How the NFC West Will be Won Part I: Wide Receivers

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(I've recently been accepted as an NFC West columnist at Stoop Sports. So I'll be re-posting all of my work to here as well. Just in case you were wondering why there seems to be a disproportionate amount of NFC West coverage.)

After the Draft and Free Agency dust had settled, it appeared as though the receiver position was stronger in the NFC West than any mere mortal division. Then everything from a torn Achilles to a busted hip totally changed the outlook of the division’s vertical game. So how does each team stack up at receiver heading in to training camp?

Arizona: Not only do the Cardinals have the best receiver in the division in Larry Fitzgerald, they have one of the 20 greatest receivers in NFL history. But it’s no secret that Arizona’s below-average quarterback play has held Fitzgerald back at least somewhat the last three seasons. This was never more true than last season when the quarterback play resembled an NFL Films blooper special. Hell, their entire season on offense should have been narrated by Steve Sabol while funny music played in the background.

The motley crew of Ryan Lindley, Jon Skelton, Kevin Kolb and Brian Hoyer held Fitz to 71 catches for 798 yards. Fitzgerald will be 30 when the 2013 opener rolls around so while it’s safe to assume he’ll be better off with Carson Palmer at quarterback, one has to wonder how much of his drop in production is related to his age.

On the bright side for Arizona, last year’s first-round pick and Fitzgerald’s heir-apparent, Michael Floyd put up respectable numbers (45 rec. 562 yards) for a rookie playing with horrendous quarterbacks. There will be plenty of pressure on Floyd to show second-year growth especially after 2013 draft pick Ryan Swope has elected to retire due to concussion issues. Beyond Floyd; Andre Roberts is the only receiver who has had any production at the pro level.

While the wide receiver position is anything but perfect in Arizona right now, it has potential. When the Cardinals struggle in 2013, it will be because of a tough divisional schedule and growing pains more than anything else.

Seattle: In 2012 Russell Wilson took the NFL by storm and tied Peyton Manning’s rookie touchdown record (26) with a receiving core that redefined mediocrity (Sidney Rice, Golden Tate, Zach Miller and Doug Baldwin took the brunt of the receiving load in 2012). So you’ll have to excuse Seattle fans for being slightly bummed out at the possibility of losing free-agent signee Percy Harvin for the season. Harvin is one of the more dynamic and versatile offensive threats in the NFL.

While Rice has never replicated his 2009 success, he’s a capable number one option especially in an offense predicated on the run/read-option. The player to watch in this receiving core may be Baldwin as he moves from year one to year two.

So, while the Seahawks will be without Harvin’s added value, they’re more than competent at the receiver position.

San Francisco: Just a year removed from making the jump to “elite” status, star receiver Michael Crabtree will likely sit out all of 2013 with a torn Achilles tendon. Jim Harbaugh and the Niners hope Anquan Boldin, whom they received for almost nothing in a trade with the Ravens, can replace Crabtree’s production. Boldin is among the most productive receivers in NFL history but has been nothing more than average the past three seasons. He almost certainly can’t replace Crabtree but as 2012 showed; he’s capable of being the first option on a championship team.

Beyond Boldin, Kaepernick will have plenty of capable targets with Vernon Davis and Mario Manningham returning. It will also be interesting to see who among Ted Ginn Jr., Kyle Williams, Delanie Walker and A.J Jenkins takes on a more prominent role.

The Crabtree injury certainly won’t help the 49ers chances, but if there’s one coach who can minimize the damage it causes, it’s Jim Harbaugh.

St. Louis: Youth is the operative word for the St. Louis receiving core. After losing Danny Amendola to the Patriots, the Rams will rely heavily on the production of young receivers. They spent first and third-round draft picks on Tavon Austin and Bailey Stedman in an attempt to finally surround Sam Bradford with quality targets. Joining the rookie duo will be young wide-outs Chris Givens (23), Lance Kendricks (25) and Austin Pettis (25). It goes without saying that development and growth will be key for the Rams in 2013. But after going 7-8-1 with the league’s second-toughest schedule in 2012, the Rams may be primed for more than just growth and development. It will be interesting to see how this receiving core stands up to late-game challenges in December and (perhaps) January.

Stay hungry, my friends.