Latest / Know Your Personnel Pod / 2026-2027 NFL Predictions | The NFC West has a lot of firepower, and maybe another SB Champ?

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2026-2027 NFL Predictions | The NFC West has a lot of firepower, and maybe another SB Champ? · Know Your Personnel Pod

• Nathan Hawthorne: And we are live in three. I'm gonna let it play out this time. I cut it out. I cut Jarod McInroy: Mm-hmm. Nathan Hawthorne: it out a little early last time. I was so excited to talk about the AFC Jarod McInroy: I know. Nathan Hawthorne: West. But here we are. We are back, KYP, for another special episode of our division breakdowns, bringing you today the NFC West. I'm here with my co host Jared McEnroy. We are bringing you probably the best breakdowns in the country right now. Nobody is breaking down these divisions like we are. What's are you, Jared? Jarod McInroy: They've gotta be. They've gotta be the best. I mean, you guys showed a lot of love. Continue to show love. let us know also if if you think we're we're missing something, if you think are wrong, feel free to let us know in a respectful way, would be nice. you know, we're only just two guys. but I like this format. I think this is the best way to break it down. What does Vegas tell us? Because they're the ones who have the inside scoop. They know, they know the lines, they're pretty accurate every year, year in, year out. NFC West this week. It's a tight one. It could be anybody's race. There are a lot of opinions out there. we've heard a lot of opinions from a specific fan base in this Nathan Hawthorne: Did Jarod McInroy: division. So we're gonna do it how we normally do. I'm just gonna go down the list of what all the win totals are and then we'll kind of get into it. So starting off with Arizona Cardinals, they have them at three and a half wins. The LA Rams, eleven and a half wins, the San Francisco Forty Niners, nine and a half wins. And the Seahawks ten and a half wins. What I'll start with. Vegas clearly is choosing the order of this this division. They like we we've looked at all these other divisions so far and like even the last one we did with the AFC West, like Denver and Chargers are both at nine and a half. They're saying, you know, they're a toss up. They're very close to each other. This is like they're taking a firm stance. We think it's gonna be the Rams finishing first, Seahawks second, forty niners third, and the Cardinals fourth. Like they it's a firm stance from Vegas on this one. So Nathan Hawthorne: And I don't know. I don't know that I have Jarod McInroy: Let's let's get into it. Nathan Hawthorne: a lot of pushback either. So but but who should we Jarod McInroy: we'll see. We'll see how this thing breaks down. Nathan Hawthorne: who should we start with? You want to start with the the defending Super Bowl champions? Jarod McInroy: the Super Bowl champs. Nathan Hawthorne: Yeah, you have to. We owe them that respect. The Seahawks. What a great season last year. Is it fair to say that there's a little bit of concern this year? Not on not on the defensive side at all. Just on the offensive side of the football. I think Clint Kubiak was such a big part of that offense. You alluded to it earlier, how much he was able to do with Sam Darnold, who's a very good quarterback in the NFL. It took him a while to blossom, but a very good quarterback. But really only Jackson Smith and Jigba at wide receiver. I know Cooper Cuck Cooper Cup was an excellent wide receiver. Jarod McInroy: Did she just call him Cooper Cuck? No that's that's gonna be my fantasy football name. my god That's so good. Nathan Hawthorne: I just, you know, the the alliteration got me. Hate to see it. Hate to see it. I know that the triple crown winner is excellent, but after a few injuries and just a few too many years in the NFL, he's not quite what he used to be. Rashid Shahid to me a little bit more of a special teams acquisition and a deep ball guy than truly a wide receiver. So now you've got a new offensive coordinator, Brian Fleury, who's coming in from San Francisco. first time offensive coordinator. I just I don't know a lot about him. And I'm curious, you know, with replacing Kenneth Walker with Jadarian Price and really not having any new additions to the wide receiver room, how things are gonna kind of look this year, especially on the offensive side of the football. I know the defense is gonna be great. We could go at great lengths about how awesome this defense is, but offense, I d I just got some question marks. Jarod McInroy: I think that's completely fair. and especially with the whole Jadarian Price thing, they did I it's the the death charts don't really matter that much right at the beginning, right? Like they're gonna give everybody runs, sp especially at the running back position. They did name George Helani R B one over Jadarian Price, but if you watch Hard Knocks clearly they like what he has going on. Nathan Hawthorne: Propaganda is real. Jarod McInroy: It is, of course. They they always want to defend their picks early on because they're like, Hey, this guy's all so we don't really know and we won't know until we actually see I mean, put them put your money