so we'll default to James, who was at least pretty good in the role in 2018 and 2019.
