Updated

Updated · NFL.com · Jul 16

NFL.com Previews 4 NFC West Camps as Seahawks Defend Title and Cardinals Face QB Drama

Updated

Updated · NFL.com · Jul 16

NFL.com Previews 4 NFC West Camps as Seahawks Defend Title and Cardinals Face QB Drama

Q: Will Sam Darnold's contract demands or a rookie running back derail the Seahawks' Super Bowl defense?

Probably not Darnold’s contract situation; the bigger risk is Seattle’s reliance on a rookie backfield while trying to repeat. Nothing in the available reporting suggests Sam Darnold is in a holdout-style standoff that would disrupt camp. He is seeking a lucrative extension after a Super Bowl MVP season, and his deal has limited guarantees beyond 2026, so the issue matters for Seattle’s longer-term cap planning. But the evidence points to a manageable business question, not an immediate threat to the 2026 title defense. The larger concern is how a future mega-deal could squeeze roster depth over time, especially with other extensions looming. The more immediate football issue is at running back. Kenneth Walker III is gone, Zach Charbonnet is injured, and first-round rookie Jadarian Price is expected to take on a major role right away. Seattle clearly believes in Price’s explosiveness and drafted him to play immediately, but replacing Walker’s production with a rookie is still a real unknown. Multiple assessments describe the Seahawks’ running back room as weaker than last year’s, even if Price has Offensive Rookie of the Year upside. That does not mean the Seahawks are headed for a collapse. They still have Darnold, a strong defense, and a roster good enough to contend. But if their Super Bowl defense slips, the likelier cause is offensive regression tied to the backfield transition and a new coordinator, especially with the Rams loading up and the NFC West getting tougher.

3 articles · Updated · NFL.com · Jul 16

Four NFC West teams open camp between July 17 and July 25, with NFL.com spotlighting Seattle’s title defense, Arizona’s quarterback uncertainty, the Rams’ all-in roster and San Francisco’s health concerns.
Seattle enters as defending Super Bowl champion behind Sam Darnold, but camp will test its backfield after Kenneth Walker III’s exit and Zach Charbonnet’s ACL injury, pushing first-round rookie Jadarian Price into focus.
Arizona’s biggest question centers on Jacoby Brissett, who threw for 3,366 yards in 12 starts last season and is seeking a new deal while new coach Mike LaFleur installs his offense.
Los Angeles will gauge how Myles Garrett fits after arriving from Cleveland following a 23-sack season, while San Francisco’s outlook hinges on getting Nick Bosa, George Kittle and Fred Warner back healthy.
Across the division, the preview frames the NFC West as a camp battle shaped by quarterback stability, star health and whether offseason overhauls can hold up once practices begin.