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http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/16861232/predicting-best-nfl-newcomer-all-eight-divisions#NFC W
NFC West
Josh Weinfuss, Arizona Cardinals reporter: One of the best pass-rushers in all the land now calls the NFC West home. When the Cardinals traded for Chandler Jones in March, they filled a need that could be the difference between playing in the NFC Championship Game and the Super Bowl. No other newcomer compares to his 12.5 sacks last season. There will be a lot of attention paid to two rookies in the West, Rams quarterback Jared Goff and Cardinals defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche, but neither is proven. Jones established himself as one of the elite pass-rushers in the league in 2015, despite a run-in with police that didn't result in an arrest. Though Jones might be making a one-season stop in the West, there weren't any better additions to the division.
Nick Wagoner, Los Angeles Rams reporter: Undoubtedly, the Rams hope the answer to this question at the end of the season is Goff. But that seems to be asking too much of a rookie quarterback transitioning from a spread offense to a pro-style scheme without much in the way of receiver help around him. So in an offseason in which most of the NFC West teams were pretty quiet with free-agent additions, the answer here is the one that made the defending division champions better: Jones. The Cardinals paid a high price to bring Jones over from New England, but this is a team that played in the NFC Championship Game a year ago. Though that game wasn't close enough that one player could have made the difference, the Cardinals believes Jones is the type of player who could help get them over the top and into the Super Bowl. I'm not sure Jones is that player, but there's no question he will help the Cardinals rush the passer without having to lead the league in blitzes again in 2016.
Michael Wagaman, San Francisco 49ers reporter: The return of Brandon Browner to the Seahawks' secondary was a big move, as was the addition of guard Evan Mathis to the Cardinals, but the newcomer who stands out the most is Goff. The No. 1 overall pick in the draft was an incredible talent in college who should have no problem stepping in and running an NFL offense. If the memory of Sam Bradford still causes sleepless nights for Rams fans, they should rest easy with Goff at the controls. He should be worth 3-4 more wins for Los Angeles just by being on the field.
Sheil Kapadia, Seattle Seahawks reporter: This is an easy choice: Jones. The Cardinals struggled to generate a consistent pass rush last season. According to ESPN Stats & Information, their defense produced sacks on 5.7 percent of their opponents' dropbacks. That ranked 20th in the NFL. And the Cardinals blitzed 45.1 percent of the time, more than any defense in the league, putting pressure on the players in the back end. In Jones, they get a player who had 12.5 sacks last season with the New England Patriots and has 30 sacks in his past 41 games. He will give the Cardinals' defense, which was already among the best in the league in 2015, a boost.
NFC West
Josh Weinfuss, Arizona Cardinals reporter: One of the best pass-rushers in all the land now calls the NFC West home. When the Cardinals traded for Chandler Jones in March, they filled a need that could be the difference between playing in the NFC Championship Game and the Super Bowl. No other newcomer compares to his 12.5 sacks last season. There will be a lot of attention paid to two rookies in the West, Rams quarterback Jared Goff and Cardinals defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche, but neither is proven. Jones established himself as one of the elite pass-rushers in the league in 2015, despite a run-in with police that didn't result in an arrest. Though Jones might be making a one-season stop in the West, there weren't any better additions to the division.
Nick Wagoner, Los Angeles Rams reporter: Undoubtedly, the Rams hope the answer to this question at the end of the season is Goff. But that seems to be asking too much of a rookie quarterback transitioning from a spread offense to a pro-style scheme without much in the way of receiver help around him. So in an offseason in which most of the NFC West teams were pretty quiet with free-agent additions, the answer here is the one that made the defending division champions better: Jones. The Cardinals paid a high price to bring Jones over from New England, but this is a team that played in the NFC Championship Game a year ago. Though that game wasn't close enough that one player could have made the difference, the Cardinals believes Jones is the type of player who could help get them over the top and into the Super Bowl. I'm not sure Jones is that player, but there's no question he will help the Cardinals rush the passer without having to lead the league in blitzes again in 2016.
Michael Wagaman, San Francisco 49ers reporter: The return of Brandon Browner to the Seahawks' secondary was a big move, as was the addition of guard Evan Mathis to the Cardinals, but the newcomer who stands out the most is Goff. The No. 1 overall pick in the draft was an incredible talent in college who should have no problem stepping in and running an NFL offense. If the memory of Sam Bradford still causes sleepless nights for Rams fans, they should rest easy with Goff at the controls. He should be worth 3-4 more wins for Los Angeles just by being on the field.
Sheil Kapadia, Seattle Seahawks reporter: This is an easy choice: Jones. The Cardinals struggled to generate a consistent pass rush last season. According to ESPN Stats & Information, their defense produced sacks on 5.7 percent of their opponents' dropbacks. That ranked 20th in the NFL. And the Cardinals blitzed 45.1 percent of the time, more than any defense in the league, putting pressure on the players in the back end. In Jones, they get a player who had 12.5 sacks last season with the New England Patriots and has 30 sacks in his past 41 games. He will give the Cardinals' defense, which was already among the best in the league in 2015, a boost.
