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A reduction in pay generally wouldn't qualify as a vote of confidence.

The one Jason Smith accepted from the St. Louis Rams might be an exception.

Smith's return to the team for 2012 once appeared unlikely given his scheduled $10 million salary and concerns relating to concussions and consistency. The Rams' willingness to cut that figure to $4 million and guarantee the money shows the team is serious about Smith returning as its starting right tackle -- consistent with comments from coaches.

Rookie contracts for high draft choices can be notoriously complicated. Brian McIntyre of Mac's Football Blog runs through the details on this one.

The team saves cash and earns a measure of salary cap relief without creating an additional need at tackle. Smith keeps his job, gets a chance to save his career and earns the right to become a free agent no later than 2014.

Smith, the second player chosen in the 2009 draft, has played in 29 of 48 games, starting 26 of them. He joins former Seattle Seahawks linebacker Aaron Curry, chosen fourth overall in the same year, among highly drafted NFC West players to accept lighter contracts after failing to meet initial expectations. Seattle traded Curry to Oakland last season.

Levi Brown, chosen fifth overall by Arizona in 2007, recently took a new deal as well. The Cardinals released him, then re-signed him to a deal affirming his status as the starter, but on terms more favorable to the team.

Torry Holt got the timing right for his retirement news conference Wednesday at St. Louis Rams headquarters.

The Rams' seven-time Pro Bowler offered a formal goodbye while NFC West teams searched for receivers with comparable skill.

The latest 2012 NFL mock draft from Mel Kiper Jr., a two-rounder with explanations for every selection, sends three receivers to NFC West teams in the first round alone.

We get the hint even though this division features a couple all-time greats in Randy Moss and Larry Fitzgerald. The Rams in particular need upgraded weapons, but the other teams in the division could use help as well.

And while Kiper did not send a receiver to Seattle in the first round, knowledgeable Seahawks fans know their team hasn't had a Pro Bowl player at the position since Brian Blades in 1989 (another receiver, Alex Bannister, made it as a special-teamer in 2003).

The symmetry with Holt and the Rams is striking. The team drafted Holt sixth overall in 1999, and a trade-down with Washington this offseason has given them the sixth pick again this year. That is where we pick up the conversation, using Kiper's mock as a starting point.

6. St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma St.

Kiper's give: The possibility remains that St. Louis could move off this spot, but if they stay here and get Blackmon, they'll immediately upgrade a huge weakness, which is the lack of talented options for Sam Bradford in the passing game. Blackmon's speed is adequate, but his smarts, ball skills, route-running and work habits translate to a guy that can contribute immediately, which is what this offense desperately needs.

Sando's take: Kiper had cornerback Morris Claiborne heading to the Rams in his previous mock. Blackmon went to Cleveland at No. 4 in that scenario, but with running back Trent Richardson working out impressively following knee surgery, Kiper has the Browns taking Richardson instead of Blackmon. That left Blackmon for the Rams. We've debated on the blog whether Blackmon would be a reach with the sixth pick. We do know Blackmon would address a primary need, and that most analysts consider him a legitimate choice among the top 10 selections. The Rams are trying to bolster the position in free agency to diminish the need heading into the draft, but they aren't going to find a young talent such as Blackmon on the market at this time. The Rams own the 33rd and 39th picks as well, giving them an opportunity to find playmakers beyond the sixth choice, should they prefer to do so. Kiper had the Rams taking Michigan State defensive tackle Jerel Worthy and Ohio State tackle Mike Adams in the second round.

12. Seattle Seahawks: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

Kiper's give: Even if [Boston College linebacker Luke] Kuechly is still on the board, it would be tough for Seattle to pass on perhaps the safest 4-3 DE option available. Coples has prototypical size, can play every down as a pass-rusher and has a solid arsenal of moves to get to opposing quarterbacks, but with the size and discipline to be a force against the run. Seattle can't go wrong here with either the top LB or DE available. This defense is close to being considered among the NFL's finest.

