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NFL general managers put their reputations on the line come draft day.

Some fare better than others.

The chart shows how many Pro Bowl players current NFC West GMs have drafted or helped draft over the past 10 years.

The numbers are not definitive. Current GMs from the division weren't always primary decision makers during the period in question. They do not deserve all the credit (or blame) for the players their teams drafted.

In some cases -- think first-team All-Pro choice NaVorro Bowman in San Francisco, for example -- very good players have not yet achieved Pro Bowl acclaim. In other cases, a single decision -- say, drafting Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay -- improved an organization's trajectory enough to launch other players to the Pro Bowl.

What we have, basically, is a starting point for discussion heading into the 2012 draft. Here's a look at each current NFC West GM and the associated 2002-2011 draft choices with Pro Bowls on their résumés:

• John Schneider, Seattle Seahawks (10): Schneider is entering his third draft as a GM after joining the Seahawks from Green Bay, where he worked under Ted Thompson. Seattle safeties Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor went to the Pro Bowl after last season. Schneider was in Green Bay when the Packers drafted eventual Pro Bowl choices B.J. Raji, Javon Walker, Aaron Rodgers, Clay Matthews, Nick Collins, Greg Jennings, Aaron Kampman and Scott Wells. Three notable non-Pro Bowl picks: Jermichael Finley, Richard Sherman, Matt Flynn.
• Trent Baalke, San Francisco 49ers (8): Baalke was with the Washington Redskins when they selected Sean Taylor and Chris Cooley. He was with the 49ers in a sub-GM role when San Francisco selected Vernon Davis, Patrick Willis, Joe Staley, Frank Gore, Dashon Goldson and Michael Robinson. Three notable non-Pro Bowl picks: Bowman, Aldon Smith, Ray McDonald.
• Rod Graves, Arizona Cardinals (7): Graves has been the Cardinals' GM for the entire period in question, although personnel director Steve Keim is ultimately responsible for setting the draft board. Draft choices Larry Fitzgerald, Patrick Peterson, Antrel Rolle, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Anquan Boldin, Darnell Dockett and Antonio Smith achieved Pro Bowl status. Smith went to the Pro Bowl with Houston last season. That counts for the purposes of our discussion. Three notable non-Pro Bowl picks: Calais Campbell, Karlos Dansby, Daryl Washington.
• Les Snead, St. Louis Rams (4): Snead enters his first draft as a GM after a long run with Atlanta. The Falcons selected eventual Pro Bowl choices Matt Ryan, DeAngelo Hall, Roddy White and Matt Schaub when Snead was with the team. Again, the period in question covers only the last 10 drafts, excluding from consideration other players (Michael Vick comes to mind among Snead-era Falcons choices). Three notable non-Pro Bowl picks: Curtis Lofton, Thomas DeCoud, Laurent Robinson.

Whoa, the NFC West chat is getting under way now. Gotta run.

Brandon Lloyd's contract agreement with the New England Patriots makes official his long-anticipated departure from the St. Louis Rams.

Those wondering why the Rams did not name Lloyd their franchise player should know this: Lloyd is reportedly getting $4 million per year, less than half the $9.515 million price associated with the franchise tag for receivers this year.

The Rams and Lloyd valued one another less once Lloyd's preferred offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels, left St. Louis for the Patriots following the 2011 regular season.

Lloyd visited the San Francisco 49ers before reaching agreement with New England, where he was expected to land all along.

The receiver market was already picked over heading into the weekend. The chart ranks by age receivers changing teams as unrestricted free agents this offseason.

New York Giants free agent Mario Manningham visited the 49ers and Rams. His agent was negotiating with the Rams on Saturday, according to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post.

Manningham caught 39 passes for 523 yards and four touchdowns in 12 games last season, with 10 starts. He played more games and had better numbers in each of the previous two seasons.

The Rams are seeking playmakers to help quarterback Sam Bradford, but so far in free agency, their additions have included a center (Scott Wells), a defensive tackle (Kendall Langford) and a cornerback (Cortland Finnegan).

Wide receivers Vincent Jackson, Pierre Garcon, Reggie Wayne, Robert Meachem, Eddie Royal, Laurent Robinson, Josh Morgan, Eric Weems and Harry Douglas have found new homes after hitting the NFL's free-agent market.

Franchise tags essentially removed from consideration Dwayne Bowe, Wes Welker and DeSean Jackson.

Others, such as Marques Colston, re-signed before free agency.

Teams still searching for help at the position -- that would be pretty much everyone but Seattle in the NFC West -- are left with a picked-over group of free agents.

Jerome Simpson, Plaxico Burress, Brandon Lloyd, Legedu Naanee, Devin Aromashodu, Roy Williams, Mario Manningham and Early Doucet are the only ones remaining to have played at least half of their team's offensive snaps during the 2011 season.

As the chart shows, Burress was particularly effective in the red zone for the New York Jets. He converted first downs 38 times in 45 receptions for the third-highest percentage among wide receivers with at least 40 receptions, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

Burress is also up there in age. He's among 12 available wideouts already in their 30s: Hines Ward (36), Burress (34), T.J. Houshmandzadeh (34), Kevin Curtis (33), Patrick Crayton (32), Deion Branch (32), Rashied Davis (32), Donte Stallworth (31), Jerheme Urban (31), Bryant Johnson (31), Lloyd (30) and Williams (30).

