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Aaron Curry, apparently headed for Oakland, has plenty of company among 2009 NFL draft choices failing to meet expectations with their original teams.

The player Seattle's previous leadership drafted fourth overall was part of a draft featuring quite a few underwhelming players near the top.

Thirteen NFC West choices from the 2009 draft remain with their teams: Max Unger, Deon Butler and Cameron Morrah in Seattle; Beanie Wells, Rashad Johnson, Greg Toler and LaRod Stephens-Howling in Arizona; Jason Smith, James Laurinaitis, Bradley Fletcher and Darell Scott in St. Louis; and two players in San Francisco, Michael Crabtree and Ricky-Jean Francois.

Let's sift through the rubble ...

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Larry Fitzgerald's arrival with the Arizona Cardinals via the 2004 NFL draft serves as the starting point for the latest item looking at recent NFC West choices.

Fitzgerald already has 613 receptions, far more than any other NFC West receiver over the last seven seasons.

In fact, the wide receivers with the most receptions for the Cardinals' division rivals during the same time period -- Torry Holt (St. Louis), Bobby Engram (Seattle) and Arnaz Battle (San Francisco) -- have long since moved on. I ran across Engram in the 49ers' main lobby Wednesday; he's a quality control coach with the team.

History tells us receivers carry more risk than some other positions. For every Fitzgerald, there seems to be a Koren Robinson, David Terrell or Troy Williamson -- high picks that never came close to realizing their potential. Mike Williams' revival with Seattle last season was an exception.

The charts break down every receiver NFC West teams have drafted since 2004. Will the St. Louis Rams add Julio Jones to their list of drafted wideouts?

As in the past, I'll preface each chart with thoughts from the teams' perspectives.

Immediate needs don't matter so much when front-line talent is available ...

Time to start finding replacements for veterans who might not fit into our plans (Terrell Owens for the 49ers, Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt for the Rams) ...

These guys might not start, but every team needs secondary options in the passing game ...

We're getting late enough in the draft to consider grabbing a receiver while a few with decent potential remain on the board ...

Time to fill out the roster and hope we find depth for special teams ...

The St. Louis Rams needed more offensive firepower last season, particularly at wide receiver.

That was obvious at critical moments.

Left unsaid: The Rams have addressed the position. Since 2008, the team has used three draft choices in the first four rounds to select wideouts, tied with six other teams for second-most in the league. But Donnie Avery (2008 second round), Keenan Burton (2008 fourth round) and Mardy Gilyard (2010 fourth round) combined for six receptions last season.

Avery is doing much better following reconstructive knee surgery. Burton is off the roster and has not played in a regular-season NFL game since suffering a torn patella against New Orleans in 2009. Gilyard is recovering from wrist surgery after playing little and failing to catch a pass in the Rams' final 10 games.

The chart shows how many skill-position players NFL teams have drafted in the first four rounds since 2008. I excluded tight ends because some project more as blockers.

I'll break them out by NFC West team:

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Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesSam Bradford is coming off a record-breaking rookie season in which he threw for over 3,500 yards.
• St. Louis Rams (4): Quarterback Sam Bradford (2010 first round) is coming off a record-setting rookie season. He could use some help from Avery and Gilyard.
• Arizona Cardinals (3): Receiver Andre Roberts (2010 third round), running back Beanie Wells (2009 first round) and receiver Early Doucet (2008 third round) remain prominent in the Cardinals' plans. The 2011 season will be a big one for Wells, who looked better as a rookie than he did last season. The knee injury Wells suffered during the exhibition season required surgery. That presumably affected his play.
• San Francisco 49ers (2): Receiver Michael Crabtree (2009 first) had 55 catches last season, including six for touchdowns. His season was a bit underwhelming, however, as the 49ers' quarterback and coordinator instability continued. Running back Glen Coffee (2009 third round) became a bust when he retired after only one season, citing a lack of love for the game.
• Seattle Seahawks (2): Receiver Golden Tate (2010 second round) made an immediate impact during minicamps last offseason, only to justify the usual disclaimers about rookie receivers often struggling when the games start counting. Tate's game needs refinement, by his own admission. He has the athletic ability to make plays on the ball and gain big chunks after the catch. Meanwhile, Deon Butler (2009 third round) is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a career-threatening leg injury, coach Pete Carroll said. Butler's on-field future remains in question, however.

I singled out the first four rounds because those choices are more valuable.

NFC West teams have found some bargains at the skill positions in the later rounds since 2008, including: Tim Hightower, LaRod Stephens-Howling and possibly John Skelton in Arizona; Josh Morgan and Anthony Dixon in San Francisco and Justin Forsett in Seattle.

The Rams' late-round selections -- Keith Null, Chris Obgonnaya and Brooks Foster -- no longer play for the team.

A quick look at the St. Louis Rams' 2009 draft class ...

Best pick so far: James Laurinaitis, MLB, Ohio State. The Rams took him in the second round when some thought USC's Rey Maualuga was the better prospect. The Rams were right. Laurinaitis became a starter right away and he continues to improve.

Second-guessing: The Rams wound up using the second overall choice for a right tackle. Conventional wisdom says that's not great value even though Jason Smith looks like he'll be a solid starter for years to come. Smith looks better than some of the players taken immediately after him, including fellow tackle Andre Smith.

Key variable: Third-round choice Bradley Fletcher. The Rams paid a steep price for moving him into a backup role against the San Francisco 49ers.

Roster turnover is a leading topic for discussion in Seattle following the release of T.J. Houshmandzadeh in particular.

I've addressed the subject in depth across the division -- first May 26 and again July 30 -- and it's worth another look now that teams have reduced to 53 players for the regular season.

This time, I'm going to break down the changes by position, listing players no longer on the active roster at each main position group (with new players in parenthesis). Departures outnumber replacements because some players finished last season on injured reserve, meaning they were not part of the 53-man roster.

Some players no longer on the active roster remain with the team (they could be suspended, deemed physically unable to perform or part of the practice squad).

