ESPN NFL

One thing about Kevin Kolb: He's honest.

The Arizona quarterback wasn't biting in the locker room following his team's defeat Sunday when a reporter suggested the Cardinals were this close to being 3-0 instead of 1-2.

"Guess what, we're one play away from being 0-3, too, because Carolina had the ball there at the end [in Week 1]," Kolb said.

Perhaps Kolb's background with the Eagles in Philadelphia, a tough media market, explains his aversion to sugar-coating. Whatever the case, Kolb has no trouble owning up to mistakes.

As Darren Urban of azcardinals.com writes, Kolb admitted he probably took a step backward during the Cardinals' 13-10 defeat at Seattle. Earlier in the week, coach Ken Whisenhunt could have glossed over Kolb's performance, offering excuses for a player making only his 10th regular-season start and third in a new offense. Instead, Whisenhunt used the word "uneven" to describe Kolb's play against Seattle. Noted: I'll be heading to Arizona for the Cardinals' game against the New York Giants in Week 4. Kolb's development is a continuing storyline in the division and one I want to follow early in the season.

Also from Urban: Kolb has been targeting tight ends to a greater degree than the Cardinals have in the recent past.

More from Urban: Larry Fitzgerald owes Antrel Rolle a broken nose (inside joke), while Darnell Dockett agrees to help Rolle get tickets to the Giants-Cardinals game even though Rolle has been talking trash to him.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic runs through the Cardinals' injury situation.

Also from Somers: Dockett's two-gapping role.

Brock Huard of 101ESPN Seattle breaks down the interception Kolb threw to Kam Chancellor late in the game Sunday. Huard says he was surprised a fifth-year player would make the error Kolb made on that play. According to Huard, Kolb easily could have thrown for 7-10 yards on the play if he had correctly identified the proper matchup (against Marcus Trufant, in this case) on what amounts to a very basic play, and one the Colts ran extensively when Huard was a backup quarterback for the team. Heap also might not have run a very good route on this play, according to Huard.

Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune doesn't hold Aaron Curry responsible for failing to meet others' potentially unrealistic expectations. Boling: "Several plays in the loss to Pittsburgh showed why it was time for a change. This was one of those potentially lopsided contests in which your best players needed to make big plays for there to be any chance of an upset. Curry had his hands on what might have been a game-changing interception. He dropped it. But it wasn’t just that. On one Steelers touchdown run, he was slow to get off the ball and appeared to fill the wrong gap. Another time, when he was brought on a blitz up the middle, he made it through the gap only to be somewhat easily handled by the blocking back." Noted: The fact that Curry says he's at peace with his demotion and overall situation in Seattle seems inconsistent with how an elite, hard-charging linebacker would react.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says Seahawks line coach Tom Cable, recuperating from back surgery, joined the team via Skype on Wednesday.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Oshiomogho Atogwe's affinity for comic books shines through in the action figures he purchased for several former Rams teammates. Thomas: "Atogwe, now a Washington Redskin, has been an avid collector of comic books since he was a child. Along with that, he collects action figures of super heroes and claims to have more than 2,000 of his favorite -- the Incredible Hulk. So he didn't just randomly leave some of his toys behind. Much thought went into the process."

Also from Thomas: thoughts on Sam Bradford's play thus far. Thomas: "Bradford is fighting it a little bit right now. Yes, the pass blocking overall has been bad. (The Rams aren’t getting nearly the kind of tackle play, for example, that they got a year ago in terms of pass blocking.) And although not as glaring as last year, there are times when the receiver corps could get more separation. But Bradford hasn’t always handled the pressure well, and missed some check-down opportunities against Baltimore. There are times when he needs to get the ball out quicker. Then again, I thought there might be a learning curve in this new offense early in the season, especially since the Rams have gone to a more down-the-field passing game. But it’ll come with time. Bradford works as hard as any Rams QB I’ve seen, so it’ll happen."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh seems to be enjoying the change of pace as the team remains in Ohio between games in the Eastern time zone. Harbaugh on holding a walk-through in a parking lot behind the Holiday Inn where the team is staying: "When you've been doing this as long as I've been coaching and playing, you get excited when you get a good walk-through spot. Sometimes it's in a hotel ballroom. Sometimes it's outside with people looking and watching. That big slab of cement in the parking lot even had lines and tall trees around it. It was very private. That's one of the finer walk-through spots I've ever been associated with." Noted: Sounds like Harbaugh is loosening up with his public comments during this trip. Such an extended road trip would seem to be good for team building, replicating a training camp situation to a degree.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says Harbaugh joked that the Eagles should rest Michael Vick out of concern for the quarterback's health.

Matt from Nashville, Ill., wonders why the St. Louis Rams were willing to shell out millions for one safety (Quintin Mikell) and not for another (Oshiomogho Atogwe), particularly with Atogwe having played for them already.