where the your mouth is and and give this guy some run if you really believe in him. But I actually have something f funny to talk about. So we just talked a few episodes ago about the Colts and Jonathan Taylor and how we thought he could pe potentially be on the move. I was talking Nathan Hawthorne: Mm-hmm. Jarod McInroy: with the Seahawks fan. C and I kinda said, Hey, you know, I think Jonathan Taylor would fit great here. and they said, you know, we don't need Jonathan Taylor. We just win here's what I'll say. The Eagles didn't need Saquon. They won a Super Bowl without him. The f the Nathan Hawthorne: Everybody needs a little Jonathan Taylor. Jarod McInroy: 49ers went and went to a Super Bowl without CMC. a healthy run game is the best thing for a good defense. It's it it helps keep the pace of the game in your control It helps keep your defense off the field, give them a little more breaks. Like if you continuously run out your defense, that great defense is gonna get winded. Now they have holes. If they're constantly refreshed, and you feel like you're always in control of the game, it also opens up play action, it opens up your pass game that when you were just talking about a limited wide receiver room and and Sam Darnold who can turn the ball over a decent amount, like Why why wouldn't you want You you certainly don't need an insane draft next year. Like you you have a lot of guys, a lot of really young guys also who will be on the roster next year. So like it make a big swing. Make go get that luxury piece for your team. Again, and the George Jonathan Taylor's just an example for this. But like maybe it's in the wide receiver room. Maybe there's somebody who's unhappy halfway through the season. you know, I This team is really good and they're gonna be really good again. but you see a team like the Rams making big moves for somebody like Miles Garrett and like that's scary. You now have to match that. You have to go match that and it's very important. Nathan Hawthorne: They can match that. Jarod McInroy: if you can make it happen, make it happen. I still have them over ten and a half wins. I Nathan Hawthorne: Yeah, I have them I have them over a tap over ten and a half as well. And the the tough part is they've got no easy outs on their schedule. They got the Super Bowl champion schedule when you gotta now go out and face the best teams in other divisions to kind of pull things together, start writing storylines, you get rematches, et cetera, et cetera. The only easy outs are in their own division. They've got the Cardinals twice and then they got the Giants on their schedule. Outside of that, I didn't look and say, wow, okay, that's a for sure win. That's a for sure win. Like There's a lot of quality teams in the NFL right now. And because your division has, again, two other teams that are so high quality, like you're just not finding a lot of places for rest. That's six of your games this year. Gone, right? Just for your division. So it it'll be interesting. And again, I'm not it I don't have fear for their offense, but I I'm just very curious. But I mean, defense, my gosh. Get Eamon Wari healthy. they still got Ernest Jones, they still got Byron Murphy, like they've just got so many dice. They added Witherspoons Jarod McInroy: Weather spoon is so good, bro. Nathan Hawthorne: great. Like, I don't mind that they moved on from Tariq One. You've still got Dante Fowler to replace Boy Maffey. You've got Demarcus Lawrence. Like this defense is loaded and Mike McDonald has proven to be the defensive wizard. So again, there's no reason that this team can't go back to back and win the Super Bowl again. But if there is a limitation, It is going to be whether or not that offense finds a way to click early enough in the season to win some of those games where they're relying on their defense. Jarod McInroy: Yeah. And we saw also I thought AJ Barner had a heck of a season. I thought he made a big jump and he looked really good. Nathan Hawthorne: Who stand up AJ Barner? Jarod McInroy: I really liked their pick of Elijah Arroy Arroyo out of Miami two years ago. I thought that was also a really good pickup from them 'cause he's extremely talented. I think he'll make another jump now that he gets a little more run in the league. I th yeah, they they just got a lot of a lot of guys. I I I struggle with Charbonnet as a as your number one running back option never Nathan Hawthorne: And he's not and he's not healthy right now either. Jarod McInroy: healthy. He's never healthy. So that's why I'm like this is it's important to get get that running back room ready to go. However you need to do it. when they were at their best last year, their run game was awesome. That it just boils down to to that one specific fact. So we'll see what they do to replace it. I just I don't know man. I have a hard time. I I I talk myself out of it every time I really think about them because of how good of a coach Kubiak is, a play caller, a play designer, everything. Like he knows how he knows how to make this team work, but at the same time, a a lot less talented team. Mike McDonald won what eleven games with the year b prior. So like Mike Nathan Hawthorne: Mm-hmm. Jarod