Photo: Imagn Images

Links to other divisions:

The period between free agency and the NFL draft is one of the quietest in the NFL calendar. Most free agent signings happen quickly, and teams wait until after the draft to take advantage of the compensatory pick formula. The formula rewards net losses, and the NFL has moved the date up for non-qualified signings to the Monday following the draft. That allows an opportunity to identify draft needs and underrated dynasty buy low players to target before the draft grants clarity. This series will look division by division at where teams stand before the draft.

For individual rookie analysis, check out the Footballguys' Rookie Guide.

Los Angeles Rams: The QB2 is not on their roster.

This first one is cheating. The Rams do not have a second quarterback on their roster. Despite their well-known mantra, the Rams' 11 picks are the second most in the draft. Their first pick is 36, an ideal position to jump into the first round and take a chance on a Hendon Hooker or a sliding Will Levis. The Rams have never drafted a quarterback in Sean McVay's tenure, they rostered developmental bets in Bryce Perkins and John Wolford, but Matthew Stafford's season loss to injury allowed them to see both in extended runs. The result was the team's decision to move on.

The rest of the roster looks close to set. The team returns 88% of targets from 2022, with the only losses of receiver Brandon Powell and running back Darrell Henderson. Henderson was cut mid-season, and Powell was a returner who saw work on offense late in a lost season. Cooper Kupp will again dominate targets. The team could walk into the season with a receiver depth chart of Kupp, Allen Robinson, Van Jefferson, Ben Skowronek, Tutu Atwell, and Lance McCutcheon. Everyone but Jefferson is signed through the next two seasons. Our Dave Kluge wrote an excellent article analyzing the dynasty wide receiver landscape, and only Kupp earned anything better than the "Roster Clogger" label.

Expect the team to take a running back; they have drafted one every year Sean McVay has coached. That said, the team was comfortable making Cam Akers the primary running back; Akers saw 83% of the team's running back rush attempts over the final six games. Kyren Williams slots as his direct backup and is an underrated asset. Outside of potentially Williams, this roster has few dynasty sleeper options.

Seattle Seahawks: Will draft a running back.

The depth chart is only Ken Walker III, DeeJay Dallas, and Darwin Thompson. Walker was RB7 in half PPR after he took over in week five, solidifying himself as a top dynasty option. Dallas has proven himself a core special teamer, with almost a two-to-one special teams to offensive snap count over the last two years. Thompson is a long way removed from the hype of August 2019. The Seahawks have five selections between 20 and 123, an area that should be the meat of a deep running back class. The primary question is skill set. A pass-catching specialist like Kenny McIntosh could limit Walker's long-term upside, removing Walker from passing downs. A more well-rounded back like Tank Bigsby could suggest the team has an actual three-down role in mind for Walker.

The depth of draft capital can allow the Seahawks to continue a roster makeover—the benefit of reading the tea leaves and exiting at the right moment on Russell Wilson. In the 2022 draft, the team hit two starting offensive tackles, Walker and an intriguing young cornerback, Tariq Woolen. I had the opportunity to rep the Seahawks in a Footballguys' staff mock draft, and the talent they can add through this draft is eye-opening.

Wide receiver is an interesting spot. DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett are established. Meanwhile, the team used a second-round pick in 2021 on Dee Eskridge, who has struggled to stay healthy. Eskridge is entering his third year but is already 26 and older than Metcalf. The wildcard is Dareke Young. Entering his second season, Young posted a 9.93 out of 10 in Kent Lee Platte's Relative Athletic Score. Our Christian Williams broke down The Archetype of a Top 12 receiver, and Young scored very well in the physical metrics. He is a sneaky target if the team does not draft another wide receiver early.