As a new arms race ignites in the NFC West, a premier talent evaluator ranks the division's elite playmakers, challenging the Seahawks to keep pace with San Francisco.
As of 2025? No team in the NFC West - and no team in the NFL - could match the Seattle Seahawks.
That Super Bowl trophy stands as proof of that - forever.
But 2026 presents a different set of challenges, including a sort of "arms'' race as teams make their efforts to catch up with the Seahawks.
And according to one talent evaluator? When it comes to which individual players sit at the very top of the NFC West, in terms of a top-five ranking?
It might be Seattle having to play catch-up.
My colleague Matt Lombardo is breaking down the five best players in each division, including of course the loaded NFC West.
Here’s his in-depth look at the NFC West, and, he writes, "the players who will likely set the tone for the season.'' ... Followed by my reaction ...
No. 5 - George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers
Lombardo: "There are difference-makers, and then there are players who revolutionize the way the position is played in the modern era of the sport. Somehow, George Kittle defines both of those categories as one of the most vital players to this era of the San Francisco 49ers.
"Kittle, 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds, is a menacing presence when running routes over the middle of the field or stretching it vertically on the perimeter, and a matchup nightmare for opposing linebackers, cornerbacks, and safeties.''
FISH: Matt is onto something here, as even in a so-called “down” year for Kittle, and even amid a host of Niners injury problems, he put up numbers - including in subtle ways.
An example of that: Matt notes that Kittle "finished second among tight ends across the league with his quarterbacks producing a nearly perfect 141.7 passer rating when targeting him.''
No. 4 - Devon Witherspoon, CB, Seattle Seahawks
Lombardo: "In today’s NFL where the scales are tipped so heavily in favor of prolific passing offenses, and rosters built around elite wide receiver play, truly dominant cornerbacks have never been more vital to a defense. Or, as the Seahawks illustrated in a Super Bowl shellacking, to championships.
"Cornerbacks have become as valuable as left tackles, wide receivers, and nearly to the level of quarterbacks, and Witherspoon may be the premier player at the position in the entire sport.''
FISH: I agree with the high opinion of Witherspoon, in large part because he's so much more than just a "cover corner.''
Last season, Witherspoon was Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded cornerback, but he made all sorts of plays, even as a pass-rusher.
So ... given all of this ... how is Witherspoon’s slot only at No. 4?
No. 3 - Trent Williams, LT, San Francisco 49ers
Lombardo: "Even at age 37, Williams is still widely viewed as the premier left tackle in the sport, and he is vitally important to all facets of the 49ers’ offense ... as the road grader who paves the way for Kyle Shanahan’s scheme to fire on all cylinders.
"Proving that he’s still a few steps ahead of Father Time, Williams posted an elite 92.0 run-blocking grade at Pro Football Focus last season, instrumental to Christian McCaffrey’s resurgence as one of the game’s most dominant running backs, and while he allowed four sacks, the fact that he played 593 snaps in pass protection is meaningful context.
FISH: There's the Witherspoon answer, really; the talent in this division - at least on the top three clubs (sorry, Arizona!) - really is that impressive.
No. 2 - Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams
Lombardo: "Matthew Stafford is the byproduct of marrying one of the NFL’s most consistently efficient pocket presences and vertical threats with arguably the most innovative offensive mind in the sport.
"Los Angeles’ Stafford-Sean McVay partnership is already responsible for one of the Lombardi Trophies proudly on display at Rams Village, and the franchise is gearing up to make a legitimate run at another in the season ahead.''
FISH: Maybe the most "controversial'' pick on this list, mostly because at age 38, you figure Stafford might be ready to go downhill.
Or maybe that's just wishful thinking from the rest of the NFC West, given that last year he ran away with MVP honors with a 46 touchdowns/eight interceptions ratio.
No. 1 - Myles Garrett, EDGE, Los Angeles Rams
Lombardo: "There’s a reason the Rams traded an emergent star edge rusher in Jared Verse, a first-round pick, a second-round pick, and a third-round pick over the next three years to acquire Garrett, who very well might be Los Angeles’ missing piece to winning a second Super Bowl on their home turf at SoFi Stadium.
"Garrett is arguably the most dominant and disruptive player walking the planet, and is fresh off his second Defensive Player of the Year Award.''
FISH: This marks the least controversial pick on the list.
Garrett last year set the single-season record with 23 sacks while with a bad Cleveland Browns team. In LA, he figures to be on a defense that will get to play with leads, thus freeing him up to build on what he produced last year, which included a league-high 93.3 pass rush grade from Pro Football Focus.
In summary, Lombardo thinks the Rams have two of the best five and that the Niners have the same ... with the Seahawks' best answer here being that it's about 11 guys and 22 guys and 53 guys ... not just five.