Of them, Lloyd has visited the San Francisco 49ers.

Nine more are 29 years old: Greg Camarillo, Keary Colbert, Mark Clayton, Jerricho Cotchery, Roscoe Parrish, Michael Clayton, Courtney Roby, Michael Spurlock and Braylon Edwards.

Still interested?

OK, let's check out 18 others, all younger than 29: David Anderson, Legedu Naanee, Devin Aroshamodu, Donnie Avery, Anthony Gonzalez, Maurice Stovall, Derek Hagan, Mike Sims-Walker, Ted Ginn Jr., Andre Caldwell, Steve Smith, Doucet, Brett Swain, Chaz Schilens, Simpson, Manningham, Devin Thomas and Kevin Ogletree.

Schilens visited Arizona and San Francisco. Manningham visited the 49ers and the St. Louis Rams.

I've also broken down the available wideouts by drafted round:

• First: Williams, Burress, Ginn, Stallworth, both Claytons, Johnson, Gonzalez and Edwards
• Second: Avery, Thomas, Simpson, Smith, Parrish, Branch, Colbert
• Third: Roby, Doucet, Hagan, Stovall, Manningham, Caldwell, Curtis, Sims-Walker, Ward
• Fourth: Cotchery, Lloyd
• Fifth: Legedu Naanee
• Sixth: none
• Seventh: Houshmandzadeh, Crayton, Schilens, Aromashodu, Anderson, Swain
• Undrafted: Davis, Urban, Camarillo, Spurlock, Ogletree

Only a handful of the available receivers project as starters. None would qualify as an outright game-breaker.

The Rams in particular need playmakers, but in looking at what is available, how many would qualify as dramatically better than what they already have? Austin Pettis, Brandon Gibson, Danario Alexander, Dominique Curry, Greg Salas and restricted free agent Danny Amendola are their current wideouts.

One of my Facebook friends asked whether the Seattle-St. Louis game was the NFL's least inspiring matchup this week. He must have missed that 4-0 showing from the NFC West in Week 10.

I mean, how many other games this week feature two teams coming off victories the previous week? Only one other game does, and that would be ... Arizona at San Francisco. OK, then, let's hit some chat highlights:

Travis from Tucson, Ariz., wonders how Carlos Rogers could stand only fourth in fan voting for the Pro Bowl. He asked to see vote totals, available through Nov. 15.

Mike Sando: Charles Woodson leads the way with 298,376 votes in fan balloting through Nov. 15. Chris Houston is next with not quite 150,000. Nnamdi Asomugha is third with around 125,000. Rogers is fourth at 78,072 and Charles Tillman is close behind at 70,496. Rogers just needs to keep doing what he's been doing. A big game at Baltimore on Thanksgiving would serve notice on a national stage.

Jason from Rochester, N.Y., thinks the Seattle Seahawks' approach at quarterback could suggest they're waiting for Green Bay's Matt Flynn to become a free agent after the season. Seattle general manager John Schneider has ties to the Packers, and under this scenario the Seahawks could draft a pass-rusher in the first round.

Mike Sando: It's an interesting theory, but I'm not yet convinced the Seahawks' management thinks enough of Flynn to make him the starter. The point you raise is worth keeping in the back of our minds. I just think the team will be more likely to draft a quarterback with more obvious physical talent.

Matt from Wilmington, N.C., sees Laurent Robinson playing well for San Diego and wonders why the St. Louis Rams did not keep Robinson.

Mike Sando: Robinson had trouble staying healthy. He also had only 6.8 receptions per drop last season, which ranked 63rd out of 83 players with at least five receptions in 2010, according to ESPN Stats & Information. He simply wasn't very good with the Rams.

Steve from Palisades Park, N.J., asks which game on the 49ers' schedule looks most like a "trap" game.

Mike Sando: Let's start with this one Sunday against a Cardinals team that has won its last two games, has shown an ability to strike down the field, is getting better pressure on opposing quarterbacks and has the ability to score on special teams. I've been wondering if the 49ers would have an off game, or a game where the other team surprises them. Has not really happened yet. Do not think it is likely to happen, but with a Thanksgiving game against Baltimore on the horizon, it's possible.

This would be a bold week to pick a Cardinals upset. Imagine the quarterback discussion in Arizona if John Skelton emerged with his third consecutive victory in Kevin Kolb's absence.

With training camps winding down, I've found time to update rosters and put together team-by-team reference material for unrestricted free agency.

The names below match official NFL counts.

These are for players with at least four accrued NFL seasons whose contracts expired following the 2010 season. I've added comments for each team.

Arizona Cardinals

Re-signed (8): Ben Graham, Matt Ware, Hamza Abdullah, Ben Claxton, Lyle Sendlein, D'Anthony Batiste, Deuce Lutui, Stephen Spach.

New to team (7): Chansi Stuckey, Richard Marshall, Daryn Colledge, Nick Eason, Stewart Bradley, Floyd Womack, Jeff King.

Still unsigned (3): Alan Faneca, Jason Wright, Bryan Robinson.

Signed elsewhere (5): Steve Breaston (Kansas City), Gabe Watson (New York Giants), Ben Patrick (Giants), Trumaine McBride (New Orleans), Alan Branch (Seattle).

