While the seemingly endless period between the NFL Draft and the beginning of the preseason can be a boring time for many NFL fans, it is never too early to analyze the best players in the league. This week, the Last Word On Sports NFL department will be compiling a list of the ten best players in each division heading into the 2016 season. The focus of this article is the NFC West.
Top Players of the NFC West Heading into 2016
- Aaron Donald, DT, St. Louis Rams
Aaron Donald is not only the best player in the NFC West, but perhaps the best player in the entire league. Though the hardware for best defensive player may belong to J.J. Watt, Donald has been nearly as destructive to opposing offenses while lining up as an interior lineman. He doesn’t stuff the stat sheet quite as much as an edge rusher like Watt, but he still tallied an impressive 11 sacks during 2015. Donald’s quick first step has made him a force to be reckoned no matter who he’s lining up against, which is why there’s not another player in the division who even has an argument for this top spot at this point.
- Tyrann Mathieu, CB, Arizona Cardinals
Tyrann Mathieu unfortunately suffered a torn ACL late in 2015, or else perhaps he could have at least staked a claim to the top spot on this list. Despite the injury, Mathieu was one of the top defensive players in the entire league last season and has a valid argument for being the number one secondary player in the league. Barring a hiccup from his recovering ACL, the playmaking defensive back is likely to continue his rise into the ranks of the NFL elites.
- Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks
Despite missing out on a third consecutive trip to the Super Bowl, 2015 will be remembered as the year that established Russell Wilson as one of top quarterbacks in the game. Despite Marshawn Lynch often sidelined with injuries and an offensive line that struggled to protect him, Wilson continued his meteoric rise with his best season yet, as he totaled career-highs in completion percentage (68.1), passing yards (4,024), and an impressive 34/8 touchdown to interception ratio. Heading into 2016 after such a dominating year and Lynch’s retirement, Wilson is now the sole face of the Seattle offense.
- Richard Sherman, CB, Seattle Seahawks
If Russell Wilson is the face of the Seattle offense, then Richard Sherman surely fills the same role for the defense. Though he doesn’t sit atop the perch as the best defensive back in the league anymore (or the division thanks to Tyrann Mathieu) there’s no denying that Sherman remains the leader of the fearsome Seahawks secondary. Sherman only intercepted a career-low of two passes last season, but he is far from on the decline. According to Pro Football Focus, receivers guarded by Sherman brought in one reception for every 18.4 snaps, a mark good enough for second-best in the NFL last year.
- Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals
After a 2014 year that many thought signaled the end of the Larry Fitzgerald the NFL had grown accustomed to, in 2015 he showed once again why he’s a likely Hall of Famer. Thanks in part to the incredible season that Carson Palmer had, Fitzgerald tallied his 7th 1,000 receiving yard season, which was also his first since 2011. Fitzgerald’s best years are behind him, but he remains the heart and soul of the Arizona Cardinals. His incredible playoff performance as he willed his team to an overtime victory against the Green Bay Packers in last year’s divisional round is evidence enough of how much he has left to give. Though it’s quite possible that Fitzgerald won’t have as productive of season in 2016, given his accomplishments and importance to the defending division champions, it’s difficult to not slot him as one of the division’s top five players.
- Carson Palmer, QB, Cardinals
Coming off of a year in which he was a MVP candidate, some may argue that Carson Palmer deserves a higher spot on this list. However, for a player who’s already 36 years-old, it’s not hard to assume that 2015 was a performance that will not be repeated. In addition to this, given that Fitzgerald continues to be the face of the Cardinals’ franchise, it’s hard to justify placing Palmer ahead of him entering 2016. With all that said, the Arizona signal caller was nothing short of amazing last season. Palmer completed 63.7% of his passes for 4,671 yards, while also adding 35 touchdowns and only throwing 11 interceptions on the year. Unfortunately for Palmer, his year ended short of a Super Bowl once again after a blowout loss to the Carolina Panthers in the NFC Championship Game. Entering 2016, Palmer is set to lead a dangerous Cardinals team, but the questions remain of whether or not he is capable of making, and winning a Super Bowl.
- Patrick Peterson, CB, Arizona Cardinals
What’s incredible about the NFC West is the fact that a player like Patrick Peterson can find himself so far down this list. Though Peterson is just the third best defensive back in the division, he is still one of the most talented corners in the NFL. After struggling early in his career with injuries, a healthy season in 2015 allowed Peterson’s potential to finally shine through. Remember how Richard Sherman was the second-best in the NFL at coverage snaps per reception? The lone player above him in 2015? Patrick Peterson, who surrendered a league-low of one reception for every 18.9 snaps he played coverage on.
- Michael Bennett, DE, Seattle Seahawks
Michael Bennett is another player who’s positioning on this list is greatly affected by the deep talent pool in the NFC West. In most other divisions, Bennett would likely be a top five player, nonetheless, Bennett has been the perfect compliment to the Seahawks’ elite secondary. After a career high of 10 sacks, along with two forced fumbles, Bennett has established himself as one of the premiere 4-3 pass rushers in the NFL. In fact, according to Pro Football Focus, Bennett was the most efficient 4-3 defensive end at pressuring the quarterback in 2015 with 93 total pressures.
- Earl Thomas, S, Seattle Seahawks
Once again, a quality player must settle for the bottom end of this list despite being one of the best players at his position. Earl Thomas is one of the most uniquely talented players in the league, as his dynamic skill-set gives Seattle the perfect weapon in their secondary. Thomas did see a drop in production in 2015 with 45 total tackles on the year, his lowest total since 2012. However, Thomas remains a dependable player for the Seahawks, having never missed a start in his six-year career.
- Doug Baldwin, WR, Seattle Seahawks
The final spot of the list was easily the most difficult to choose, with several quality players such as Joe Staley, Navarro Bowman, and K.J. Wright still left to choose from. However, Doug Baldwin earns the final spot due to his breakout 2015 season with 78 catches and his first thousand yard receiving year. Baldwin became a legitimate number one target for Russell Wilson last year and flashed serious playmaking ability with his 14 touchdown receptions, which was tied for most in the NFL. Incredibly enough, Baldwin also had the highest quarterback rating when targeted of all wideouts last year. Given the potential he showed, a backup performance in 2016 could catapult Baldwin up this list.
Honorable Mentions: Joe Staley, Navarro Bowman, K.J. Wright
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