McInroy: McDonald Mike McDonald is a huge piece of this puzzle. So like I'm Nathan Hawthorne: Huge, huge. Jarod McInroy: not gonna just count him out because Kubiak's gone. Nathan Hawthorne: Listen, if if they hit on Bud Clark, the TCU safety, we're gonna start talking Legion of Boom type dangerous. These guys are so physical. Again, Eamon Wari, I love you. Please get healthy. But yeah, again, there's no reason that this team can't and shouldn't win eleven games and make another deep playoff run. They're that good. Jarod McInroy: Yeah, Legion of Boom, but also like we're gonna need to start talking about John Schneider as like an all-time defensive GM, bro. Like all of a sudden he's he's picking names out of nowhere that are that are all hits. So weird guy. Nathan Hawthorne: He's he's such an interesting guy too. Such an interesting guy. Jarod McInroy: Yeah, real weird. but like I said, I have them finishing second in the division this time around. Cause there's Nathan Hawthorne: Interesting. Jarod McInroy: Dude, the Rams are like the Dodgers right now. Like they they really are. Eleven and a half is crazy. I think so far that's Nathan Hawthorne: That is crazy. Jarod McInroy: the highest total we've seen out of all of all of the teams we've we've looked into. I think eleven and a half is the highest if I'm correct. Nathan Hawthorne: Th they just again it's a situation. They have no easy outs either, other than Arizona. I'm looking up and down their schedule. Every team they play is hard. And they got the Giants also. It's so it's the same thing for the Seahawks. Like, it's hard. Clobbered, brother. Clobbered. Jarod McInroy: Giants are getting beat up all this year. Nathan Hawthorne: I'm sorry, but keep going. Talk talk to me about the Rams and what you're seeing about the the Jarod McInroy: No, yeah, I there's just Nathan Hawthorne: Dodgers. Jarod McInroy: when you when you have a team with this much star power, like it the hard schedule does not matter. It doesn't. Like, yes, it's gonna beat up on you, but th y you are the powerhouse. It doesn't matter how Nathan Hawthorne: That is true. Jarod McInroy: good the other team is, like you are still better than them. So, I think they got a chip on their shoulder after that whole Seahawks debacle with the two point conversion last year. They felt cheated Nathan Hawthorne: my gosh. Jarod McInroy: out of the division. Dude, they're still talking about it. And I'm not not trying to pick on any fans here, okay? I'm on your guys' side. I think you're great. You're number one. You won the division. That's how I see it. But Yeah, they're still talking about it, man. The Puka situation's gotta get itself figured out. It's it's a knick neck injury here. It's an off the field issue here. It's bro, you have the opportunity to be Nathan Hawthorne: What's he doing biting people? Jarod McInroy: bro, he's a fool. The you're you have you're a top five receiver in the NFL on the best team in the NFL, arguably. Figured out. It's as simple as that. Like Tay Adams is as solid as it gets. He's gonna be the sure handed guy. I'm sure him and Stafford have become really good friends, but he's getting older and you need that young guy who's gonna be the star. He needs to be the wide receiver one. And Devontae Adams, I think, loves being a wide receiver two at this point. Like that's there's worse things to be than being a wide receiver two to Puka. Like you're gonna get tons of opportunity But if you have to play wide receiver one, a lot of that opportunity goes away. and then yeah, running back room, Kyron Williams against as solid as they come. somebody who deals with injuries here and there also. But dude, McVay's just he's he's I is he is he the best coach in the NFL now? Like is that is that solidified number one? Nathan Hawthorne: It's hard argue. Hard to argue otherwise. He can he continues to do Jarod McInroy: I I have a tough time. Nathan Hawthorne: it. He continues to do it year in, year out, losing losing a coordinator every single year to some coaching job. He just he knows how to organize and put his team together. He knows how to take the vision that he has. He knows how to create the vision, disseminate the vision to his coaching staff and make sure it gets coached all the way through. Down through the players, down through the equipment staff, the janitorial staff. Like everybody is so on the same page in that building. And it's incredible. What are you doing acquiring Trent McDuffie and Miles Garrett in the same offseason? Like, what are we what are we talking about? Jarod McInroy: Yeah. I didn't even talk about McDuffie, did I? Dude. Nathan Hawthorne: Again, like the offense we know, Kyron Williams is great. Blake Coram started to kind of show show up towards the end of last year. Maybe some things are clicking for him. They're starting to speed up. Puka and Devante are great. Again, both of them kind of need to stay healthy though. Because they both have those knickknacks, a hamstring here, this, that, and the other. maybe CJ Daniels, the the cat out of Miami that they drafted popped. but again, like Jarod McInroy: Big guy. Nathan Hawthorne: Matt's Matt Stafford is playing the best quarterback in the