These Dynasty Players Will be replaced in the 2025 NFL Draft (NFC West)

By Calvin PriceJanuary 25, 2025
These Dynasty Players Will be replaced in the 2025 NFL Draft (NFC West)

In this series, I examine which fantasy-relevant 2025 rookies will be good fits on each NFL team. This week, I’m looking at the teams in the NFC West. In this series, I’ll be highlighting how much of a need each offensive skill position is for each team. I’ll provide a rating out of 10 for how much of a need each position is. Then, I will identify the best (and most realistic) fits among 2025 prospects.

  

 

Los Angeles Rams

 

Quarterback - (3/10) 

 

Matthew Stafford is approaching the end of his career. During this season, he showed he can still perform at a high level; he’s contemplated retirement openly for a few years now. 

 

Adding a mid-round passer to develop behind Stafford would allow the Rams to avoid the potential for a full rebuild following Stafford’s retirement. 

 

Running Back - (0/10) 

 

Kyren Williams had another strong, healthy season. While Blake Corum wasn’t used much as a rookie, that’s likely more to do with coach Sean McVay’s proclivity for a dominant lead back than a distrust in Corum. The Rams have a leader and depth at running back and don’t need to address it further this offseason. 

 

 

Wide Receiver - (3/10) 

 

Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp both battled injuries throughout the 2025 season. Nacua looked just as special as he did as a rookie when he returned, but Kupp’s production was less steady. 6th-round rookie Jordan Whittington was a clear 4th option on the team but managed to impress in the opportunities he received. 

 

This position is difficult to evaluate right now. If the Rams decide to move on from Kupp due to his significant cap hit and don’t re-sign Demarcus Robinson, then wide receiver will be a significant position of need for the Rams. If Kupp comes back and/or Robinson is re-signed, the need is much less urgent. 

 

Tight End - (2/10)

 

Tyler Higbee will be healthy heading into 2025 alongside his 2024 replacement, Colby Parkinson. Neither tight end is among the best at the position league-wide, but together, they give the Rams good depth at the position

 

Best Fit – Will Howard

(Quarterback – Round 3)

 

If the Rams do decide to move on from Kupp this offseason, adding a Day 2 receiver may be a priority for the team. Assuming that at least one of Kupp or Robinson is back in 2025, though, the Rams would be well-suited to draft a young quarterback to sit behind Stafford for what may be the final season of his career. 

 

Howard is leaving college on a high note after winning the National Championship with Ohio State. Howard certainly benefited from a bevy of skill position talent around him, but his own ability shouldn’t be ignored. Howard played composed, showed good touch, and displayed his athleticism during Ohio State’s CFP run. A season behind a veteran passer like Stafford could prepare him to compete for a starting job in the NFL as soon as 2026. 

 

 

Seattle Seahawks 

 

Quarterback - (5/10) 

 

Geno Smith is a good quarterback. Unfortunately, though, the ceiling with Smith seems to be set. The passer will turn 35 early in the 2025 season and has yet to unlock the Seahawk’s offense. 

 

The Seahawks will be with a new offensive coordinator after Ryan Grubb was let go recently. Letting the offensive coordinator start fresh with a new quarterback that they have input on would likely be the preferred option. 

 

Running Back - (0/10) 

 

Kenneth Walker’s established a pretty reliable M.O. at this point in his career: excellent, explosive games, interrupted by ongoing injuries.  Luckily for the Seahawks, Zach Charbonnet has been excellent as a replacement for Walker when the explosive back misses time. 

 

While a new playcaller could favor Charbonnet even more, the Seahawks have two very good backs entering 2025. 

 

 

Wide Receiver - (2/10) 

 

Jaxson Smith-Njigba broke out in his 2nd NFL season. The receiver looked exactly as advertised coming out of college with his ability to find open space. DK Metcalf continues to string together good seasons.

 

Whether he’s the number one option for this team or not, he’ll be part of a two-headed passing attack in Seattle. While there is room to add some depth to this room, it’s far from the top priority in 2025. 

 

Tight End - (3/10) 

 

Noah Fant had his best season as a Seahawk in 2024. While he’s never lived up to the athletic profile that had scouts fall in love with him, he’s been a good producer for Seattle and would be an entirely suitable starter in 2025. 

 

Best Fit – Jaxson Dart

(Quarterback – Round 2) 

 

The Seahawks aren’t going to be selecting high enough to take any of the top quarterback prospects in 2025 and likely won’t be in a position to do so in the near future with a promising roster. Re-signing Smith without a plan for the future would be disappointing to most Seahawks fans who have come to realize the realities of Smith’s game. 

 

Adding Jaxson Dart in the 2nd round while bringing Smith back on a bridge deal would allow the Seahawks to balance competing in a wide-open NFC West next season and developing for the future. Dart showed impressive accuracy at all levels of the field in his final college season, particularly on his deep balls.