Comment: Sendlein, Colledge and Bradley were the big signings. Marshall provides needed depth at cornerback. Faneca and Wright announced their retirements. The Cardinals weren't aggressive in trying to re-sign the players they lost to other teams. The biggest move Arizona made, acquiring Kevin Kolb from Philadelphia, did not involve a UFA.

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San Francisco 49ers

Re-signed (4): Ray McDonald, Tony Wragge, Dashon Goldson, Alex Smith.

New to team (5): Braylon Edwards, Jonathan Goodwin, Donte Whitner, Carlos Rogers, David Akers.

Still unsigned (5): Brian Westbrook, Troy Smith, Demetric Evans, William James, Barry Sims.

Signed elsewhere (6): David Baas (Giants), Travis LaBoy (San Diego), Jeff Reed (Seattle), Aubrayo Franklin (New Orleans), Takeo Spikes (San Diego), Manny Lawson (Cincinnati).

Comment: Re-signing McDonald signaled Franklin's departure. Getting Goldson back on the relative cheap was a victory. The 49ers wanted to keep Baas, but not at the price he commanded. The team thinks NaVorro Bowman has a bright future in Spikes' old spot at inside linebacker. Lawson wasn't strong enough as a pass-rusher to stick around. Safety depth is improved.

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Seattle Seahawks

Re-signed (7): Raheem Brock, Junior Siavii, Brandon Mebane, Leroy Hill, Matt McCoy, Michael Robinson, Kelly Jennings.

New to team (8): Branch, Zach Miller, Robert Gallery, Jimmy Wilkerson, Atari Bigby, Sidney Rice, Tarvaris Jackson, Reed.

Still unsigned (7): Jay Richardson, Craig Terrill, Chester Pitts, Brandon Stokley, Ruvell Martin, J.P. Losman, Lawyer Milloy.

Signed elsewhere (8): Will Herring (New Orleans), Olindo Mare (Carolina), Matt Hasselbeck (Tennessee), Chris Spencer (Chicago), Jordan Babineaux (Tennessee), Sean Locklear (Washington), Amon Gordon (Kansas City), Ray Willis (Washington).

Comment: Adding Jackson as the starting quarterback was the most significant move for the 2011 season. Mebane was the most important re-signing for the longer term. Hill was a bargain relative to how he's playing right now. Miller and Rice were the types of young, talented players who rarely change teams in free agency. The Seahawks were outbid for Herring and Mare. Can street free agent David Vobora fill some of the void Herring left?

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St. Louis Rams

Re-signed (2): Adam Goldberg, Gary Gibson.

New to team (9): Daniel Muir, Quinn Ojinnaka, Harvey Dahl, Ben Leber, Zac Diles, Jerious Norwood, Cadillac Williams, Quintin Mikell, Mike Sims-Walker.

Still unsigned (5): Chris Hovan, Michael Lewis, Darcy Johnson, Clifton Ryan, Mark Clayton.

Signed elsewhere (4): Daniel Fells (Denver), Laurent Robinson (San Diego), Derek Schouman (Washington), Kevin Dockery (Pittsburgh).

Comment: Dahl and Mikell were the big additions. Clayton could return if and when his surgically repaired knee allows. Sims-Walker is a wild card. The team didn't flinch when any of its own UFAs signed elsewhere. Most of the moves made on defense were designed to improve St. Louis against the run. Remember that newcomer Justin Bannan was not a UFA. Denver released him.
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» NFC: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South » Unrestricted FAs

Readiness factor: The Rams must acquire or develop starters at right guard, free safety, defensive tackle, outside linebacker, wide receiver and tight end. They need depth at running back. They've got work ahead, but most of the heavy lifting has been done. The Rams return their quarterback and most of their offensive line while enjoying continuity on defense through head coach Steve Spagnuolo and key players in the front seven. That gives St. Louis a head start on its division rivals even though the Rams will be breaking in a new offensive coordinator.

Biggest challenge: Pat Shurmur's surprise departure as offensive coordinator threw up a hurdle heading into the Rams' second season with Sam Bradford behind center. The lockout has prevented new coordinator Josh McDaniels from getting Bradford up to speed as quickly as the team would have liked. The situation at wide receiver remains unsettled. The most promising tight end on the team, Lance Kendricks, faces a learning curve as a rookie. Those factors create challenges as the Rams seek to build on Bradford's promising rookie season. There's no need to panic, however.

Ownership impact: The Rams still haven't gone through a free-agent signing period since Stan Kroenke became majority owner. There's no indication the Rams will become significantly more aggressive in free agency now that Kroenke has given them an owner with deeper pockets. They do have the wherewithal, however, and the Rams should have some flexibility from a salary-cap standpoint. None of the team's own free agents will command big money this offseason.

Key players without contracts for 2011: Receiver Mark Clayton, defensive tackle Clifton Ryan, tight end Daniel Fells, tight end Billy Bajema, guard Adam Goldberg, defensive tackle Gary Gibson, receiver Laurent Robinson.

Arizona Cardinals

Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune goes behind the scenes at Larry Fitzgerald’s workouts in Minneapolis. "This is a nice outlet for guys to be able to come over here, get together, get some of the camaraderie that we're missing in the locker room," Fitzgerald said. "I think that's one of the things that I miss most about not being at work is just having an association with your teammates, seeing how their families [are], that type of stuff. So we get that out here."

San Francisco 49ers

Takeo Spikes weighed in on a variety of topics during a recent interview with Sporting News Radio.