Sando's take: The word "safest" isn't particularly comforting for Seahawks fans. Aaron Curry was considered the safest pick in the 2009 draft. Coples was my choice for Seattle in the recent NFL Blog Network mock. Then, Kuechly was not available. Kiper previously had Seattle taking Ryan Tannehill in this spot, but Tannehill was off the board this time and the Seahawks weren't in the QB market, anyway, after signing Matt Flynn. Some have criticized Coples for inconsistent effort. Pete Carroll constantly emphasizes competition, but the Seahawks have shown they can get good results from defensive players with varied résumés and reputations. Red Bryant, Chris Clemons and Alan Branch come to mind. The draft plot thickens considerably for Seattle if Kuechly does slip past the top 11 choices. The word "safe" has applied to Kuechly as well. The Seahawks have obvious needs for a pass-rusher and a linebacker, so Coples and Kuechly make sense as projected picks. Kiper had the Seahawks taking Oklahoma linebacker Ronnell Lewis in the second round.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Kiper's give: Another pick I'll stick with, Floyd is a great complement to Larry Fitzgerald and will help Arizona maximize the options for Kevin Kolb. The offensive line could use help, but Floyd has proven that he'd be a good value here. Think of Atlanta getting Julio Jones to take some pressure off Roddy White last year. Floyd could fill a similar role.

Sando's take: Some might recall Kiper sending Stanford tackle Jonathan Martin to the Cardinals a couple mocks ago. Martin fell from the first round entirely in Kiper's next version before resurfacing in the 20s of this one. The Cardinals need help at tackle after failing to address the position in free agency. (Demetress Bell's agreement with Philadelphia takes away one option under consideration for Arizona.) I get Kiper's thinking on Floyd. Arming Kolb with sufficient options is important. I've offered a counterpoint in the video posted atop this entry. In short, the Cardinals have already armed Kolb with highly drafted weapons at running back, receiver and tight end. The case can be made that Kolb needs to make better use of the existing weapons. To do that, he'll have to gain a stronger grasp of the playbook this offseason. He'll also need to stay on the field, something he hasn't been able to do. Improved pocket awareness would help. Landing a tackle seems like a necessity, but how? I sent Courtney Upshaw to the Cardinals in our Blog Network mock, figuring pass-rushers are more valuable than receivers or offensive linemen. Stanford guard David DeCastro was available to Arizona in Kiper's latest mock. Would the Cardinals draft him to play guard, then move Adam Snyder to right tackle? Kent Somers raised that possibility and it's an interesting one. I'm not sure Snyder projects as the long-term solution at guard, let alone tackle.

30. San Francisco 49ers: Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

Kiper's give: Hill is the biggest home-run threat in the draft when you combine his speed and size, and it's no secret the 49ers need some help at wide receiver, even with the additions of Randy Moss and Mario Manningham. He'll need an adjustment period as he gets used to doing more in terms of scheme than he was asked at Georgia Tech, but he's the kind of weapon this offense needs to expand.

Sando's take: The thinking makes sense, but the 49ers have options in this spot. Players drafted this late in the first round will likely need time before developing into starters. There's no pressure to target the most immediate need on the roster. Landing a receiver does have appeal. Moss is 35 years old and might not offer much at this stage. But the 49ers can count tight end Vernon Davis as one of their receiving options. They use two tight ends frequently. This team does not run a spread offense requiring three top-flight wideouts, in other words. And there's still a chance Michael Crabtree will take another step forward after finally getting a full offseason in the 49ers' offensive system. The team has flexibility heading into the draft, in other words. San Francisco could target just about any position with the 30th choice (quarterback would be a surprise). The 49ers can sit back and wait to see which talented players with question marks fall to them. Kiper had the 49ers taking Brandon Brooks, a guard from Miami of Ohio, in the second round. The need for guard help could subside if the 49ers sign a veteran in free agency, however. They've visited with a few.

Middle linebacker David Hawthorne's experience in NFL free agency was not unique to him.

The market for running backs, safeties and inside linebackers has remained mostly soft as teams build their rosters from the outside in, the better to cope with an increasingly pass-happy NFL.

The Seattle Seahawks have been a bit of an exception, paying significant sums to a run-stuffing defensive end (Red Bryant) and a power runner (Marshawn Lynch). But they weren't going to value Hawthorne on the same level. Knee problems slowed Hawthorne last season. And Hawthorne, though productive when healthy, does not possess the specialized traits coach Pete Carroll values in players.

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune says Hawthorne wanted to re-sign with Seattle, but the New Orleans Saints were offering better money. Hawthorne's agent, Russel Hicks: "He wanted to come back there. He got his NFL start there, but unfortunately Seattle did not make him a priority to bring him back and New Orleans made it a priority to get him signed. Personally I just wish they would have made a better attempt to bring him back, but they didn’t. And David does, too." Noted: Hawthorne has seven interceptions over the past three seasons. The Seahawks could miss his production. However, they have embraced opportunities to remake the position, parting with Aaron Curry and Lofa Tatupu previously. The team was more interested in keeping Hawthorne than keeping Curry or Tatupu, but not enough to pay him even in a soft market.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times passes along thoughts from Hawthorne after the middle linebacker signed with New Orleans. Hawthorne: "From Day One, they were one of the first teams to contact me in free agency. I think they valued me and my body of work, and I had never played a snap for them. ... I had to make a decision based on my future."