St. Louis Rams (34 off roster)

Defensive back: Eric Bassey, Quincy Butler, Danny Gorrer, Clinton Hart, Cordelius Parks, David Roach, Jonathan Wade (added Kevin Dockery, Jerome Murphy, Darian Stewart)

Defensive line: Victor Adeyanju, Adam Carriker, Leger Douzable, Leonard Little, LaJuan Ramsey, James Wyche (added Jermelle Cudjo, Fred Robbins, George Selvie, Eugene Sims)

Linebacker: K.C. Asiodu, Paris Lenon (added Na'il Diggs, Josh Hull)

Offensive line: Roger Allen, Alex Barron, Ryan McKee, Mark Setterstrom, Phillip Trautwein, Eric Young (added Renardo Foster, Hank Fraley, Rodger Saffold)

Quarterback: Kyle Boller, Marc Bulger, Keith Null, Mike Reilly (added Sam Bradford, A.J. Feeley, Thaddeus Lewis)

Running back: Samkon Gado, Chris Ogbonnaya (added Keith Toston)

Special teams: Ryan Neill

Tight end: Randy McMichael (added Mike Hoomanawanui, Fendi Onobun)

Wide receiver: Donnie Avery, Keenan Burton, Brooks Foster, Jordan Kent, Ruvell Martin (added Mark Clayton, Dominique Curry, Mardy Gilyard)

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Seattle Seahawks (33 off roster)

Defensive back: Jamar Adams, Deon Grant, Ken Lucas, Josh Wilson (added Kam Chancellor, Kennard Cox, Nate Ness, Earl Thomas, Walter Thurmond)

Defensive line: Lawrence Jackson, Patrick Kerney, Cory Redding, Nick Reed, Darryl Tapp, Craig Terrill (added Kentwan Balmer, Raheem Brock, Chris Clemons, Dexter Davis, Junior Siavii, E.J. Wilson)

Linebacker: Leroy Hill, Lance Laury, D.D. Lewis (added Matt McCoy; note that Hill is suspended for the first regular-season game)

Offensive line: Trevor Canfield, Brandon Frye, Walter Jones, Damion McIntosh, Rob Sims, Steve Vallos, Ray Willis, Mansfield Wrotto (added Stacy Andrews, Evan Dietrich-Smith, Ben Hamilton, Russell Okung, Chester Pitts, Tyler Polumbus)

Quarterback: Mike Teel, Seneca Wallace (added Charlie Whitehurst)

Running back: Justin Griffith, Louis Rankin, Tyler Roehl, Owen Schmitt (added Quinton Ganther, Michael Robinson, Leon Washington)

Special teams: Kevin Houser, Jeff Robinson (added Clint Gresham)

Tight end: John Owens (added Chris Baker, Anthony McCoy)

Wide receiver: Nate Burleson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh (added Golden Tate, Mike Williams)

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Arizona Cardinals (24 off roster)

Defensive backs: Ralph Brown, Bryant McFadden, Antrel Rolle (added A.J. Jefferson, Trumaine McBride, Brandon McDonald, Kerry Rhodes)

Defensive line: Jason Banks (added Dan Williams)

Linebacker: Monty Beisel, Bertrand Berry, Cody Brown, Karlos Dansby, Gerald Hayes, Chike Okeafor, Pago Togafau (added Paris Lenon, Cyril Obiozor, Joey Porter, Daryl Washington; Hayes can return from the physically unable to perform list after six games)

Offensive line: Mike Gandy, Herman Johnson, Reggie Wells (added Alan Faneca, Rex Hadnot)

Quarterback: Matt Leinart, Brian St. Pierre, Kurt Warner (added Derek Anderson, Max Hall, John Skelton)

Running back: Justin Green, Dan Kreider (added Jerome Johnson)

Special teams: Neil Rackers (added Jay Feely)

Tight end: Anthony Becht (added Jim Dray)

Wide receiver: Anquan Boldin, Sean Morey, Jerheme Urban (added Andre Roberts, Stephen Williams)

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San Francisco 49ers (24 off roster)

Defensive backs: Dre' Bly, Walt Harris, Marcus Hudson, Mark Roman (added Phillip Adams, Tramaine Brock, William James, Taylor Mays)

Defensive line: Kentwan Balmer, Derek Walker

Linebacker: Scott McKillop, Jeff Ulbrich, Matt Wilhelm (added NaVorro Bowman, Travis LaBoy)

Offensive line: Tony Pashos, Chris Patrick, Cody Wallace (added Alex Boone, Anthony Davis, Mike Iupati)

Quarterback: Nate Davis, Shaun Hill (added David Carr, Troy Smith)

Running back: Thomas Clayton, Glen Coffee, Brit Miller, Michael Robinson (added Anthony Dixon, Brian Westbrook)

Special teams: Shane Andrus, Ricky Schmitt

Wide receiver: Arnaz Battle, Isaac Bruce, Jason Hill, Brandon Jones (added Ted Ginn Jr., Kyle Williams, Dominique Zeigler)

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The first chart shows how many players are back -- at least for now -- from Week 17 rosters and injured reserve lists. Seattle has the fewest number back with 26.

The second chart shows how many players each team has shed since Week 17 last season. This counts players who were on injured reserve. Teams with lots of players on injured reserve had more players to lose.

Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic examines the relationship between receiver Larry Fitzgerald and cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Fitzgerald: "I don't think there's a cornerback in the NFL as athletically gifted as he is. He's the best athlete I've gone against since I've played in the NFL. It's hands down, not even close." Both players enter the 2010 season coming off knee injuries. Rodgers-Cromartie has bounced back better than I might have expected. Fitzgerald expects to return for the regular-season opener.