Seattle Seahawks

Making a play for quarterback Kevin Kolb could be a risky proposition.

Golden Tate is ready for more playing time in 2011 and the higher expectations that go with it. Tate: "They say the biggest jump is from your first season to your second, so I just need to make sure I'm ready."

St. Louis Rams

Laurent Robinson and Craig Dahl are two Rams players working out with Fitzgerald in Minnesota.

Scouts Inc.'s Matt Williamson breaks down the wide receivers of each NFC West team. Today: St. Louis Rams.

St. Louis has a lot of wide receivers in the mix. The quality here isn’t bad, but the quantity is a bit overwhelming.

The Rams' best wideout from last year, Mark Clayton, was injured (knee) in just the fifth game of the season. Now he is scheduled to become a free agent. But it was apparent that Clayton and quarterback Sam Bradford had an excellent rapport, and Clayton’s quick movement skills lend themselves well to playing in St. Louis’ dome. He has good hands and can be quite effective on the outside or in the slot. Nothing is known at this point, but it seems likely that Clayton will return to the Rams. That would probably be the best move for both player and team.

St. Louis now has plenty of slot options, but none is a better fit or more reliable than Danny Amendola. Much like Wes Welker in New England, Amendola should see a ton of short targets on option routes and act as an extension of the Rams’ running game. He has great short-area quickness and reads a defense very well on the move. Amendola was excellent in a similar role last season, and his contribution to this offense under Josh McDaniels should only increase going forward. This guy catches everything thrown his way.

Donnie Avery injured his knee in the preseason and was lost for the entire season. He is a big-time burner, and one hopes the injury has not taken away Avery’s best asset -- that deep speed. Avery is another guy who could flourish in this system with McDaniels calling the plays and Bradford a year older. Or, he could quickly fade away, considering all the options St. Louis has in this passing attack. This is a pivotal season in Avery’s career.

Danario Alexander, who is extremely tall and lanky, might be the most interesting case of this bunch. After starting the season on the PUP list, Alexander played in only eight games but made several big plays and certainly made his presence felt. He can get downfield. The sticking point with Alexander is his durability. He has had several serious knee issues, and counting for him for the long haul might be foolish. That's why he was undrafted coming out of college. McDaniels might work wonders with this player much as he did with Brandon Lloyd in Denver last season. But Alexander needs to stay on the field.

The Rams used a third-round pick on Austin Pettis and a fourth-round pick on Greg Salas. Did they really need to use two prominent picks at this position? I suppose I can excuse it if they were torn between Pettis, a bigger body who is more of a chain-mover, and Salas, a bigger-than-usual slot guy, in that third round and were shocked that Salas lasted to the fourth. In fact, I think Salas is the superior player, but Clayton can play the slot and Amendola looks to have that position all but locked up. Although I don’t commend the Rams for taking two wideouts, I do believe Salas was a quality selection judged on its own merits.

Along with Clayton, Laurent Robinson could hit the open market. Robinson is a smooth glider but is injured far too often. Considering how he played when healthy last season and the numbers crunch at wide receiver for St. Louis, he is likely to be playing somewhere else in 2011.

Brandon Gibson steadily improved. Gibson saw the field as much as any Rams wide receiver last season and finished the year with 53 catches for 620 yards. Both stats were good enough for second on the team. He has a strong, well-built body that he uses well, but he drops too many passes and is not much of a downfield threat.

Mardy Gilyard did very little as a rookie. Considering how crowded the Rams’ wide receiver situation is right now and considering that he hauled in only six passes last year, Gilyard had better show noticeable improvement quickly to ensure his roster spot. But Gilyard also brings returner skills to the table, so it is too early to write this guy off after just one season.

A lot will change between now and the final cut-down day. But the Rams might have to let a promising wide receiver go when it is all said and done -- and still could be without a true No. 1 option at the position.

Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN.com. Follow Matt Williamson on Twitter @WilliamsonNFL

The fourth and final item in a series analyzing one player per NFC West team without a contract for 2011.

Mark Clayton, WR, St. Louis Rams

Age: 28

NFL seasons: six

Situation: Clayton was leading the Rams in receptions last season when he suffered a torn patellar tendon. He'll become an unrestricted free agent once the signing period opens.

Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc.: Clayton is an interesting one because the Rams have a ton of receivers. I don't agree with their quantity vs. quality way of treating the position this offseason, but you cannot do everything, either. If free agency had hit before the draft, maybe they would have spent big on the receivers and not drafted any. That hurt them. What do you do with Clayton? You already have Donnie Avery, Danario Alexander, the rookies, Danny Amendola, Mardy Gilyard. How many receivers are going to make your team? If you are going to add a guy, it has to be a real No. 1 type. I love Clayton. I thought he did really well with Sam Bradford. He is not a burner, he is a little undersized, but he is real quick and has good hands. He is not a No. 1 wideout -- Larry Fitzgerald is the only one in this division right now -- but he would still be the Rams' best guy. His game is built for a dome. He has a relationship with Bradford. I would want to bring him back, but if you sign him, maybe you cut a decent player. You are not going to sign someone above him or trade for a guy. Maybe that is something to deal with next year at this time. Clayton would be wise to go back there. It is a good fit. If Josh McDaniels is going to turn one guy on that team into Brandon Lloyd, it might be him. McDaniels has a good history of getting a featured receiver and escalating his career. Danario Alexander could be that guy, but I am reaching. Clayton has a better shot.