Also from O'Neil: thoughts on the Seahawks' new uniforms. O'Neil: "Mock if you must. Compare them to the Nike football flagship that Oregon's college program has become, or invoke the Arena League or comic-book superheroes for that matter. But no one is going to mistake the Seahawks' new uniforms for anything out of grandma's attic."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com checks in with Todd Van Horne, Nike's global creative director, for thoughts on the new NFL uniforms. Farnsworth: "The jersey is 20 percent lighter and 50 percent stronger than what teams have been wearing the past 10 seasons."

Also from Farnsworth: "The Seahawks tried to re-sign Hawthorne before the free agency period began on March 13 and again after he had visited the Saints. But the sides could not agree on a deal."

Sports Press Northwest quotes Bills safety George Wilson thusly: "Why do the Seahawks get the cool uniforms? I like changing it up and not doing the expected. Seattle is really taking some risks in their uniform. But from hearing the other guys talk about it in the back, I think their uniform was the overwhelming player favorite in the dressing room."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says during a chat he thinks Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt are both worthy of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Also from Thomas: "Even with the signing of Jo-Lonn Dunbar from New Orleans, the Rams still have only four linebackers under contract. Most teams take 9 or 10 into training camp, and usually 6 or 7 into the regular season. So yes, the Rams need more bodies there. I think Lavonte David would be a good choice. He'd be a great value at the top of the third, but will he still be there at that point."

Jeff Gordon of stltoday.com suggests Los Angeles might be less of a threat to lure the Rams away from St. Louis. Gordon: "The downtown L.A. stadium proposed by the Anschutz Entertainment Group offers decidedly unattractive financial terms to teams in other cities. Yahoo! Sports notes that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell advised billionaire Phil Anschutz to change those terms to move the project forward. Anschutz has thus far balked at Goodell’s suggestion."

Nick Wagoner of stlouisrams.com explains some of the reasons he came to appreciate Torry Holt. He passes along this 2007 comment from Holt regarding talkative wideouts: "Yeah, sometimes it’s just shutting up and just playing, not worrying about anything that is going on other than what you can control and that’s your job and your actions and your words. That’s one of the biggest lessons I would take from Isaac (Bruce). Sometimes you should just shut up. Tame your tongue and let your actions and what you do on the football field speak for you. That’s what he does."

Howard Balzer of 101ESPN St. Louis says Rams cornerback Cortland Finnegan likes the new Nike uniforms. Finnegan: "It is everything a player could want in a jersey. The older jerseys limited you. I can feel the difference just walking around. They are state of the art."

Bob Young of the Arizona Republic offers details on the NFL's new uniforms, noting that little has changed for the Cardinals. Young: "While the shrink-wrap-tight cut of the uniforms, exposed stitching and breathable fabrics reportedly are similar to the cutting-edge stuff that Nike has produced for college programs -- including Arizona State -- the new uniforms stay true to traditional designs and colors for most teams. Larry Fitzgerald modeled the Cardinals version of the new uniforms for NFL.com in the home red. We are told the team still will have the alternate black uniform option as well."

Aaron Wilson of Scout.com says James Sanders, a free-agent safety from the Atlanta Falcons, is visiting with the Cardinals. Sanders played previously for New England.

Kevin Lynch of the San Francisco Chronicle says the 49ers' Jed York showed qualities reflecting his uncle (Eddie DeBartolo Jr.) and father (John York) in securing a new stadium. Lynch: "Jed is impetuous just like Eddie, but has an awareness of financial reality like his pop."

Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News says the 49ers' jerseys should look familiar, and not just for their design. Inman: "A main element for the next edition of the 49ers: The names on the back of the uniform. According to unofficial research (a five-second scan of the online roster), 52 players who had spots in last season’s locker room are still on the team. That includes every defensive starter (plus Aldon Smith, who’s tabbed to unseat Parys Haralson at right outside linebacker). Unlike so many recent 49ers offseasons in the past decade, the head coach returns. And, yes, you can assume Jim Harbaugh’s wardrobe won’t stray from last year’s staple: khaki pants, black fleece sweatshirt, black cap, red-pen necklace, wily scowl."

Also from Inman: an Alex Smith interview transcript.

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle says the 49ers' apparent interest in free-agent offensive lineman Jason Brown makes sense.