Also from McManaman: The Cardinals head to Tennessee, site of their memorable 2009 regular-season defeat. McManaman: "And then there's Cardinals defensive coordinator Bill Davis, who remembers every last morbid detail of the Titans' stunning 20-17 come-from-behind victory in Week 12 last season. It was so gut-wrenching for Davis, he still has nightmares about it. And the Tennessee game doesn't even haunt him as much as Arizona's playoff performances in a narrow victory over the Green Bay Packers and a loss to eventual Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints." It's a big season for Davis and the Cardinals' defense. The offense probably will not score as many points. The margin for error could shrink on defense.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com pays tribute to former Cardinals (and Rams) receiver Johnny Bailey, who passed away from pancreatic cancer at age 43. Little-known fact from the Cardinals' media guide: Steve Breaston's punt-return touchdown against the Steelers in 2007 was the team's first since 1993, when Bailey returned Reggie Roby's punt 58 yards for a score against the Redskins.

Also from Urban: The Cardinals brace for three games in 11 days.

Cam Inman of Bay Area News Group offers 10 observations from the 49ers' game against the Vikings on Sunday night. Inman: "Rookie tailback Anthony Dixon continues to impress. And not just by scoring the 49ers' lone first-half touchdown. On the sideline, Dixon looked at full attention as (Frank) Gore and running backs coach Tom Rathman mentored him."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says the 49ers were not happy with their running game against the Vikings. Not having Gore or even Brian Westbrook was a big factor.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee looks at 10 players who were "on the bubble" heading into the 49ers' exhibition game Sunday night. On Travis LaBoy, who enjoyed a strong game against the Vikings: "Based on the first three weeks of training camp, it's hard to see LaBoy making the team. The fourth OLB must be rugged enough to contribute on special teams. LaBoy missed the most of the team's practices with a concussion. The 49ers also are wary of a foot injury that cost LaBoy the 2009 season. However, he still has three preseason games to make an impression."

Phil Barber of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says Alex Smith was sharp for the 49ers. Barber: "Smith's performance was a big step up from the first game. He completed 9 of 13 passes for 88 yards, for a solid passer rating of 88. And the fact that he did it without Crabtree, (Vernon) Davis and Gore says something of his ability to improvise."

Lowell Cohn of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says Smith needs to be a little less nice, or maybe a lot less nice. True, Smith might be better off if his personality had a sharper edge. The most important thing, however, is for Smith to be himself. Faking an edge isn't going to work.

David White of the San Francisco Chronicle checks in with Patrick Willis following the linebacker's big hit on Brett Favre. Willis: "He's a wise old vet. I guess he was like, 'This is a little too much for me right now just coming back.' I guess a lot of people thought he shouldn't have played. I was happy to be out there myself."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says Leon Washington could get the start for Seattle at running back in the team's third exhibition game. Julius Jones and Justin Forsett have each started on game to this point. Coach Pete Carroll: "We decided that somewhere months ago about how we were going to do this in the first couple of games. Just give these guys a chance to compete, and that’s exactly what we’re doing. There’s a good chance that Leon will start next week, and we’ll see how he does in that role. That’s what our plan was, to give these guys a chance to go with the first group and show us what they’ve got."

Brian McIntyre of scout.com calls T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Golden Tate and Deon Butler "locks" to earn roster spots at receiver for Seattle.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says the Seahawks' first-team offense looks better with Mike Williams as part of the group. O'Neil: "In the exhibition opener against Tennessee, Seattle used T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Deion Branch and tight end John Carlson in the slot in a three-receiver formation. That lineup that didn't threaten the defense outside. Williams changed the dynamic of that group. He caught four passes against Green Bay in the first half, as did Houshmandzadeh, and Seattle scored touchdowns on two of its first three possessions."

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune sizes up Seahawks rookie Dexter Davis, who has made an impact as a pass-rusher.

John Morgan of Field Gulls lists Matt Hasselbeck, Jon Ryan, Marcus Trufant and Mike Williams among "big winners" in the second week of the Seahawks' exhibition season. Aaron Curry? Not so much. Perhaps Curry really does need Lofa Tatupu by his side.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Sam Bradford will start for the Rams on Thursday night if A.J. Feeley's injured thumb remains a problem. Bradford on his performance against the Browns: "Obviously, I'd like to have had a couple more completions out there. I felt like we struggled a little bit early. I felt like once I settled down, I made some smart decisions. I felt like for the most part, I was in the right place with the ball."

Also from Thomas: The Rams signed former Missouri receiver Danario Alexander, releasing 2009 fifth-round choice Brooks Foster. Thomas: "Rams general manager Billy Devaney said the team is realistic about what to expect right away. Today marks Alexander's first practice since January, when he suffered his most recent knee injury in a Senior Bowl practice. So he'll be playing catch-up."

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams' poor tackling against the Browns stood out to coach Steve Spagnuolo. Coats: "After watching the game film, Spagnuolo put together a clip of five or six tackles that he said were executed perfectly. He plans to highlight those when he meets with his defense today."

Also from Coats: The Rams need more from their backup running backs. Kenneth Darby was probably most impressive among them Saturday night.

Bryan Burwell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch saw improvement from the Rams' offensive line Saturday night.

Steve Korte of the Belleville News-Democrat says Spagnuolo wasn't happy after the Rams scored only six points off five Cleveland turnovers.

EARTH CITY, Mo. -- Footballs were flying and so were receivers Tuesday night at St. Louis Rams training camp.

Among the highlights:

• Rookie Mardy Gilyard gathering a low-and-away ball from Sam Bradford and running through the coverage with authority;
• Tight end Billy Bajema catching a Bradford pass that first bounced off Daniel Fells;
• Third-year receiver Donnie Avery elevating and laying out for an A.J. Feeley pass along the right sideline -- perhaps the best catch I've seen at a training camp this summer. Avery had a rough day from a physical standpoint, taking a hard shot to the back when a defender landed on him awkwardly, but he bounced back and caught a sideline pass right away. Avery put on weight this offseason in an effort to become more durable. Looks like he passed an initial test Tuesday;
• Second-year receiver Brooks Foster diving to catch a pass from Keith Null, also along the right sideline. Foster was running full speed and he landed hard -- the sound suggested his helmet hit the grass -- but he still held on;
• Rookie tight end Fendi Onobun outleaping a defender to catch a deep pass in the back-left corner of the end zone;
• Fells catching a high pass over the middle;
• Danny Amendola, building on a terrific camp so far, snatching a pass over the middle from Bradford.