My thoughts: Re-signing Clayton should be an easy call for the Rams as long as Clayton's knee checks out OK. Sure, the Rams would have liked to have added a true No. 1 wideout this offseason, but it wasn't going to happen in the draft. They were picking too late for a shot at A.J. Green or Julio Jones. Going with quantity made sense because, with all due respect to rookies Greg Salas and Austin Pettis, the quality Williamson is talking about wasn't an option. The Rams will need numbers at the position given that so many players have injury concerns. Alexander has had chronic knee trouble. Avery and Clayton are coming off significant knee surgeries. Gilyard underwent wrist surgery and hasn't yet shown he belongs. Laurent Robinson played 14 games last season, but he missed 23 over the previous two. The Rams should bring all these guys to camp, Clayton among them, and then keep the best/healthiest six.

Pierre from Columbia, Mo., wants to know which St. Louis Rams wide receivers will -- or should -- earn rosters spots in 2011. He thinks the team has too many at present.

Mike Sando: Teams generally keep five or six wide receivers on their 53-man rosters. Four is the absolute minimum. Seven is generally the maximum. The Rams kept four on their Week 1 roster in 2009, Steve Spagnuolo's first season. They had six in Week 1 last season.

Danny Amendola appears safe as a slot receiver. Rookies Austin Pettis and Greg Salas were drafted early enough -- among the first four rounds -- to qualify as likely keepers. They would have to struggle beyond reasonable expectation for the team to risk placing them on waivers before their rookie seasons. Veterans Donnie Avery and Mark Clayton will likely figure into the mix prominently if sufficiently recovered from injuries. Those are the five leading candidates for rosters spots at this point, at least in my view.

I would place Brandon Gibson, Danario Alexander, Laurent Robinson and Mardy Gilyard on notice for that sixth spot. But if Dominique Curry bounces back strong from a knee injury, his value on special teams could come into play. The final wide receiver generally must contribute on special teams to justify a roster spot. He almost certainly must do so to factor on the 45-man game-day roster.

The Rams could still pursue a receiver in free agency, affecting the balance.

Joel from Columbia, Mo., has concerns about the St. Louis Rams' situation at wide receiver. He thinks newly drafted wideouts Austin Pettis and Greg Salas will help, particularly in the red zone, but he still doesn't see a No. 1 receiver on the roster.

Mike Sando: The Rams aren't alone on this front. Back in 2008, ESPN's John Clayton pointed to league-wide troubles in developing true No. 1 receivers.

In the NFC West, the Seattle Seahawks have tried to revive Mike Williams' career, with some success. Is he a true No. 1 wideout? Not from a speed standpoint. The Seahawks have not placed a receiver in the Pro Bowl since Brian Blades qualified in 1989 (Alex Bannister made it on special teams more recently). The San Francisco 49ers used a top-10 draft choice for Michael Crabtree recently, but the team hasn't had a Pro Bowl wideout since Terrell Owens in 2003.

The Rams did the best they realistically could have done in the 2011 draft. Taking a receiver at No. 14 wasn't realistic given how teams and analysts rated the prospects available at that point. Moving up eight spots to select Julio Jones at No. 6 wasn't going to work; Cleveland enticed the Atlanta Falcons to jump 21 spots for the choice, and at a high price.

The Rams did use their second, third and fourth picks for pass catchers. New coordinator Josh McDaniels has gotten good production from players with questionable pedigrees. Brandon Lloyd put up No. 1-receiver numbers for Denver in 2010. But others share your concerns, Joel.

"I am all about drafting for value and they did it with Robert Quinn in the first round," Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. said, "but in the end, you have seven wideouts for 5-6 spots and you still don't have a No. 1. When analyzing how they picked, you can't be critical. I'm just not sure you are any better at receiver."

Growing the depth at receiver at least gives the Rams a larger, healthier and younger pool from which to draw. Donnie Avery and Mark Clayton are coming off serious knee injuries, as is developmental receiver Dominique Curry. Danario Alexander has long-standing knee issues. Laurent Robinson missed two games last season and has missed 25 over the past three. Brandon Gibson has missed time and has yet to show consistency. Mardy Gilyard's career has yet to get going.