Ofelia Madrid of the Arizona Republic says receiver Dontavia Bogan, recently released by the 49ers, was arrested after scuffling with security guards in Arizona.

The NFL announced compensatory draft choices Thursday, including one for the NFC West -- 252nd overall, to the St. Louis Rams.

Knowing which picks are compensatory allows for calculation of the full draft order. The NFL has not released that information, so the following projections are not official.

I'll begin with the Rams' choices. They hold eight selections, including two acquired from the Washington Redskins.

The Seattle Seahawks fall next in the overall order among NFC West teams.

Seattle holds a seventh-round choice acquired from Oakland in the Aaron Curry trade. The Seahawks lost a fifth-rounder to Buffalo in the Marshawn Lynch trade, and a seventh-rounder to Detroit in the Tyler Polumbus trade.

Arizona picks right after Seattle in the first round. The Cardinals sent their second-round choice to Philadelphia in the Kevin Kolb trade. Note: I've added a sixth-rounder to Arizona from the Tim Hightower trade.

The San Francisco 49ers hold one pick per round, all their own.


Update: Official draft order came out Wednesday. I adjusted seventh-round selections by one place in the order. These charts are now updated.

A reminder as NFL teams name franchise players: Teams can withdraw the designations if players decide against signing the corresponding one-year offers.

That came to mind Friday upon reading Matt Maiocco's report suggesting Dashon Goldson had no immediate plans to sign the San Francisco 49ers' one-year franchise offer worth an estimated $6.2 million.

Teams rarely withdraw franchise designations, but plans can change. Leroy Hill found out the hard way back in 2009, when the Seattle Seahawks used a first-round choice for Aaron Curry, then withdrew an $8.3 million franchise offer from Hill, who was suddenly scrambling as a free agent after the draft.

We all saw what happened to Goldson last offseason. He found nothing palatable in free agency, then re-signed with the 49ers for one year and $2 million. The lockout made for unusual circumstances. Goldson might find the market more favorable this year.

But I see no advantage for Goldson in withholding his signature. Any team signing him to an offer would face losing two first-round draft choices if the 49ers declined to match. Teams simply do not trade two first-round choices for the right to pay good safeties.

Signing the franchise offer makes the money guaranteed. Not signing the offer means it could disappear if circumstances changed.

Goldson has a Pro Bowl on his resume, so he is more accomplished than Seattle's Hill was back in 2009. But neither was a player the team absolutely had to keep. The Seahawks, like the 49ers now, had more options than the player.

The 49ers appear unlikely to withdraw the tag, but they will get by just fine this offseason with or without Goldson under contract. Goldson has more at stake.

I see less reason for Arizona's Calais Campbell to sign the Cardinals' franchise offer, which has been projected to be around $10.6 million. There is virtually no chance the Cardinals would withdraw the tag, and if they did, Campbell would command big money from teams hungry for young defensive linemen of his caliber.

In Seattle, meanwhile, the Seahawks are expected to use the franchise designation on Marshawn Lynch if a long-term deal remains elusive. The deadline for naming franchise players is Monday.

Leroy Hill's most recent arrest gives the Seattle Seahawks and other potential NFL suitors reason to proceed toward him with skepticism when free agency begins March 13.

This arrest, Hill's second on a marijuana-related offense and third overall in three years, will cost him money.

Eric Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune runs through Hill's off-field history. He notes that Hill could face a four-game suspension to open the 2012 season. That would cost Hill one-fourth his base salary for the season.

Hill became an every-down player in 2011, enjoying a strong season. He's at risk for taking a financial hit in free agency after this latest arrest, continuing a pattern.

In 2009, the Seahawks named Hill their franchise player. Hill would have collected $8.3 million in guaranteed money had he signed the franchise offer. Instead, he waited til the draft. The Seahawks selected Aaron Curry, withdrew the franchise tag and later signed Hill to a deal favoring the team. Subsequent off-field troubles led the team to slash Hill's pay and reduce money that would have been guaranteed had Hill stayed out of trouble.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Super Bowls provide validation for players, coaches and organizations.

There are more ways than one to get there, however.

Top-notch quarterback play can cover lots of blemishes, as the AFC champion New England Patriots proved. They went 13-3 with a defense that ranked 31st in yards allowed and 26th in Total QBR allowed.

General patterns trump black-and-white rules when it comes to building a championship team.

Recent work from draftmetrics.com shows how team composition correlated with 2011 success. I've broken out charts showing where NFC West teams ranked in games started by homegrown draft choices (first chart) and veterans acquired through free agency (second one).