L in the NFL right now. I mean, you might not have him number one in terms of overall, but nobody's slinging it like him. He was the MVP. He's gonna do it. their offensive line continues to be strong with Avila, they got Coleman Shelton. Kevin Dotson, like they're just they're just well rounded everywhere. And again, that Sean McVay running system. they just they know how to be so incredibly efficient. So I just anticipate them having another great season. And then now the defense, wow. You've got Chris Shula, he's coming back again. you've got talent. You've got talent. You think he you think he was ready for a job? Chris Shula? Was he really? Jarod McInroy: They're lucky. He could have got a job somewhere else. The I I think he was in the run. He was in the run for a few positions, Miami being one of so to have him come back, yeah, that's that's a big big step. That shows I mean, if people are giving him interviews, he's probably not gonna be their past this year, especially if they succeed the way we think they're going to. Nathan Hawthorne: But yeah, Brandon Fisk, Byron Young. they also stole Jalen Watson from the Chiefs. So you got two Super Bowl winning players on your back end in terms of experience. and again, just the the icing on the cake that you have with Miles Garrett. And who knows whether or not Aaron Donald actually comes back or not and what condition he would be in, but he can't he can't be that bad. So Jarod McInroy: He's coming back and he's in good shape. I can tell you I've seen some videos. Bro, I Nathan Hawthorne: It's just yeah, it's a it's impressive that they I I love their strategy in the way that they don't care about the picks. They say we'll give up first round picks if we're getting a guy that you could literally never get again in the first round. Everyone's like, you know, they don't draft and develop. Like they develop guys just fine. It's just when they see the icing on the cake and all the other pieces are there, they're like, I'm gonna go get and be aggressive. Like I said, they're the Dodgers. Jarod McInroy: I will clown them tiny bit though if you're gonna make the pick. Ty Simpson was a strange choice to be the pick that you made. Nathan Hawthorne: No, what were you doing? Jarod McInroy: But we don't need it we don't need that's whatever. We'll we'll get on them later on in the in life. Nathan Hawthorne: What are you doing, BB? Like Ruben Bain was still on the board. Kenyon Sid. Imagine if they drafted Kenya Makai Lemon was Jarod McInroy: I it's the firm stance now though. there was so there was endless names. There are Nathan Hawthorne: out there. You could have stacked that wide receiver room. Akeem Mesador, Malachi Jarod McInroy: Endless names they could have picked. Nathan Hawthorne: Lawrence. It's also, sorry, I gotta shout out my organ guy. Terrence Ferguson. Watch out for him. He can end up being the number I like Tyler Higby. I can't remember who the other cat is, but watch out for Terrence Ferguson this year at tight end. He's gonna drop that bomb now. Jarod McInroy: I think they're gonna dominate. They're gonna dominate all year long. I think Stafford's going for another MVP. I think Puga's gonna try and go for the belt. I think he has internal battle against JSN in that argument that he Nathan Hawthorne: Mm-hmm. Jarod McInroy: he knows in the back of his mind when they face off every single time that he won and JSN got the best of him last year. He did. He's he right now I think everybody can argue that JSN's Nathan Hawthorne: And they were both sick. Jarod McInroy: got the edge. I know. So dude, they're gonna be coming up. Firing. Now, before we get into the forty nineers, very quickly, you know I'm a conspiracy guy. Nathan Hawthorne: to me. Jarod McInroy: And you know I already said if Trevor Lawrence leaves, he's going to the Rams as Stafford's replacement. Maybe the whole point of this was Ty Simpson is going to be the leading piece in those discussions because they don't have many picks to give on later on because they had to give him up for Miles Garrett. So maybe it's hey, two years from now we'll give you our first, and the year after that a first, and Ty Simpson if you give us Trevor Lawrence. Now we have a package and we and we don't have to watch him actually play because Stafford's in there. So we don't know whether this guy's any good or not. There's a lot of mystery. Nathan Hawthorne: It would be the greatest move. It'd be pretty it'd Jarod McInroy: Yeah. Nathan Hawthorne: be pretty impressive to be thinking I mean that's their job is to think that far in advance, but that'd be pretty impressive. Jarod McInroy: That's how you make a twenty twenty six pick valuable two years from now. Is you have to make the pick. And quarterback we know is a very important position. Conspiracy, Nathan Hawthorne: Less needs a guy. Jarod McInroy: Jared. Okay. Here we go. Forty Niners. Listen, before we start take everything we say with a grain of salt. None of this is personal. We don't care like we we don't care that much about you guys. Nathan Hawthorne: No, it's personal with you Niners fans. It's personal. Jarod McInroy: Leave us alone. You get in out of any fan base so far. There's been