Cornerback Quincy Butler picked off Feeley at one point, but the receivers won this practice -- not necessarily by beating defensive backs, but by making spectacular grabs. The Rams have lacked playmakers. It was tough to tell Tuesday. Gilyard in particular was catching passes left and right.

NFL teams are starting to declare players "physically unable to perform" as they convene for training camps.

Wes Welker of the New England Patriots recently became a high-profile addition to a PUP list. We'll see NFC West teams take advantage of PUP lists as well, making this a good time to lay out exactly what PUP status means for players.

Players who do not pass physical examinations before training camp cannot practice. Teams place these players on their PUP lists. The players remain on the active roster and count against 80-man limits. They can come off the PUP list and begin practicing as soon as they pass physical examinations.

Players remaining on PUP lists at the Sept. 4 mandatory reduction to 53 players are not eligible to play until after the first six games. They continue to receive their salaries in full.

The chart shows current NFC West players who finished the 2009 season on NFC West injured reserve lists. Some could be candidates for PUP lists as camps open. Their ages are rounded down to the nearest tenth, making it easy to see, for example, that Rams long snapper Chris Massey is much closer to 31 than he is to 30.

Some players not shown in the chart could be candidates for PUP lists.

The Arizona Cardinals Gerald Hayes is one obvious candidate. The St. Louis Rams have said they expect Steven Jackson to be recovered from back surgery in time for camp. The Seattle Seahawks' T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Deion Branch and Leon Washington have missed time recovering from surgeries this offseason.

There's not necessarily reason for panic when a team places a high-profile player on its PUP list to open camp. Sometimes the player misses only a short time.

The Cincinnati Bengals, apparently suspecting Terrell Owens might be using the St. Louis Rams for leverage, called the free-agent receiver's bluff earlier Monday.

Now the Rams have made it clear they won't be used, either.

As Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports, the Rams have decided not to pursue Owens after discussing the matter in recent days.

This is probably a wise move even though Owens would have become the best receiver on the team. Current Rams receivers include Brandon Gibson, Keenan Burton, Dominique Curry, Danny Amendola, Donnie Avery, Laurent Robinson, Brandon McRae, Mardy Gilyard, Jordan Kent and Brooks Foster.

Earlier: Pros, cons of adding Owens to the Rams.

Ten NFC West draft choices combined for 76 starts as rookies last season. Five of the 10 played for the rebuilding St. Louis Rams. An eleventh, Beanie Wells, made significant contributions despite never cracking the lineup.

The 2010 draft class will command more immediate attention when teams open training camps, but the 2009 class figures to contribute more after a year of seasoning.

Here's my look at the NFC West's 2009 choices heading into their second season:

Best choice

Michael Crabtree, WR, 49ers. The Cardinals' Wells and the Rams' James Laurinaitis made more immediate impacts. They reported to camp on time. But Crabtree commanded a starting job right away once he finally signed, and he immediately justified his starting status. Crabtree was surprisingly consistent and polished. Given a chance to select any other 2009 NFC West draft choices, I think the 49ers would stick with Crabtree.

Best immediate contributor

Laurinaitis, MLB, Rams. Laurinaitis became an immediate starter and didn't seem to fall off the way No. 4 overall choice Aaron Curry did in Seattle. Laurinaitis wasn't a star, but he stepped into a position requiring knowledge of the defense. Laurinaitis finished the season with 2.0 sacks, five passes defensed, two interceptions and a forced fumble. He and Seahawks second-rounder Max Unger were the only 2009 NFC West draft choices to start 16 games last season.

Best value

LaRod Stephens-Howling, RB, Cardinals. The Cardinals found one of the best special-teams players in the division with the 240th overall choice. Stephens-Howling was outstanding on coverage teams. He provided a threat in the return game, too, scoring a critical touchdown at Tennessee. The Cardinals also found ways to work Stephens-Howling into the offense. He caught 10 passes for 83 yards and a touchdown, though he didn't provide much as a rushing threat.

Most to prove

Jason Smith, LT, Rams. Curry finished a close second in this category. Smith started only five games and did not stand out when he was on the field (not that offensive linemen always have to stand out). A serious concussion and subsequent toe injury have raised questions about Smith's durability. The Rams will be investing heavily in No. 1 overall choice Sam Bradford and they'll need Smith to protect him. Smith works hard and the Rams have surrounded him with veteran mentors.

A team-by-team look at the 2009 class:

Arizona Cardinals

2009 picks: 8

Total 2009 starts: 2

Projected 2010 starters (2): first-rounder Beanie Wells, RB, Ohio State; fourth-rounder Greg Toler, CB, St. Paul's.

Other potential starters (1): Wells could have wound up here, but I'll stick with my projection that he'll start this season.

On the hot seat: Cody Brown, OLB, Connecticut. The Cardinals could use one of their young pass-rushers to emerge. A serious wrist injury prevented Brown from contributing last season. He was a second-round choice, though, so expectations are relatively high. Arizona needs him.

No longer with team (1): seventh-rounder Trevor Canfield, Cincinnati (Detroit Lions)

Keep an eye out for: sixth-rounder Will Davis. He showed promise last season and was improving until a knee injury sidelined him.

Forgotten man: We've seen little evidence suggesting third-round choice Rashad Johnson will become a factor anytime soon, if at all.

San Francisco 49ers

2009 picks: 7

Total 2009 starts: 13

Projected 2010 starters (1): Crabtree

Other potential starters (0): None.

On the hot seat: Scott McKillop, LB, Pitt. The 49ers hoped McKillop might develop into a successor to inside linebacker Takeo Spikes. It could still happen, but coaches quickly replaced McKillop with veteran Matt Wilhelm when Spikes was out.