Brady Henderson of 710ESPN Seattle offers highlights from Seahawks general manager John Schneider's recent appearance on the station. Schneider explains why the team didn't select Andy Dalton or another quarterback in the first round, opting instead for tackle James Carpenter. Schneider: "We debated with Andy Dalton, there's no question about it. But I think we all felt like we were at a point in our development where we couldn't pass on a starting tackle right now. Quite honestly, we'd like to have a guy, especially a rookie, be more of a developmental type and a guy more like Aaron Rodgers and sit for a year or two. So that was really the only point in the draft where there was a guy where we were like, 'There he is, that's a very viable option.' Quite honestly, we just had guys throughout the board that just didn't make sense as we went down comparing them to other positions." This is getting humorous. Schneider keeps having to address whether Seattle erred in selecting a tackle (Carpenter) instead of a quarterback (Dalton) with the 25th pick, the implication being that Carpenter might have been available five or 10 spots later in the draft. While Carpenter may or may not have been available later, Dalton definitely would have been available later. He was the 35th player chosen.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com looks back at the team's 1983 season, specifically its upset playoff victory over the Miami Dolphins at the Orange Bowl. Farnsworth: "Trailing 20-17 in the fourth quarter, the Seahawks rallied for 10 points in the final two minutes to pull out a 27-20 upset. Dave Krieg passed for 16 yards to Steve Largent on a third-and-2 play and then for 40 yards to the Dolphins’ 2 -- Largent’s only catches in the game -- to set up a scoring run by Curt Warner. Sam Merriman recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff and it led to a 37-yard field goal by Norm Johnson."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic dismisses thoughts that the Cardinals might already have an informal deal to acquire quarterback Kevin Kolb from the Eagles. Somers: "I'd be surprised. Owner Bill Bidwill has always been a stickler for following NFL rules, and such a deal likely would be in violation in some way. Plus, any team trading for Kolb should be smart enough to have assurance they can re-sign him to a long-term deal. That's an awful lot of ground to cover in these uncertain times."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com revisits Bidwill's relationship with former Packers coach Vince Lombardi amid news that the play bearing the coach's name will run through May 22. Bidwill: "I was anxious to see the show because I knew Coach Lombardi well and obviously had great respect for him. When you're so familiar with the subject and characters, you wonder how the play would hold up to your personal experience. It did not disappoint. The actors were outstanding, particularly [Judith Light] who played Vince's wife, Marie. She nailed it."

Roger Hensley of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch checks in with colleagues for thoughts on the Rams' situation at receiver. Bernie Miklasz on which incumbent receivers could have trouble sticking around: "The list begins with Laurent Robinson. He's injury prone, unproductive and a likely free agent. Bad combo, there. Mardy Gilyard is in trouble. He struggled to learn last year's offense and wasn't exactly a stickler for details when he did play. New offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is installing a new and more complex offense, and because of the NFL lockout, Gilyard will have little time to absorb it all. This will be a big problem for him. Brandon Gibson also figures to be on shaky turf."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says the 49ers could be in the market for a veteran cornerback once free agency begins. The short list of potentially available players at the position includes Nnamdi Asomugha, Ike Taylor, Chris Carr, Drayton Florence, Carlos Rogers, Phillip Buchanon, Fabian Washington and Ellis Hobbs.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says new 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick will learn the team's offense from Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, among others, during the lockout. Barrows: "The Nevada quarterback is in the process of moving from Reno to Santa Clara, near the 49ers' headquarters. There he'll be only a 15-minute drive from Luck, a quarterback who knows 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh and his offense as well as anyone. Harbaugh coached Luck at Stanford the past three seasons. Kaepernick and Luck met over the summer at the Manning Passing Academy in Thibodaux, La. They remarked on how similar they were -- tall, mobile, with big right arms -- and became friends who traded text messages throughout the 2010 season. When Harbaugh and the 49ers moved up nine spots last Friday to draft Kaepernick in the second round, he received a call from Luck. More conversations are sure to follow."

Eric Branch of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat draws parallels between Kaepernick and Harbaugh's first quarterback at the University of San Diego.

It is possible, even likely, that the NFL and its players will continue their staring contest through the 2011 draft -- even with a ruling from U.S. District Judge Susan Nelson.

The appeals process could take weeks or longer, during which time it's unlikely the league would open for business. We're probably doomed to status quo, in other words.

But if ESPN legal analyst Lester Munson is correct, Judge Nelson will most likely end the lockout, leading to an immediate appeal -- a scenario I think would lead, eventually, to the league opening for business under 2010 rules while the sides continued their battle in the courts.

Those 2010 rules set the bar high for free agency. Only players with six accrued seasons would qualify for the unrestricted market. Starters such as Arizona's Steve Breaston, San Francisco's Dashon Goldson and Seattle's Brandon Mebane would lose leverage and most likely return to their teams under relatively modest one-year deals.

The players listed in the chart -- those with at least six accrued seasons and no contracts for 2011 -- would be free to explore opportunities elsewhere.

Options and implications for this type of free agency in the NFC West:

Arizona Cardinals

Overview: The Cardinals suffered more personnel losses than they could weather last offseason. They would benefit from a return to 2010 rules, however, because the restrictions would keep multiple starters off the market. Their list of potential free agents with six-plus seasons features no front-line players. The Cardinals would be better off focusing on a new deal with Larry Fitzgerald, who is entering the final year of his contract.

Top priority: Finding a veteran quarterback. Derek Anderson isn't expected back. Marc Bulger's name is heard most frequently in connection with the Cardinals. He turned 34 this week and did not attempt a pass in a regular-season game while with Baltimore last season. Bulger struggled during his final seasons with the Rams, but the team was falling apart around him. He last finished an NFL season with more touchdowns than interceptions in 2006. The down year has surely helped him get healthy.

Players in flux: Breaston, starting guard Deuce Lutui and starting center Lyle Sendlein wouldn't have enough accrued seasons to become unrestricted under 2010 rules. The situation is particularly difficult for Breaston, who has battled through knee problems without getting a long-term deal.

Veteran variable: Starting left guard Alan Faneca has considered retirement. The Cardinals invested in veteran guard Rex Hadnot for depth last offseason. The team lacks young depth on the line, but if Lutui and Sendlein return, the Cardinals have some flexibility.