 

Dart has the mobility required to succeed in the NFL, even if he isn’t very gifted as a runner. Dart also showed good poise under pressure. Dart would benefit from having time to develop behind Smith for a season, if needed, before taking over as the starter. 

 

 

Arizona Cardinals

Quarterback - (0/10)

 

While he’s a controversial player, the Cardinals seem invested in Kyler Murray to lead this team moving forward. 

 

Running Back - (1/10) 

 

It’s going to be hard to move on from James Conner when he continues to show few signs of slowing down. Even if Conner’s role decreases as he ages, Trey Benson was added in the 3rd round last season as the heir apparent for Conner. It’s unlikely the Cardinals will make a big splash at running back in this class. 

 

Wide Receiver - (6/10) 

 

The talk around Marvin Harrison Jr.’s rookie season would have many believing he looked overwhelmed in the NFL. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. While Harrison didn’t live up to very high expectations from a fantasy standpoint, he was very clearly the most talented wide receiver on the team.

 

Outside of Harrison though, there’s obviously a need for talent at receiver. Michael Wilson and Greg Dortch showed some promise, but both are very replaceable. 

 

 

Tight End - (0/10) 

 

Trey McBride had another great season and has the tight end position secure for the Cardinals moving forward

 

Best Fit – Elic Ayomanor

(Wide Receiver – Round 2) 

 

Pairing Harrison with Elic Ayomanor could create one of the most imposing wide-receiver duos, physically speaking. Ayomanor, much like Harrison, has a great speed-size combination that makes him very difficult to defend. While Harrison entered the league as one of the more refined pass catchers with exceptional experience and production, Ayomanor is more of an unknown with minimal experience. 

 

If it weren’t for a 294-yard, 3-touchdown performance against Travis Hunter in 2023, including an absolutely ridiculous catch to win the game, Ayomanor likely would’ve been entirely off the radar of many. Playing for a Stanford team with a very poor passing game meant Ayomanor’s talents were often underutilized. Ayomanor also missed his first college season due to injury, so he only has two seasons of college football under his belt. 

 

While it may not be smart to expect Ayomanor to come in and be a difference maker right away, he has more potential than most of this class’ pass catchers to become a star at the next level.

 

 

San Francisco 49ers 


Quarterback - (0/10) 

 

Brock Purdy is a very good quarterback who had a lot of roadblocks in his way in 2024. A very large extension is likely on the way for the future of the 49ers passing attack. 

 

Running Back - (3/10) 

 

Christian McCaffrey missed almost all of 2024 with various lower body injuries. If McCaffrey can return to 2023 form, the 49ers will be in great shape to return to the top of the division and compete for a Super Bowl. McCaffrey’s health is far from guaranteed, though. Luckily for the 49ers, rookie Isaac Guerendo looked very good in his short stint as the starter in 2024. 

 

Outside of those two injury-prone backs, Jordan Mason and Elijah Mitchell are both free agents and given their success at various points in their 49ers tenures, another team may be able to offer more than the 49ers can afford. Adding some depth in the later rounds of the draft wouldn’t be surprising in this deep running back class, but I don’t expect an early-round investment from the 49ers. 

 

Wide Receiver - (4/10) 

 

Brandon Aiyuk will return in 2025 following a season-ending knee injury. Deebo Samuel, though, could be on his way out after a very difficult season. Samuel, now 29 years old, seems to have lost a step. With his physical running style and injury history, that’s not all that surprising. Cutting Samuel could leave the 49ers with a huge dead cap in 2025, but with Purdy’s extension likely kicking in in 2026, the 49ers could look to get the hit out of the way early. 

 

The 49ers first-round selection a year ago, Ricky Pearsall, ended the season strong with 14 receptions for 210 yards and two touchdowns across his last two games. With Pearsall and Jauan Jennings, the 49ers should have their starters for 2025, but adding some young depth would be prudent. 

 

 

Tight End - (0/10) 

 

George Kittle may be getting older, but he’s still among the best tight ends in the game. 

 

Best Fit – Jayden Higgins

(Wide Receiver – Round 4) 

 

The 49ers are likely to address the offensive line and defense primarily in the 2025 NFL Draft. They’ve made significant investments at wide receiver and running back already, and with the quarterback and tight end positions locked down, better health should be enough to return the 49ers to one of the better skill position teams in the league. 

 

With that said, there’s always room to improve depth in the NFL, as shown by the 49ers health struggles this past season. With Samuel’s future with the 49ers up in the air, an investment out wide would be prudent. Jayden Higgins brings great size and potential as a blocker outside, something very important to the 49ers scheme. 

 

Higgins isn’t the most athletic receiver, but he has the ability to find open spaces and reliable hands, skills that could see him make an impact even as a rookie. His versatility to play out wide or in the slot would complement Pearsall well, allowing the 49ers flexibility in their personnel and formations.