No longer with team (1): sixth-rounder Bear Pascoe, TE, Fresno State (New York Giants)

Keep an eye out for: seventh-rounder Ricky Jean-Francois, NT, LSU. Jean-Francois worked at nose tackle during minicamps and organized team activities while franchise player Aubrayo Franklin remained unsigned. Franklin will likely sign and he'll become the starter again when he does.

Forgotten man: Glen Coffee, RB, Alabama. Frank Gore's return to health means Coffee will not be needed much, if at all. The 49ers used a sixth-round choice for Anthony Dixon, a running back from Mississippi State. The buzz on Coffee went away when he struggled to gain yardage running behind a struggling line early last season.

Seattle Seahawks

2009 picks: 7

Total 2009 starts: 28

Projected 2010 starters (2): first-rounder Curry, LB, Wake Forest; second-rounder Unger, G, Oregon.

Other potential starters (0): None.

On the hot seat: Curry. His rookie season went from promising to disappointing after the Seahawks lost their defensive quarterback, middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu, to season-ending injury. Curry said he tried to do too much from that point forward. The Seahawks hope Curry can become an effective pass-rusher in nickel situations. To fulfill his potential, though, Curry must become a good strongside linebacker, too.

No longer with team (2): sixth-rounder Mike Teel, QB, Rutgers (Chicago Bears); seventh-rounder Courtney Greene, S, Rutgers (Jacksonville Jaguars).

Keep an eye out for: third-rounder Deon Butler, WR, Penn St. Butler has good straight-line speed, but he lacks the size Seattle wants in its receivers. Coach Pete Carroll called Butler one of the team's most improved players this offseason, but it's unclear whether the team will find a role for him.

St. Louis Rams

2009 picks: 7

Total 2009 starts: 33

Projected 2010 starters (2): first-rounder Smith, LT, Baylor; second-rounder Laurinaitis, MLB, Ohio St.

Other potential starters (2): third-rounder Bradley Fletcher, CB, Iowa; fourth-rounder Darell Scott, DT, Clemson.

On the hot seat: fifth-rounder Brooks Foster, WR, North Carolina. The Rams like other young receivers, including rookie free agents Dominique Curry and Brandon McRae. They also used a fourth-round choice for Mardy Gilyard. Brandon Gibson should play a role. There's pressure on Foster to make a strong comeback from the ankle injury that ended his rookie season.

No longer with team (0): All seven choices remain on the roster.

Keep an eye out for: Fletcher, the third-round corner from Iowa. Torn knee ligaments ended Fletcher's rookie season in October after the promising rookie started three games. The Rams hope Fletcher can come back to win the starting job.

Earlier: Winners, losers from 2008 class.

» NFC On the Radar: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

A player, coach or issue that should be on your radar as training camp approaches.

A sore hip bothered Kurt Warner at Arizona Cardinals camp last summer. It wasn't a big deal.

Two summers ago, the Seattle Seahawks downplayed Matt Hasselbeck's bad back because they didn't know the full extent of the problem. That one turned out to be more serious than expected.

Having the right feel for each injury situation can be tough. I'm sure a surprise injury or two will become a story after NFC West teams report for training camps in late July.

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis (knee), St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson (back), Arizona Cardinals cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (knee) and Seattle Seahawks middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu (pectoral) are among the high-profile NFC West players coming off surgery rehabs. Their situations will bear monitoring.

The following players ended last season on injured reserve (some are no longer with NFC West teams):

Arizona Cardinals

Matt Ware, Mike Gandy, Justin Green, Cody Brown

San Francisco 49ers

Tony Pashos, Ricky Schmitt, Thomas Clayton, Jeff Ulbrich, Walt Harris, Kentwan Balmer, Curtis Taylor

Seattle Seahawks

Tyler Roehl, Walter Jones, Kevin Houser, Brandon Frye, Tatupu, Mike Hass

St. Louis Rams

Marc Bulger, Adam Carriker, Oshiomogho Atogwe, Eric Bassey, C.J. Ah You, Brooks Foster, Gary Gibson, Jacob Bell, Daniel Fells, Chris Massey, Bradley Fletcher, Laurent Robinson, Keenan Burton

A look back at the 2009 NFL draft shows seven NFC West choices projected to start this season. The future appears brightest for the Arizona Cardinals' choices, at least in my assessment of the choices' prospects.

The breakdown is heavily weighted toward early choices. The San Francisco 49ers were the only division team with fewer than two projected 2010 starters from the class, but the team did not have second- or fourth-round choices.

The players I projected as starters were: first-rounder Beanie Wells and fourth-rounder Greg Toler of the Arizona Cardinals; first-rounder Michael Crabtree of the 49ers; first-rounder Aaron Curry and second-rounder Max Unger of the Seattle Seahawks; and first-rounder Jason Smith and second-rounder James Laurinaitis of the St. Louis Rams.

The Seahawks' sixth-round choice, Mike Teel, is the only 2009 NFC West choice without an NFL job at present (Seattle and the New England Patriots have both released him in recent weeks).

My take on the most promising 2009 NFC West choices by round:

First: Crabtree, 49ers. Wells also showed excellent potential. Crabtree was instantly the best player at his position on the team, however. Tim Hightower is still working ahead of Wells in practice.

Second: Laurinaitis, Rams. This was a tough call because Unger also projects as a long-term starter and the Cardinals' Cody Brown hasn't had a chance to show anything after suffering an injury. Laurinaitis projects as a defensive leader. He has a chance to have the greatest impact based on his position.

Third: Glen Coffee, 49ers. The third round was a rough one for teams in this division. Rams cornerback Bradley Fletcher is coming off injury. It's unclear how well Deon Butler will fit as a receiver for Seattle. The Cardinals haven't seen much from safety Rashad Johnson. It's Coffee by default for now.

Fourth: Toler, Cardinals. This was an easy choice because the 49ers and Seahawks did not have fourth-round choices and the Rams' pick, defensive tackle Darell Scott, projects as a role player. Toler projects as a starter, although we're taking the Cardinals' word for his value at this point.