Name to keep in mind: Ike Taylor, CB, Pittsburgh Steelers. The Cardinals are hoping Greg Toler can build upon an up-and-down 2010 season. Taylor would give the team options. He played under new Cardinals defensive coordinator Ray Horton.

St. Louis Rams

Overview: The Rams' most important players tend to be younger starters under contract for the long term (Chris Long, James Laurinaitis, Rodger Saffold, Sam Bradford, Jason Smith). Most of their top veterans are also under contract (Steven Jackson, Fred Robbins, James Hall). Free safety Oshiomogho Atogwe is out of the picture after signing with the Washington Redskins following his salary-related release.

Top priority: The Rams could use a veteran guard with some nastiness. The team has invested heavily in its line, but this group could use more of an edge. Bringing back receiver Mark Clayton should be another consideration even though Clayton is coming off a serious knee injury. The rapport Clayton had with Bradford was strong.

Players in flux: Defensive tackles Gary Gibson and Clifton Ryan would remain property of the Rams under 2010 rules, as would cornerback Kevin Dockery and receiver Laurent Robinson. Gibson was the only full-time starter of the group last season. The Rams are expected to seek an upgrade at that position even with Gibson coming back.

Veteran variable: Adam Goldberg started all 16 games on the offensive line last season. The Rams could stand to upgrade, but I see value in bringing back Goldberg as a backup. He can play every position on the line but center. Goldberg has also taken an interest in mentoring younger players. His value off the field is a consideration.

Name to keep in mind: Daniel Graham, TE, Denver Broncos. Graham could make sense for the Rams in free agency. He played under the Rams' new offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels, and could help upgrade the run blocking. Seattle has connections to Graham as well.

San Francisco 49ers

Overview: The 49ers signed some of their better young players to long-term contracts well before labor pains became so severe. Vernon Davis, Patrick Willis and Joe Staley come to mind. The lockout has made it tougher for the 49ers' new coaches to get a feel for players. The 49ers like their talent overall and haven't been big players in free agency over the past couple of seasons. That isn't likely to change.

Top priority: Finding a starting quarterback trumps everything else. Alex Smith can become a free agent. Backups David Carr and Troy Smith are not expected back. The 49ers aren't expected to use the seventh overall choice to select or acquire a quarterback. Coach Jim Harbaugh prides himself in coaching up quarterbacks, but he needs quarterbacks to coach.

Players in flux: Goldson, outside linebacker Manny Lawson and defensive lineman Ray McDonald are among the 49ers players that would fall short of the six-season requirement for unrestricted free agency.

Veteran variable: Nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin played last season under a one-year franchise deal. The price tag for re-franchising Franklin appears prohibitive. The 49ers took a wait-and-see approach with Franklin because they hadn't seen him perform at a high level over the long term. They'll need a new nose tackle if Franklin departs.

Name to keep in mind: The 49ers' staff is coming mostly from the college ranks, so there aren't obvious connections to players from other NFL rosters. I expect the 49ers to focus more on re-signing some of their own players, from Spikes to David Baas and beyond.

Seattle Seahawks

Overview: The Seahawks have a long list of players without contracts for 2011. That was mostly be design. The team would like to continue turning over its roster without investing too much in older players such as Matt Hasselbeck, Raheem Brock and Olindo Mare.

Top priority: Figuring out the quarterback situation. Hasselbeck is headed for free agency and could leave if another team gives him some of the longer-term assurances Seattle has resisted. The Seahawks have shown some interest in Philadelphia Eagles backup Kevin Kolb, a player they inquired about last offseason. They still have Charlie Whitehurst. They could draft a quarterback early.

Players in flux: Defensive tackle Mebane heads the list of Seattle players who would not reach free agency under the rules used in 2010. General manager John Schneider called Mebane a "steady pro" when asked about him at the combine. That sounded like faint praise and an indication the Seahawks are not yet prepared to pay top dollar for Mebane if, and when, he hits the market.

Veteran variable: The Seahawks have a few of them, including Mare and Brock. But let's focus on offensive linemen Sean Locklear and Chris Spencer. They combined for 31 starts, but neither appears to be a priority for re-signing. Stacy Andrews is a candidate to step in for Locklear at right tackle. Max Unger could replace Spencer. Coach Pete Carroll thinks the team has upgraded its young depth on the line.

Name to keep in mind: Robert Gallery, guard, Oakland Raiders. Tom Cable's addition as offensive line coach makes Seattle a logical destination for Gallery, who has declared his intention to leave the Raiders.

Not all that long ago, the St. Louis Rams could match wide receivers with any team in the league.

They had Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt and a running back, Marshall Faulk, who could challenge defenses as a wideout.

Times have changed.

With a playoff berth on the line in Week 17 last season, quarterback Sam Bradford threw to a group featuring Danario Alexander, Laurent Robinson, Danny Amendola and Brandon Gibson. The Rams went quietly, scoring only six points. Running back Steven Jackson and tight end Daniel Fells led them in receiving yards with 39 apiece.

It's one reason selecting a wide receiver with the 14th overall choice could make sense for the Rams, provided one of the top two prospects remains available.

Georgia's A.J. Green, who works out for scouts Tuesday, could be gone among the top-five picks and almost certainly won't make it out of the top 10, according to scouts. Alabama's Julio Jones might also be gone by No. 14, but it's not such a sure thing.

Either one would provide a clear talent upgrade at the position for St. Louis.