The draftmetrics.com research shows teams succeeding, in general, when their own draft choices started more games. Teams ranking closer to the middle of the pack in starts by veteran free agents also fared better than those on the margins.

The St. Louis Rams jump out right away. They led the NFL in most starts by veterans signed from other teams. They ranked last in starts by their own draft choices. That combination, exaggerated by an unusual number of injuries, helped explain why the Rams finished with a 2-14 record.

The top 10 teams in starts by homegrown draft choices went 89-71 last season, including 13-3 by the San Francisco 49ers. The middle 12 teams went 95-97. The bottom 10 teams went 72-88. Seattle ranked fifth from the bottom, in part because the Seahawks have cut ties with so many draft choices from previous regimes (think Aaron Curry, Kelly Jennings, etc.).

The top 10 teams in starts by veteran free agents went 67-93. Teams in the bottom 10 went 80-80. The middle 12 teams were most successful on the whole, going 109-83. But two teams barely falling into that middle group, New England and San Francisco, pumped up the overall record.

Note: I'm heading over to Radio Row here shortly and hope to run across some NFC West types.

Nearly five months have passed since I set team-by-team expectations for the NFC West based on what I'd seen at training camps.

The San Francisco 49ers outperformed expectations. The St. Louis Rams fell far short. The Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks finished right about where I had projected, but there were more ups and downs along the way than almost anyone could have anticipated.

Let's reconcile expectations with results and try to learn something along the way.

St. Louis Rams

Projected wins: 8

Actual wins: 2

Following up: A tough schedule meant the Rams would need quarterback Sam Bradford to make significant improvement under new coordinator Josh McDaniels. I expected that to happen after speaking with Bradford and McDaniels in some detail during camp. I also expected the Rams' defense to remain a strength after adding veteran role players from winning organizations. Wrong, wrong, wrong. Injuries played a significant role on offense in general and at cornerback, a position I outlined as lacking sufficient depth. But the offensive line wasn't playing well even when the starters were together.

Lesson learned: Bradford and the Rams struggled down the stretch to close out the 2010 season. That should have invited more skepticism from me. I gave Bradford and McDaniels the benefit of the doubt based on Bradford's poise and the confidence both showed heading into the season. The narrative of an ascending young quarterback should not have been so persuasive. Adding veteran role players seemed to make sense at the time because the Rams weren't making significant financial commitments to them. However, signing so many older players meant the team lacked young depth. That should have set off alarms.

Arizona Cardinals

Projected wins: 7-8

Actual wins: 8

Following up: It's tough to take full credit for nailing this projection given how it happened. The team started 1-6 and rallied to 8-8 despite never getting much from newly acquired quarterback Kevin Kolb. I thought Arizona would have needed more games from Kolb to improve its record by three victories. Arizona's ability to manufacture victories through the return game and fourth-quarter rallies made up the difference. The concerns I raised about Kolb's durability in relation to the Cardinals' pass protection hit the mark. The defense showed more improvement than I had anticipated.

Lesson learned: Never underestimate strong safety Adrian Wilson. I had a hard time believing Wilson would hold up physically through a full season after suffering a torn biceps tendon during camp. Wilson not only held up, he got stronger as the season progressed. Wilson even earned a trip to the Pro Bowl. The Cardinals drove home a couple additional lessons this season. They showed that wheeling and dealing aggressively in free agency and through trades can build excitement without delivering immediate results. They also reminded us to withhold final judgments until late in a season. The view from 8-8 looks a lot better than the one from 1-6. But as we look ahead to 2012, we should not assume the Cardinals will continue on their recent trajectory. Every season is different.

San Francisco 49ers

Projected wins: 6-7

Actual wins: 13

Following up: My general feel for the team was accurate. How it would translate into victories was not. I thought the 49ers would be difficult to analyze in the short term because they had a new coaching staff. I thought better-than-expected play at quarterback could quickly upgrade their prospects. And I figured lower expectations from the outside would help. "I am saying there's a chance," was how I put it back in August. A chance for 13-3? Never saw that coming. In retrospect, I should have listed the 49ers' win range as "6+7" instead of 6-7.

Lesson learned: New coach Jim Harbaugh and staff impressed during camp, but I underestimated how much competent coaching would mean for the 49ers right away. The current coaches have done a phenomenal job fitting together how the offense, defense and special teams complement one another. While I allowed for the fact that San Francisco's defensive changes were by design, I wasn't convinced they would pay off. They did, and hugely. The 49ers' personnel people also get credit for resisting temptations to spend lavishly in free agency. They trusted their instincts and got great contributions from NaVorro Bowman and Carlos Rogers in particular. They paid Ray McDonald and parted with Aubrayo Franklin when no one was saying they should do those things. So, if and when the 49ers let players walk in free agency, we should realize things could be going to plan.