Fifth: Herman Johnson, Cardinals. I thought he showed promise at right tackle during the exhibition season. The Cardinals haven't raved about him, but in looking at the other fifth-rounders -- Scott McKillop and Nate Davis of the 49ers and Brooks Foster of the Rams -- I'll stick with Johnson.

Sixth: Will Davis, Cardinals. Davis showed signs of developing into a potential starter until suffering a knee injury. He'll probably sit behind Clark Haggans for a while, but don't count out Davis as a potential starter eventually. The other sixth-rounders -- Bear Pascoe, Teel and Keith Null -- do not measure up.

Seventh: LaRod Stephens-Howling, Cardinals. He provided Pro Bowl-caliber play on special teams as a rookie, particularly in coverage. His kickoff return for a touchdown nearly beat the Tennessee Titans. The 49ers are giving one of their seventh-rounders, nose tackle Ricky Jean-Francois, a chance to develop while Aubrayo Franklin stays away. I thought the Rams' Chris Ogbonnaya showed some promise last season as well.

The chart shows a round-by-round look at 2009 NFC West choices projected to start this season.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says this isn't the first offseason we've heard about progress Alex Smith has made as the 49ers' quarterback. Maiocco: "But this offseason is different. This is the first time Smith knows the offense well enough to lead meetings, understand all the nuances of the team's protection schemes and fully appreciate the route concepts. He has an understanding on what plays -- coupled with the looks from the defense -- he has the best chances to take risks with shots down the field."

Also from Maiocco: notes from 49ers camp, where Manny Lawson remains absent.

Kevin Smith of Niner Insider says Smith appears more comfortable.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says Tony Wragge is working at center with the 49ers' second-team offensive line. Also: "With Nate Clements and Shawntae Spencer absent, the starting cornerbacks continue to be Karl Paymah and (Tarell) Brown. Their backups today were (Phillip) Adams and Keith Smith. Newcomer Will James is still picking up the defense and was an observer only for today's session."

Also from Barrows: Veteran 49ers safety Michael Lewis says cornerback Nate Clements might surprise people when he reports to the team after an offseason of conditioning work in Arizona.

More from Barrows: Half the 49ers' defensive starters were not in attendance Monday. I don't necessarily think this is a bad thing for the team. More in a bit.

Cam Inman of Bay Area News Group says Tedd Ginn Jr. had problems with dropped balls in practice Monday. Inman: "He didn't have as many drops on punt returns as he did as a receiver Monday. He cleanly fielded his first few punts and darted upfield about 30 yards. But when he failed to catch one punt near his waist, it wasn't good -- other than it was only mid-May and he wasn't in Candlestick Park."

Phil Barber of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat details why various players weren't present at 49ers camp. Mike Singletary: "Obviously as a coach, you always want to see the guys, but it's just like last year. There were some guys that were not here last year, and I told Nate and Shawntae, 'Hey, guys, you're men. You do what you have to do. You know what we are trying to get done here, and I trust that.' Some of the guys will not be here at all for the OTAs and some of the guys will get maybe half of them. ... They have to know what we are doing here, and when we get ready for training camp they have to know that the competition is going to be there, and I trust their decision making."

Also from Barber: Ginn was among those returning punts for the 49ers.

Daniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury News says Vernon Davis appears unfazed entering the final year of his contract. Davis: "I’m here because this is what I do. I like to work."

David White of the San Francisco Chronicle says rookie offensive linemen Anthony Davis and Mike Iupati lined up with the 49ers' second-team offensive line.



Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com offers notes from the team's latest OTA session, including one about Aaron Curry's improved confidence. Curry: "I'm having so much more fun this year rushing the passer than I did last year, because this year I had a whole two or three months of pass-rush preparation. So I actually have a plan when I go into the rush and I actually know what I’m doing."

Rod Mar of seahawks.com provides photos from the session, including one of receiver Mike Williams elevating over cornerback Kelly Jennings to make a one-handed grab. Williams' continued surprising play stands out as one of the more intriguing developments for Seattle this offseason.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says Seahawks coach Pete Carroll likes what he sees from Red Bryant at defensive end. Carroll: "Of all the little things that we've looked at, trying to experiment and stuff, that's the one thing that looks to be really, really positive. We have a chance to find a lot of plays out of Red."

Also from O'Neil: Leroy Hill faces a pretrial hearing Wednesday.

Greg Johns of seattlepi.com says rookie seventh-round choice Jeremy Konz has moved from receiver to tight end. That makes sense. Seattle has 16 wide receivers if Konz counts at that position. Johns: "Konz is an intriguing athlete who posted some incredible predraft workout numbers at Kent State, including a whopping 46-inch vertical leap and running the 40 in 4.41 seconds. But he spent his first three seasons at Kent State as a linebacker, then suffered a season-ending ankle injury one game into his senior season after being moved to wide receiver. He gained an extra year of eligibility and came back last year at more of an H-back position, catching 21 passes for 298 yards and two touchdowns."

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune quotes Carroll as saying Charlie Whitehurst has "a sense" for the quarterback position, but Matt Hasselbeck clearly remains the starter.

Also from Williams: Could the Seahawks cut Hill?

Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune checks in with veteran Seahawks safety Lawyer Milloy, who is looking forward to an expanded role in the defense. Milloy: "If I didn’t have a fire for the game, I wouldn’t be doing this. I don’t have to be doing this. But I’ve got a passion for the competition and a passion for the game, and I feel I can still do it at a high level. You saw when I got on the field last year, I got after it; I wasn’t backing down from any hits." Milloy was arguably the Seahawks' best hitter last season.