nothing but respect. Titans fans have gone out on a limb, but they've been respectful mostly overall. Jacksonville fans, like so many fan bases. The 49ers fans have been nothing but disrespectful to us. Turn it around. This is your chance. Take every be constructive of your own team. We want to see you guys be better. We want you to be better. You want you to be better. But this false hope, this th this talk is Nathan Hawthorne: Everybody wants you to be better. Jarod McInroy: crazy. Just Be constructive of your own team. Take a step back and remember it's not personal. Now, nine and a half wins. Where do you got Nathan Hawthorne: man, I've got if you could have them win nine and a half games, like nine games, nine games in a tie, I would do it. it's it's hard for me to unsee the amount of talent on the roster, but it's easy to see how this could go south really, really quick. if healthy, this is a very dangerous offense. you've got Christian McCaffrey, but he was your receptions leader last year. By like over fifty receptions. And then next was Kittle, who's now coming off an Achilles injury. And then Juwan Jennings had, I think, 55, and he's out the door. Right? So who did you bring in? You brought in Mike Evans. He's gonna old and injured. He's already dealing with an injury because of the sub the substation. Gotta watch out for that. Christian Kirk has a calf strain. Calf strains tend to lead to Achilles injuries for explosive players. I'm not saying that's gonna happen. I'm just saying you gotta watch out for it. Pearsall's out for the year. Who knows what's going on with Brandon Ayuk? Don't try and sell me Debo Samuel. I'm not hearing it. I think he's a great chess piece. He's a very good player. But there's a reason you guys were willing to let him go last year. And now he's back. You basically got him back on for free. But the requirement for the 49ers is Brock Purdy stays healthy, and Deshaun Stribling has to pop immediately. If you don't, this is gonna get really questionable really fast. Again, like you can't rely on any of these players to be available on a consistent basis. I know that regardless of who's quarterbacking, whether that's Brock or Mac Jones, and who's available, Shanahan's gonna produce some level of a productive offense, but it might not be a winning offense. Jarod McInroy: I love that. Mic drop. Nathan Hawthorne: Bye. Jarod McInroy: Here's what I'll say. I'm taking the over at a nine and a half wounds. I'm I'm gonna take the over. It could be exactly ten. But we saw them all make the playoffs last year and I think it's gonna be a lot of the same this year. I think the only other division I mean there's three wild card spots, right? So if they take two Nathan Hawthorne: I mean they got in because Tampa Bay and other NFC teams fell apart. They got they got gifted this. Jarod McInroy: Exactly. And I think they're we already told them we already we already said that we don't think they're gonna do too much th those other divisions. I think it's gonna be very similar. the NFC North is the only division where I'm like, Okay, they got all four of those teams could make a case for the playoffs, like realistically. So there's gonna be a battle for those four spots or those three spots rather in the wild card. I don't want to be disrespectful, but also I don't care. So take this for what you will. It's almost like the Seahawks and the Rams are like, you know, the older brothers that are in high school and then like the forty niners are the middle school brother, the third brother, the youngest, who's like, Hey, I wanna fight and, you know, play with you guys too, but like they take it easy on the guy it but they never really take him serious, you know? He's just he's just the younger brother. Like it's it it Nathan Hawthorne: Whoa. Do you mean just like the last year? Cause this team was recently in the Super Bowl. Jarod McInroy: No, yeah, this is just talking about right now and like last year specifically, but I think if you asked the Rams and you asked the Seahawks both, they think of this as a two horse race. Like respectfully, they do. I think they all have a lot of concerns with the San Francisco team. With that being said, I will never count Kyle Shanahan out. I I won't. I I saw a very interesting video earlier and I I was meaning to write down the name of the channel because I always like to give respect to whoever's doing it. It was a very creative thought, but it they were saying, would you take Kyle Shanahan or this quarterback? Like if you're starting a franchise fresh, there's not many quarterbacks I would take over like being gifted Kyle Shanahan as your head coach. Like there's maybe what, like Pat, Josh Allen and who else really? Where you're like Nathan Hawthorne: Yeah, great question. Jarod McInroy: If I'm starting fresh, Kala Shanahan is a very, very, very good coach who knows how and we were just previously in the last episode I was talking about Mike McDaniel. Mike McDaniel is this way because he came from the Shanahan tree. Like nobody knows how to do this better than him. McVeigh's been gifted a lot of talent, so there there's kind of like a gap in Is it the talent? Is it the coaching? It's kind of all