"[Green or Jones'] ability to stretch the field would make it harder for teams to load up against Steven Jackson," Steve Muench of Scouts Inc. said. "It would also create space for the other receivers underneath, notably Amendola. The best-case scenario here is for the Rams' new offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels, to get the vertical threat he had in New England with Randy Moss, allowing Amendola to play the role of Wes Welker underneath."

For additional perspective, I brought together Muench and NFLDraftScout.com's Rob Rang. They explained why Green outranks Jones in this draft and what the Rams, or any team, would be getting with each.

Sando: What separates Green from Jones in your evaluation?

Muench: While both players are big-play threats downfield and after the catch, Green is the crisper route runner, despite his superior height. He will have more success separating from man coverage until, or unless, Jones improves his footwork at the top of his stem. Green also has exceptional ball skills, while Jones lets the ball get to his frame a bit too much and is more likely to drop a pass he should catch.

Rang: A.J. Green is taller and has better playing speed. Even when he is covered, he is still open because the kid just makes catches. It's like Larry Fitzgerald, Sidney Rice, Randy Moss -- they go up in the air and they can soar over everyone else and catch the football. They win those one-on-one battles. That is what he does. He just has phenomenal hands.

Sando: Jones' combine workout turned heads. How much did it help him?

Muench: Jones created a lot of buzz running the 40-yard dash in 4.34 seconds and measuring 6-foot-3, 220 pounds. He was then diagnosed with a stress fracture in his left foot and had a pin inserted, but the injury is not considered serious and it's not what has prevented Jones from leapfrogging Green. Green may not have been as impressive in Indianapolis, but he certainly didn't flop. He measured close to an inch taller than Jones, carries his 211 pounds well and is more than fast enough (4.48 in the 40). Far, far more importantly, he is the better receiver on film -- and that's no knock on Jones.

Rang: When Jones ran that fast at the combine, you would think he should be able to get open or scare teams just a little bit more than he did in college.

Sando: That's an interesting twist on a great workout. Sometimes they can raise as many questions as they answer.

Rang: There were times when teams gave Julio Jones the deep ball and he couldn't get deep and really scare teams. His quarterback, Greg McElroy, doesn't have a huge arm, so some might say the defense just doesn’t respect McElroy’s deep ball. Still, there were times when good cover corners, at least capable collegiate cover corners, could stick with Julio Jones. They were breaking on his out routes. They were basically in his hip pocket. Was that a function of Julio Jones not having the explosiveness to get out of his routes and create some separation, or doesn't he have the straight-line speed to scare defenses? Or is it McElroy's inability to throw the football? That is why there is some nervousness.

Sando: That makes it easier to see why Jones could slip to the Rams at No. 14 and why they might consider taking, say, a defensive lineman with fewer question marks. Thanks for the insight, guys.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says the 49ers plan to attend a private workout for Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Barrows: "The 6-5, 225-pound Kaepernick has the strongest arm of any quarterback in this draft, and he led the Wolf Pack to a 13-1 record this past season. He completed 233 of 359 attempts (64.9 percent) for 3,022 yards, 21 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He also was a very good runner and is the only player in NCAA history with more than 4,000 rushing yards to go along with more than 10,000 passing yards. When the college season ended, Kaepernick was viewed as a mid-round selection. However, he showed better-than-expected touch and accuracy at the January Senior Bowl. He also was one of the better passers at the combine, and is now viewed as a second-round prospect."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch updates the Rams' situation at receiver, among other positions, during his most recent chat. Thomas: "All indications are that Donnie Avery and Mark Clayton are doing fine. But you never know for sure until they get back out on the field practicing. Maybe I'm blanking out, but I don't recall any surgery for Laurent Robinson. Robinson was tendered by the Rams as a restricted free agent (since he's a four-year man that tender wouldn't take effect if we return to the old standard for unrestricted free agency). If that's the case and Robinson becomes unrestricted once there's a new CBA, I don't think the Rams would extend themselves to get Robinson back."

Brian McIntyre of Mac's Football Blog, writing for the Tacoma News Tribune, lists which Seahawks players stand to lose the most financially during a lockout. McIntyre: "The Seahawks' player with the most to lose is offensive lineman Stacy Andrews, who is due a $500,000 workout bonus this off-season. 2010 first-round pick Russell Okung has a $200,000 workout bonus, while Marcus Trufant, Lofa Tatupu, Earl Thomas, Chris Clemons, and Mike Williams have $100,000 workout bonuses. Kentwan Balmer ($62,500) and John Carlson ($60,000) stand to lose five-figure workout bonuses this off-season. Marshawn Lynch has an $8,120 workout bonus from his Buffalo Bills contract, while Max Unger stands to miss out on a $7,000 workout bonus in his rookie contract."

Aaron Wilson of National Football Post lists the Cardinals among teams planning to visit with LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson as the 2011 draft nears. Wilson: "Peterson is scheduled to visit the Denver Broncos, Carolina Panthers, Arizona Cardinals, Cincinnati Bengals and the Buffalo Bills. Peterson also has a private workout Wednesday for the Cleveland Browns and is also expected to visit the Tennessee Titans and other teams prior to the NFL draft. ... At the Senior Bowl, Peterson met with the Panthers, Houston Texans, Miami Dolphins, Broncos, Washington Redskins, New Orleans Saints and the San Francisco 49ers."