Liz Mathews of 710ESPN Seattle says Seahawks tight end John Carlson is used to change. Carlson: "This is my third year, third staff, third offense and third position coach. This is routine to me -- starting over. We have a lot of time to meet and work with each other on the field -- the transition isn't all that bad."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says Cardinals running back Tim Hightower has switched agents, hiring Paul Lawrence of Maximum Sports. Somers: "That agency, which includes Eugene Parker and Roosevelt Barnes, represents several of the Cardinals biggest stars: safety Adrian Wilson, cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and receiver Larry Fitzgerald, Lawrence is listed as the lead agent for Hightower and Wilson."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says tight end Ben Patrick can relate to what rookies are going through as they get acclimated to the Cardinals. Urban: "Patrick, one of the few veterans to show Monday, tried to do his part. He went outside as the rookies were about to run when rookie seventh-round pick Jim Dray -- also a tight end -- came over to ask Patrick if he was going to watch them work. Patrick told him he came out to run with Dray and show some support."

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch takes a look at the Rams' inexperience at wide receiver. General manager Billy Devaney in December: "My brothers in New Jersey, they follow it, and they'd say, 'Aren't you going to sign a receiver?' And I'm like, 'Give me a break. We have this list (of needs) that's a mile long. We're going to fill as many as we can.' " Coats: "Two wideouts acquired through the draft have yet to appear in a regular-season game. (Mardy) Gilyard, of course, is a newcomer. Brooks Foster, a fifth-round pick in 2009, missed his entire rookie season after ankle surgery." The Rams can be OK at receiver if Donnie Avery and Laurent Robinson are healthy. Keeping both players healthy will be a challenge, however. Both have had injury problems.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee quotes 49ers coach Mike Singletary as saying the team has made finding a return specialist a high priority this offseason. Singletary also indicated that a personal matter led to Al Everest's departure as special-teams coach, stressing that the botched reverse at Seattle wasn't the reason for a change. Singletary: "If I was that shallow as a coach, I need to be out of the game. It was just something that Al needs to take care of." Everest subsequently interviewed with the Steelers for their job as special-teams coach.

Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says new 49ers special-teams coach Kurt Schottenheimer held the same job with the Chiefs when 49ers defensive coordinator Greg Manusky was a top special-teams player for Kansas City. Maiocco: "Schottenheimer was out of coaching in 2009. He said he studied the principles of the spread offense in visits to Texas A&M and Illinois. He is defensive coordinator this week at the East-West Shrine Game in Orlando, so he is getting a head start evaluating draft-eligible players."

Dan Brown of the San Jose Mercury News quotes Singletary as saying Everest was "doing a fine job" for the 49ers. Why, then, would the 49ers let his contract expire, allowing Everest to surface as a candidate with the Steelers? Singletary was vague.

John Crumpacker of the San Francisco Chronicle quotes Singletary this way on Everest: "I think Al was doing a good job during the year, but there were some things I had to deal with personally. It was just something Al needed to take care of. I had to let him go."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says longtime Pete Carroll associate Pat Kirwan told radio listeners he wasn't pursuing a job with the Seahawks. That might mean the Seahawks weren't ready to offer him a high-level job within the organization.

Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune says the current postseason shows why the Seahawks shouldn't be too quick to write off Matt Hasselbeck. Brett Favre, Kurt Warner and even Drew Brees went through career difficulties before re-emerging as excellent players. Favre appeared finished with the Jets last season before making a run at MVP honors with Minnesota. Warner landed in Arizona after the Rams and Giants moved on with younger quarterbacks. Favre had enjoyed one good statistical season in his previous four before catching on with the Vikings. Warner had enjoyed one good statistical season in his previous four before signing with Arizona. Like the Rams' 32-year-old Marc Bulger, Hasselbeck, 34, has enjoyed one good statistical season in his last four. Warner was 34 in his first season with Arizona.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic raises six questions about the Cardinals heading into the offseason. Somers: "The contracts of a handful of assistants are ending, and team President Michael Bidwill tried to get some to sign new two-year deals. Only one problem: the Cardinals didn't spell out how much they would pay should there be a work stoppage in 2011. So some members of the staff remain unsigned, including strength coach John Lott, who has become a guru to many of the players. If the Cardinals want to send a bad message to players and fans, they will allow Lott and others to depart. To borrow a phrase from Lott, who borrowed it from 'Cool Hand Luke,' the Cardinals need to get their minds right." Letting key assistants get away would validate criticisms the organization has made strides in overcoming.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com lists the eight players Arizona recently signed to future contracts. The following players will join the 80-man roster once the NFL postseason concludes: receiver Onrea Jones, cornerback Rashard Barksdale, linebacker Ali Highsmith, receiver Ed Gant, defensive end Ryan Kees, guard Jonathan Palmer, tackle Tom Pestock and linebacker Mark Washington.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo will need to hire a receivers coach after Charlie Baggett left to join Derek Dooley at the University of Tennessee. Spagnuolo suggested the Rams won't rush to name a replacement. The Rams' problems at receiver appeared largely related to personnel. The team lacked proven talent at the position even before injuries sent Laurent Robinson, Keenan Burton and Brooks Foster onto the injured reserve list.

Howard Balzer and Jim Rodenbush of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat say the Rams' coaching staff is in Orlando for the East-West Shrine game. The staff will head to Mobile, Ala., for the Senior Bowl next week.

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A team-by-team analysis of the division. The arrow indicates which direction each team is trending.

Arizona Cardinals

Final Power Ranking: 8

Biggest surprise: Arizona posted a 6-2 road record, allowing the Cardinals to win the division comfortably even though they lost both games to the 49ers. Coach Ken Whisenhunt spent his first two seasons building a strong home-field advantage at University of Phoenix Stadium. It would have been shocking to think the Cardinals would finish the 2009 regular season with a better record on the road than at home.

Biggest disappointment: Getting three key players injured during a meaningless game against the Packers in Week 17 could threaten the Cardinals' postseason staying power. Pro Bowl cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (knee), receiver Anquan Boldin (ankle) and defensive end Calais Campbell (thumb) could be at less than full strength. It's possible one or more could miss the wild-card game. That's disappointing for a team that made staying healthy such a priority.