the above. You know, it's always been the perse perfect recipe, so we've never had to see McVeigh in a struggling situation. Shanahan, I I would argue to say we've seen him with a lot of limitations. We saw him with Jimmy Garoppolo, who clearly never worked anywhere else and wasn't much other than you know, honestly, just an okay quarterback. Nathan Hawthorne: I mean, but how much how much of that's Sha how much of that is Shanahan saying, I can do it with this and John Lynch not going out and making those aggressive moves? The most the most aggressive move that it's been is getting CMC. But Mc McVay's Jarod McInroy: it d you can point fingers at anybody. Yeah. No a hundred percent. Nathan Hawthorne: asking for a new toy every offseason and he seems to get it. And he's getting Jarod McInroy: And he's getting But Shanahan's not. Shanahan's not. They had to hit on Kittle. They had to like hit let hit on IUK. Like they these things are like these these are homegrown people. Like the the biggest signing you're getting is an old Mike Evans. Like why was this not Nathan Hawthorne: Yeah, that's a tough scene. Jarod McInroy: getting you Mike Evans three years ago? Like why why was that not a thing? Like there's whoever you want to blame for it, Shanahan's had his limitations and dude he makes he makes a lot out of it. so Nathan Hawthorne: Yeah. Jarod McInroy: I I c I I can't count out. I I see the I see the number, but I see them as the third best team in the division. Nathan Hawthorne: Yeah, I think that they're the third best team in the division. They lost Mike LaFleur in division two, the Cardinals. you brought in Clay Kubiak, brother of Clint. Just the Kubiak family. Talk about just another football family, along with the Harbaughs and the Shanahans. Jarod McInroy: Love it. Nathan Hawthorne: Just some real football guys, don't you know? You got Raheem Morris to replace Robert Salah. you know, obviously Raheem was just fired from the Falcons. I think he's a great defensive coach. He was great with the Rams. he's great at communicating. You're gonna see probably less obvious cover three. You're gonna see some You're gonna see a little bit more disguise, especially met mixing the fronts with the D line, but they just have so much talent. Bosa hopefully can come back healthy enough. You still got Collins and Davis, Fred Warner, Drake, Trey Greenlaw, Denominore Denore, Malik, Denominor Lenore, Malik Mustafa. Like they've got tons of defensive talent. my only knock on Raheem Morris is I didn't see him really push that physicality. And physicality is a big part of what makes the Niners defense so imposing, or what has made it imposing. And we saw it look a little shaky when it had Steve Wilkes as the DC. And once you lose that physical edge, things didn't quite sync up with the way the offense was playing. so again, I'm not worried. I'm just curious. Again, you've got two new coordinators in there, how these things are gonna mesh and work. you know, obviously Shanahan's still calling the plays, but you know, this again, this is gonna be a good Niners team if you had to force me to take the over the under, I'm probably taking the over, but I I just nine and a half would be such a perfect number if you could give credit for half a win. Jarod McInroy: I'm a big fan of Raheem Morris, by the way. I've defended him previously Nathan Hawthorne: I like Raheem. Jarod McInroy: and I'll I'll continue to do so. but Nathan Hawthorne: There's just something about that Falcons franchise, man. They make it so hard. we'll get into we'll get into that when we Jarod McInroy: Weird. Yeah. Nathan Hawthorne: do the when we do that division breakdown. wait, we already did that. We already did that. Dang, I didn't talk about it enough. Jarod McInroy: We already do. Yeah. I think we'd laid into him plenty. here's what I'll say though also, is it it just with the weapons and we've like this division specifically, there's so many good names that it's like you you wanna compete. It feels like all of their weapons are just they're just injured and they're old and it's like Nathan Hawthorne: Four four years too late. Jarod McInroy: it's like, hey, do they have another war left in Can they just all put it together Nathan Hawthorne: Yeah. Jarod McInroy: and Yeah, I I we'll see. We'll see. Nathan Hawthorne: You just you got you just got a bunch of Sir Baristons, you know, great in his prime, but you know, he's a little old. He's a little old, you know. Jarod McInroy: Yeah. Yeah. is that a Game of Thrones reference that that we just got out of that? Nice. Love squeezing that one in. Nathan Hawthorne: That was a Game of Thrones reference. Yeah. We got and if you like we'll bring more. Just let us know. Jarod McInroy: okay, so right now as we have it, we have the Rams first, Seahawks second, forty niners third. let's just talk about this this last last team really quickly. three and a half wins for the Arizona Cardinals. Who cares? I d I under, I guess. Who cares? Do you care? Yeah, under three and a half. Like it w Nathan Hawthorne: Under. Well, I I care. This this to me is like the Raiders. I think that they can win more than four games. I think their offense has enough talent with