Seattle Seahawks

Projected wins: 5-7

Actual wins: 7

Following up: The Seahawks met expectations and probably exceeded them after suffering so many injuries to their offensive line and elsewhere. Seattle was, as expected, a team "eager to let young players develop before acting more boldly to upgrade the quarterback position in the offseason." The Seahawks were an easy team to read for those not blinded by coach Pete Carroll's public support for Tarvaris Jackson. They still need another pass-rusher and better play at quarterback to take the next step.

Lesson learned: Tom Cable is a fantastic offensive line coach, for one. Also, general manager John Schneider and the Seahawks' personnel people should get the benefit of the doubt on their evaluations. They repeatedly got positive results when turning to young players. They replaced Lawyer Milloy with Kam Chancellor and came out way ahead. They replaced Aaron Curry with rookie K.J. Wright and were correct, again. They continually churned the roster and made themselves deeper. They turned a project from the CFL (Brandon Browner) into a Pro Bowl first-alternate even while rookie fifth-round choice Richard Sherman became their best corner. So, if the Seahawks do not show interest in Green Bay quarterback Matt Flynn, we can trust it's because Schneider, formerly of the Packers, knows better.

The Arizona Cardinals have improved dramatically on defense over the past couple months. We've discussed some of the potential reasons.

The Seattle Seahawks were better than the Cardinals on defense early in the season, but they have still made significant gains. They ranked 22nd in points per game allowed and 16th in yards per game allowed after Week 9. They currently rank sixth in points and eighth in yards. They lead the NFL in takeaways since Week 10 with 18, two more than San Francisco.

With an assist from Hank Gargiulo of ESPN Stats & Information, I've put together a chart showing the Seahawks' playing-time percentages by player for Weeks 1-9 and 10-15. The chart shows only players whose playing time has changed by at least 10 percentage points from then to now.

The emergence of linebacker K.J. Wright and cornerback Richard Sherman stand out as important factors in the Seahawks' improved play.

Sometimes Wright and the Seattle linebackers can be vulnerable to misdirection plays, a concern against San Francisco in Week 16. Overall, however, their aggressive play has been an asset.
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The fourth round of the 2011 NFL draft has been kind to the NFC West.

Kendall Hunter scored a touchdown during the San Francisco 49ers' five-point victory over Cincinnati, and again during a seven-point victory over the New York Giants.

Another rookie fourth-rounder, Sam Acho, has five sacks and seven starts for a vastly improved Arizona Cardinals defense.

Greg Salas, now on the St. Louis Rams' injured reserve list, leads NFL wide receivers in average yards gained after the catch (8.3, minimum 20 receptions).

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune says one of the Seattle Seahawks' fourth-round rookies, K.J. Wright, has played well enough to validate the team's decision to trade 2009 fourth overall choice Aaron Curry to the Oakland Raiders. Williams: "Seattle has been impressed with Wright’s ability to adapt to different situations and pick things up quickly. Although they drafted him to play outside linebacker, the Seahawks put Wright at middle linebacker at the beginning of training camp, and he started there for David Hawthorne in the first game of the season at San Francisco. ... Wright, who’s signed through 2014, could be a cheaper option at middle linebacker, giving the Seahawks some leverage in negotiations with Hawthorne."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says fullback Michael Robinson finds himself matched up against another tough inside linebacker. Brian Urlacher is on the schedule this week, followed by Patrick Willis next week.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says there's nothing soft about the Seahawks now that Marshawn Lynch is powering the offense.

Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune says there's nothing wrong about a little playoff dreaming in Seattle.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic scores an NFC West trifecta when noting that the Cardinals' third-down conversion rate ranks 30th, ahead of only those for the Rams and 49ers. Somers: "The Cardinals were terrible on offense in 2010 and converted on just 27.8 percent of third-down situations. They are marginally better this year on offense, which is reflected in the disappointing 29.7 percent figure. In 2008 and '09, the Cardinals' best offensive seasons under coach Ken Whisenhunt, the Cardinals had third-down percentages of 41.9 and 36.3. Kurt Warner was the quarterback in those seasons, and the Cardinals haven't yet successfully replaced Warner."

Also from Somers: how the Cardinals are handling Kevin Kolb's concussion.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says Adrian Wilson is enjoying a strong season for the Cardinals.