Biggest need: The Cardinals need to shore up their situation at tackle as they move closer to life without Kurt Warner. Left tackle Mike Gandy is in the final year of his contract. He seemingly hasn't played well enough to command a lucrative extension. The team invested a high first-round pick in right tackle Levi Brown, with underwhelming results. Warner's ability to get rid of the ball quickly allows the Arizona passing game to function even without solid pass protection from the tackles. That arrangement will not last.

Team MVP: Warner makes the offense work. The team appeared lost when he wasn't in games this season. Backup Matt Leinart was shaky in the second half at St. Louis and during extended playing time against the Packers in Week 17. The team had to put Warner back in the game after building a big lead at Chicago. Leinart put together an impressive drive at Tennessee, but that was about it. Appreciating Warner's value became easier every time Leinart went into games.

Future watch: Significant decisions await the Cardinals this offseason. Franchise player Karlos Dansby can become a free agent. Free safety Antrel Rolle's salary is scheduled to swell, likely forcing a renegotiation. Receiver Anquan Boldin will be entering the final year of his deal. Is it time to trade him? Those are just a few of the issues facing Arizona in the coming months.

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San Francisco 49ers

Final Power Ranking: 19

Biggest surprise: Old-school coach Mike Singletary and older-school offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye ditched the team's power offense for a shotgun passing attack that diminished Frank Gore's role. The team gradually found ways to reincorporate Gore, but the offense remained quite a bit different. That was understandable once Alex Smith took over at quarterback and Michael Crabtree joined the team, but it went against everything Singletary and Raye preached all offseason.

Biggest disappointment: Failing to beat the struggling Seahawks in Seattle, when the 49ers absolutely had to win, stood out as the most disappointing defeat, just ahead of the loss at Minnesota on Brett Favre's heave in the final seconds. More broadly, the offensive line wasn't as good as the team anticipated, preventing Raye from establishing consistency in the ground game. Both starting guards struggled for the first half of the season. The line seemed to play better late in the year, but by then a knee injury had sidelined left tackle Joe Staley. The line never really jelled to the degree San Francisco could have anticipated.

Biggest need: Ahmad Brooks' emergence might diminish the team's need for a pass-rusher, although that remains a subject for debate. If Brooks is the real deal, the 49ers' biggest need might be for another top-tier offensive lineman. Finding a right tackle to serve as a bookend with Staley would certainly help.

Team MVP: Inside linebacker Patrick Willis is a dominant player in his prime. He helped the 49ers field the best defense in the division. Willis met or exceeded career highs with four sacks, three interceptions and three forced fumbles. He also had eight passes defensed. Willis scored a touchdown on an interception return for the second consecutive season.

Future watch: Smith's partial emergence at quarterback left the 49ers hopeful but ultimately unsure of his prospects. The team will have to take a wait-and-see approach with him. It's possible the 49ers will draft a quarterback or sign a veteran in free agency, but Smith will likely enter the 2010 season as the starter.

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Seattle Seahawks

Final Power Ranking: 27

Biggest surprise: Third-string running back Justin Forsett emerged as a more capable runner than the Seahawks ever could have imagined. He was outstanding in pass protection and showed he could sometimes produce as an every-down back. Forsett probably isn't the answer as a starter, but he stepped up when called upon.

Biggest disappointment: Having general manager Tim Ruskell resign during the season stood out as a low point in a winter filled with them. Ruskell had been riding high after a seemingly productive draft. But with the team slumping and the pressure mounting, Ruskell forced the organization's hand by asking whether his contract would be renewed. The team would not commit to him. Ruskell's resignation left coach Jim Mora as the next biggest target for criticism. It was a bad situation all the way around.

Biggest need: Upgrading the offensive line has to stand as a top priority for the Seahawks. They were down to their fourth-string left tackle at one point, making success impossible for quarterback Matt Hasselbeck during a make-or-break game against Arizona in Week 6. Seattle needs to restore some toughness up front through the draft and possibly through free agency. The status quo simply isn't acceptable.

Team MVP: Hasselbeck was the clear choice even though he tossed nine interceptions over the final three games. The veteran quarterback's toughness and resolve stood out all season. He played through injuries. He symbolized the fight Seattle needed to show during one of its darkest seasons. The production often wasn't there, but that could be said for the whole team.

Future watch: The organization finds itself at a critical point four years after appearing in Super Bowl XL. Ownership must make the right choice in its search for a general manager. Its new leadership must make wise use of two first-round draft choices. Tough decisions must be made throughout the roster and on the coaching staff. The margin for error is gone.

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St. Louis Rams

Final Power Ranking: 32

Biggest surprise: Unknown receiver Danny Amendola provided instant life to the Rams' return game while also making contributions as a wide receiver. The Rams signed Amendola from the Eagles' practice squad in September. Amendola averaged 11.6 yards on 31 punts returns, 3.1 yards better than the league average, with five returns of 20 yards or longer. He also averaged 24.5 yards per kickoff return. The Rams ranked eighth in punt return average and 11th in kickoff return average. Amendola had a lot to do with that.

Biggest disappointment: Injuries prevented several key young players from developing during a lost season. First-round draft choice Jason Smith had trouble shaking the effects of a concussion. He lost valuable experience and never got a chance to play left tackle for an extended period. Smith, receiver Keenan Burton, defensive tackle Adam Carriker, cornerback Bradley Fletcher, receiver Brooks Foster and receiver Laurent Robinson all needed to play more this season. Each wound up on injured reserve.

Biggest need: The Rams lack playmakers on both sides of the ball. They badly need more firepower in the passing game. Finding a quarterback probably stands as the most important priority. Marc Bulger's $8.5 million salary next season appears prohibitive. Receiver is another position of need.

Team MVP: Steven Jackson showed toughness and leadership while producing at a high level all season even though teams were loading up against him every week. The maturity Jackson showed even when frustrated made life easier for first-year coach Steve Spagnuolo. Had Jackson spoken out -- as he had done previously -- a tough season could have become tougher.

Future watch: The Rams have options in the draft because they hold the No. 1 overall choice. They'll have to decide whether they can afford to pass up a quarterback. The 2009 season was harder than the Rams ever expected. They have nowhere to go but up.