Mike LaFleur now as the head coach to win more than four games. I think their defense is buns, but their offense has they're Jarod McInroy: They're terrible. Nathan Hawthorne: terrible. And quick tangent on the defense, they bring back Nick Rallis, who is retained from the previous regime who was fired. The defense wasn't good under him. So I'm not sure what the reason for retaining him was. And again, it can maybe there's something that you know Mike knows about and there's obviously probably a relationship there. But then you went out and hired Nat Hackett to be our offensive coordinator. And I know Mike is going to be the primary designer and play caller. I just thought the coordinator calls were interesting here. But yeah, that defense ranked twenty ninth last year. They're averaging thirty points a game. So to retain Nick Rallis did not make a ton of sense to me. but again, it's I think they can win four games. I just don't know that they want to win four games. Or hear me out. This is my this is my plot, my scheme. Are you ready for it? We're Jarod McInroy: Yeah. Nathan Hawthorne: talking about there's movement in a lot of quarterbacks. And if I'm a free agent, I want to go somewhere where one, there's weapons, and two, they're showing signs of being on the up. I'm not trying to go turn around a dumpster fire. If things don't work out long term for Baker Mayfield and Tampa Bay, could that be the right could the Cardinals be the right destination for him? You don't think so? Jarod McInroy: That's going backwards. Nathan Hawthorne: Is is that going backwards? Jarod McInroy: One thousand percent that is going backwards. Nathan Hawthorne: I mean Marvin Harrison Jr., Michael Wilson, Trey McVeigh, Jeremiah Love, what are you Jarod McInroy: Dude, Baker's got three years Nathan Hawthorne: talking about? Jarod McInroy: Baker's got like three years at most playing at this level. That's like a generous timetable. This team Nathan Hawthorne: I'm just Jarod McInroy: isn't gonna be competitive in the next three years. And and maybe they could if they make a lot of the Nathan Hawthorne: But the rate the rate Jarod McInroy: right moves. Nathan Hawthorne: the rate that they could get him at I think works and Baker's going to go that's Jarod McInroy: I'm sure they would want Baker. I don't think Baker would want to go there though. I think I think he he wants to be Nathan Hawthorne: I think Baker cares more about the I think Baker cares more about the money that says I'm the guy versus being on the team that's gonna help affirm that he's the guy. Personal opinion. But this is about the Cardinals. All right. Tell me tell me what you think about the Cardinals. Jarod McInroy: Disagree. yeah, I think with the coaching hires that you were just talking about also. I think a lot of teams do this when they know that they're going to be replacing these coaches down the line. I think they they know they're gonna lose a lot of games. You have to explain that to people and you have to make noticeable changes in order exactly. Nathan Hawthorne: He did it. It's his fault. Jarod McInroy: They you have to make noticeable changes to convince them to still have faith in you and what you have going on. So we tried something while we knew it wasn't gonna work. It's a hire to fire. They're gonna can they're gonna move on when they're ready. What they need to be top three motivated next year. Like they have to be a top three pick. They they have to. Do not go win a bunch of games for no reason. I hate when teams do that. I understand there's a tanking problem. It ruins the product. All of those different things that fall into it. Go out and play a competitive football game. No matter how competitive of the game is that you put forth, you will not beat these good teams. You're you're not gonna. You're not good enough. It's as simple as that. So like do those things, but s don't make a bunch of big swings. Don't make a bunch of big moves. Move on from vets and get assets for them in return. Move on from a Buddha Baker. Like move on from people that Nathan Hawthorne: Yeah. Jarod McInroy: who are who don't fit your timeline anymore. That's that's the issue with that I have with Tampa's like Tampa now you are in a position where you have to reset the timeline. You have a lot of young pieces that are talented, but you also have a lot of outdated pieces who won't be a part of your success in the future. You have to do it now. You have to commit to it now. All those pieces that could win you games, if you will. Budobaker can win you a game if he's on the field. Like the get rid of them so they can't win you games, but then let everyone who's on the field go be competitive and try their hardest. It's that's it's a great way of spotting who's going to be talented. for you in your young core moving forward, but also getting assets in return and doing a quicker rebuild. so I would I would not sit and focus on wins here and I would focus on how many how many pieces we can get this year. That's that's all I would say. and I think the yeah the coaching hires they're whatever. I we'll we'll see I think what when Mike LaFleur has and if he's a legitimate head coach maybe two years from now. Nathan Hawthorne: Yeah, I think what we saw from the Hall of Fame game was really positive. Also, was that the best Hall of Fame game we've ever seen? 