Ray Ratto of CSNBayArea.com says the 49ers and the York ownership family appear to be getting a sweet stadium deal, likely at the expense of taxpayers. Ratto: "History shows us again and again that publicly built arenas and stadiums do not make back the money for the city that lays it out. The Oakland Coliseum retool that lured the Raiders back from Los Angeles was such an idiotic deal that every politician who signed off on it fled in terror at its very mention six months after signing it. Now maybe this will be the exception. Maybe the Yorks will find a way to make Santa Clara whole again before all of us are long and safely dead. But -- based on recent history -- that’s not the way to bet. And the voters of Santa Clara should have known that, and the people who run Santa Clara should have known that even more."

Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News says David Akers is about to break Jerry Rice's franchise record for points in a season, a reflection of the team's struggles in the red zone. Inman: "Akers leads the league with 42 field-goal attempts. He has made 36 to set a single-season franchise record. In four of the past six games, he has converted four kicks, totaling 48 points. Of all the 49ers' offseason moves, Akers' acquisition in free agency has yielded the most dividends, at least on the scoreboard with his 135 points."

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle looks at the 49ers' struggles in protecting quarterback Alex Smith.

Roger Hensley of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch asks colleagues whether the Rams should place Sam Bradford on injured reserve. Jim Thomas: "There are a lot of players on this Rams roster playing hurt. I think it would send a bad message to the rest of the team to treat a banged-up Sam Bradford any differently than the other players. But seeing Bradford in a walking boot after Wednesday’s practice and seeing the frustration in his face, you have to wonder if he’s going to be healthy enough to play in any of the final three games. It looks like there’s no way he’s playing this week. So I’d say see how the ankle feels next week, and if it’s still iffy -- or worse -- shut him down." Noted: The Rams shouldn't put Bradford on injured reserve just to do him a favor, in my view. They should do it because he cannot function well enough to help the team win games. That was pretty apparent Monday night.

Bryan Burwell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says it's time to end Bradford's season.

The Seattle Seahawks have not played in 11 days. That will change Monday night. In the meantime, I've taken another look at the team's most recent game, a 31-14 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 13. Five observations with implications for the future:

• No fear from Tarvaris Jackson. It's still unclear how Jackson went from struggling to play with a torn pectoral to flourishing as though healthy. He ran with the ball on the Seahawks' first drive and dove forward instead of sliding. Jackson attempted only 16 passes against the Eagles and has now had an extended period between games. He should be even better physically against St. Louis.
• Cole-Okung undercard. The Seahawks lost left tackle Russell Okung to a season-ending pectoral injury when Eagles defensive end Trent Cole threw Okung to the ground in frustration late in the game. That incident had been building. Cole and/or defensive tackle Mike Patterson threw down Okung just 35 seconds into the game. Marshawn Lynch was finishing a run up the middle when Okung rallied to his assistance. The whistle had blown three times as one of their shoves sent Okung toppling over a pile.
• Giacomini might have a future. The Seahawks drafted James Carpenter to play right tackle and would like to see him play there in the future. The next few games could reveal whether Carpenter's injury replacement, Breno Giacomini, might be worth keeping in that spot. Such a move would make sense only if Giacomini played well and the team felt good enough about Carpenter at guard. When Lynch broke free for his improbable 15-yard touchdown run, Giacomini was laying on two Eagles defenders in the backfield. He plays with attitude and adds toughness. Would a left-side pairing featuring Okung and Carpenter be worth investigating next season? A thought.
• Defense feasted on bad QB play. The Seahawks picked off four passes against Vince Young. They'll be facing Sam Bradford or Tom Brandstater on Monday night, Caleb Hanie, Alex Smith and John Skelton or Kevin Kolb in their remaining games. The defense has a chance to keep the turnovers coming. The San Francisco 49ers' Smith has done a very good job avoiding them this season, but Seattle gets to face him at CenturyLink Field, an advantage for the Seahawks.
• David Hawthorne's valiance. Hawthorne made it through the game despite continuing knee problems. His game-clinching interception return for a touchdown helped him emerge as the defensive player of the week in the NFC. His knee problems raise questions about long-term durability, however. Hawthorne has limped through the past couple games at less than full strength. I'd list linebacker among the team's needs heading into the offseason even though Hawthorne, Leroy Hill and K.J. Wright have played well at times. The team needs to restock its depth after deciding Aaron Curry wasn't a fit.

The day is only beginning. I'm heading over to CenturyLink Field shortly and will report from there. It's looking like weather should not be a problem. Temperatures are expected to be in the 30s, with no rain.

SEATTLE -- It's a beautiful night for football here at CenturyLink Field: 41 degrees, ample sunshine, no perceptible wind.

Players are warming up down on the field.

We'll have the Seattle Seahawks' and Philadelphia Eagles' inactive players roughly 90 minutes before kickoff.

I'll be interested in seeing whether or not the Seahawks have middle linebacker David Hawthorne only four days after a knee injury slowed him against Washington. Seattle's linebacker depth is a bit shaky without Aaron Curry (traded), Matt McCoy (injured reserve) and David Vobora (IR) are on injured reserve.

The Seattle Seahawks paid $3.2 million to Aaron Curry just so the third-year linebacker would go away.

That was seven weeks ago.

The team, anxious to get anything in return for a failed draft choice from a previous leadership regime, paid the money to facilitate Curry's trade to the Oakland Raiders.

The Seahawks presumably have no regrets. Curry wasn't producing for them. He seemed to be getting worse. They picked up a 2012 seventh-round choice and a conditional 2013 fifth-rounder for a player no longer of value to them.

Sometimes, however, a fresh start can help a player revive his career. The plays Curry made Sunday for the Raiders during their 25-20 victory over the Chicago Bears were certainly a positive sign for him.

I did not watch the full game, but in making my rounds across the web this week, I noticed Curry's name heading a list of high-impact NFL defensive players for Week 12. Advanced NFL Stats listed Curry and teammate Kamerion Wimbley just ahead of Denver's Von Miller on a list measuring playmaking. Arizona's Sam Acho was in the top 10.

Curry defended the pass Wimbley intercepted and returned 73 yards, a key play in the game. Curry also hit Bears quarterback Caleb Hanie, affecting a pass Stanford Routt intercepted. Curry twice tackled Matt Forte for 3-yard losses, and again after a gain of only three yards. He brought down Hanie after a 1-yard gain on a scramble.

Coaches would obviously know whether Curry or any other player fulfilled his responsibilities in coverage, against the run, within the scheme overall, etc. Curry, Wimbley, Miller, Acho and the other players listed might have failed in some of those areas, but all made key plays for their teams, at the very least.

That is a change for Curry.

The St. Louis Rams placed right tackle Jason Smith on injured reserve Friday, citing concussion-related symptoms.

It's fair to wonder whether Smith has played his final game with the team after three seasons.

The contract Smith signed as the second overall choice in the 2009 NFL draft carries a $10 million salary for next season, money reflecting expectations Smith would become an elite left tackle. Instead, Smith as become an inconsistent right tackle with injury concerns relating to concussions. He will have missed 19 of 48 games to injury once this season concludes.

The 2009 draft produced more misses than hits early. Smith, Tyson Jackson, Aaron Curry, Andre Smith and Darrius Heyward-Bey were all chosen among the top seven picks. So was Mark Sanchez, who has enjoyed team success without becoming a consistent quarterback.

Jason Smith's deal runs through the 2014 season, which is a voidable year.

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Playing-time percentages for NFC West defensive rookies tell us a few things:

• Draft order matters. The three defensive players chosen in the first round are the three with the most playing time. Starting cornerbacks stay on the field for almost all the snaps. That, more than performance, explains why Arizona's Patrick Peterson has played so much more than pass-rushers Aldon Smith and Robert Quinn.
• Fifth-round safeties did not last. The Seattle Seahawks cut Mark LeGree. The St. Louis Rams cut Jermale Hines.
• Good values at cornerback. The San Francisco 49ers found a quick contributor in third-round cornerback Chris Culliver, who has seized the nickel job. The Seahawks' fifth-round corner, Richard Sherman, is also looking good early. Injuries forced him into the starting lineup last week. Sherman picked off one pass and tipped a ball that teammate Kam Chancellor intercepted.
• Mid-round linebackers ascending. Seattle's K.J. Wright and Arizona's Sam Acho are dissimilar as linebackers. Wright has played the middle after entering the draft as a strongside type, and now he is starting on the strong side. Acho is converting from college defensive end to 3-4 outside linebacker. There are similarities as well. Both have replaced big names in their starting lineups. Wright replaced Aaron Curry. Acho replaced Joey Porter. Both players have impressed their teams with their smarts. Acho has one sack in each of the Cardinals' last two games.
• Late-round find. The Cardinals have been pleased with sixth-round defensive lineman David Carter, even though another sixth-rounder, Quan Sturdivant, came to the team with higher expectations for making an immediate impact. Carter has pushed 2010 first-round pick Dan Williams for playing time. Williams has 152 snaps. Carter has 105.

Thanks to Hank Gargiulo of ESPN Stats & Information for passing along the numbers. Dashes represent bye weeks in the chart.