'Cause usually that feels like such a dumb Jarod McInroy: Yeah, you were texting me about it. Nathan Hawthorne: yeah, usually it's I'm a sicko. I I love to watch it. I'm gonna watch probably every preseason game if I can. I what I saw was organization from the sideline to the play being called to what's being executed on the field. And that to me is one of the most clear signs of a team that's on the uptrend. Again, the defense is gonna have a tough time. You did add Billings and Lopez to kind of get bigger on that defensive interior. But outside of Buda Baker, there's just not enough talent on the roster. It's probably time to move on from him. It's gonna cost you fourteen ish million in dead cap to get rid of him. I'm sorry, but you probably have to do it. and just ha just hang on to Paris Johnson. And then outside of that, do whatever you want to that roster, but just get yourself ready for the next couple years. I agree with that. I think again, they can win four games, but should you? Jarod McInroy: No. And give Carson back a run, bro. Like the just do it while you can. It's and again, this it's very similar to what I said about Kirk Cousins is it's never bad to have a Jacoby Brissett on your team because again, now you have a vet, he's gonna coach up your young guy. He's a good personality. Everybody's loved him, every stop he's been at. Like he he's going to give it his all no matter what. However, when a quarterback needy team comes knocking, like go get a fifth round pick from him, like Do do whatever you can. It's it's important to get those guys on the team, but like let Carson Beck play. Give him a run. It's what what for what why wouldn't you? Nathan Hawthorne: Does does Jacoby Brissett finish the season as a Cardinal? Jarod McInroy: Well yeah, that's what I'm saying. I I don't I I don't see why he would. but I mean, then again, best case scenario, every team has healthy quarterbacks. I think that's always the best product for the NFL. So Nathan Hawthorne: Amen. Jarod McInroy: hopefully no one needs him. but it's not bad to have him on your team and then go give to a team who needs them. but I don't think he'll be the starting I I will guarantee you he will not be the starting quarterback for the Cardinals to finish the year. He may be on the roster, but he will not be a starting quarterback by the end of the year. Nathan Hawthorne: Yeah, you st you start to look at that second half of the season, like you said, why not get Beck in there? You took the flyer on him. We'll see if it works out. But how bad does it look if Beck looks solid and you got him in what the third round? And then you got the Rams drafting Ty Simpson? Could look bad. But I gotta I Jarod McInroy: Big yikes. Nathan Hawthorne: gotta ask you the famous question. I want you to rank the four quarterbacks in this division. We got Sam Darnold, Matt Stafford, Jarod McInroy: This is so easy. Nathan Hawthorne: Brock Birdie, Jacoby Brissett. Is it easy? Jarod McInroy: It couldn't be easy. It couldn't be easier. It's Stafford, Darnold, Purdy and Brissett at the bottom, respectfully. All respect to Brissett. Nathan Hawthorne: Okay, right, sh sure, that's fine. We're set at the bottom. But Stafford and Brock, I think that's a a little bit more of an interesting conversation than you're making it. I'm sorry, not Stafford. I'm so I'm not Stafford. Darnold. Jarod McInroy: Stafford's the best quarterback in the NF or or in this not in the NFL, sorry, in this division. In the NFC West. Nathan Hawthorne: Darnold and Brock is an interesting conversation. Jarod McInroy: I don't wanna piss people off, man. I don't I I can't get into this any further than I need to. Like Darnold has a Super Bowl. He did it. He he proved he can do it. I d I don't I feel like that's the only edge he needs at this point. Brock, go do it. Go prove me wrong. I'll I'll listen, I will be the first person to put my hand up. If he goes and does it and he and he just proves me I will do a full segment on how I was wrong. I will break down all the tape, everything he did right. Please, please go do it. I I would love you to. but sorry, not Nathan Hawthorne: Okay. Jarod McInroy: right now. Nathan Hawthorne: All right. For the fans at home, we have got, and I believe we both have these rankings, we've got the Seahawks finishing number one. Just kidding. We've got the Rams finishing number one, Seahawks Jarod McInroy: There we go. Nathan Hawthorne: number two, Niners number three, Cardinals number four. Now these three themes, do you do we think we could have three playoff teams here? The top three? All Jarod McInroy: Yes, they're all gonna be in the playoffs. Nathan Hawthorne: right. You heard it here first. Ladies and gentlemen, that is going to do it for the NFC West breakdown here from KYP. We are going to be doing these for all the divisions. We've got some out of the way. We've got more to come. Stay tuned next week for two more divisions coming your way. My name's Nathan Hawthorne. This is my co-host Jared McEnroy. And we will see you guys on the next one.