Mike Sando: This is one of the rare cases where the Rams got slightly older and considerably more expensive at a position by replacing someone once considered a core player. Your question is a logical one.

The Rams see Mikell as a better fit for their defense. Atogwe was best as a ball-hawker under the previous coaching staff. His interceptions were down from 13 over the 2007 and 2008 seasons to five in two seasons under Steve Spagnuolo. The Rams' current staff is looking for stronger play against the run. I also suspect the Rams see Mikell as an ascending player despite his age. Mikell is 30, but he is entering only his fifth season as a starter. He has missed only five games in eight NFL seasons.

I noticed our Scouts Inc. evaluation on Mikell bumped up his player grade from 71 to 86 in free-agent reports available to Insider subscribers. A player grading in the 80s "has abilities to create mismatches versus most opponents in the NFL" and is a "feature player who has an impact on the outcome of the game" and "cannot be shut down by a single player" while playing consistently from week to week.

Grades in the 70s reflect "good starters" while grades in the 80s are for "outstanding" ones. Atogwe's grade for last season was 76.

The Rams liked and appreciated Atogwe. They named him their franchise player and paid more than $6 million to him under that designation. They were willing to pay that price on a one-year basis when they did not see superior options in the market, but they were not willing to pay that over the course of a long-term deal.

Atogwe is nine months younger than Mikell. Mikell has played two additional seasons, but Atogwe has been a starter longer and did not appear to be ascending within the Rams' scheme.

The Rams' most recent contract with Atogwe called for an $8 million bonus. The team released him to avoid paying that bonus. Mikell's deal includes a guaranteed $8 million bonus. The team is making a statement that Mikell is an impact player, not just a good one, and a better one than Atogwe for their system.

The St. Louis Rams' four-year agreement with Philadelphia Eagles safety Quintin Mikell gives them a player they know well.

Coach Steve Spagnuolo coached the Eagles' defensive backs from 2004-06, when Mikell was still establishing himself in the NFL. Mikell, 30, gives the Rams a proven safety after watching longtime starter Oshiomogho Atogwe sign with the Washington Redskins.

Mikell has started all but one game over the last three seasons. The Rams, strong in rushing the passer last season, could stand to upgrade their run defense this offseason. Mikell is strong against the run and an aggressive tackler, according to an Insider report from Scouts Inc.

The Rams got strong play from Fred Robbins and James Laurinaitis up the middle last season, but their run defense was not particularly strong overall. Darren McFadden (145), Michael Turner (131) and Jamaal Charles (126) topped 100 yards rushing against them. The Rams allowed 113 yards rushing per game, which ranked 17th, and 4.48 yards per carry (22nd).

The Rams still need help on defense at outside linebacker and defensive tackle. New Orleans Saints veteran linebacker Scott Shanle, 31, has indicated a visit to the Rams could be an option. Barry Cofield, who played for Spagnuolo when both were with the New York Giants, would make sense as an option on the defensive line.

Aaron Schatz's piece on defensive stop rates caught my attention for what it did not include, namely any mention of NFC West players among the highest- or lowest-ranked linebackers.

The San Francisco 49ers' Patrick Willis sets the standard at the position. The St. Louis Rams' James Laurinaitis has emerged as one of the better 4-3 middle linebackers. The Seattle Seahawks' Lofa Tatupu, slowed by injuries recently, also escaped mention.

Taking a closer look at the criteria allowed for a fuller understanding of the statistic. Stop rates reflect what percentage of a player's statistics produce successful outcomes against running plays. The stat defines successful outcomes as those when the opposing runner fails to gain certain percentages of the yards required for first downs. The percentage is 45 on first-down runs, 60 on second-down runs and 100 on third- or fourth-down runs.

So, if Willis tackled the opposing runner after a 4-yard gain on first-and-10, the tackle would qualify as a successful stop because the runner gained only 40 percent of the yards needed for a new set of downs. But if Willis tackled the opposing runner following a 4-yard gain on the ensuing second-and-5 play, his effort would count as a failure because the runner would have gained 80 percent of the yards needed for a first down.

The stat does not necessarily measure how well a specific defender plays the run, but it does paint a clearer picture of where defenders make their tackles in relation to the first-down marker. A player talented enough to make plays all over the field could have a lower stop rate than a player with less range. This likely explains Willis' relatively low stop rate (57 percent).

Schatz provided NFC West-specific information for the charts below. Each player had at least 25 tackles on running plays.

The stats for linebackers seem to penalize Willis in particular for his ability to make clean-up tackles anywhere.

The 49ers allowed 3.46 yards per rushing attempt, second only to the Pittsburgh Steelers (3.02) among NFL teams.

For defensive backs, note that strong safeties ranked higher than free safeties because they generally focus more on run support. Free safeties would be more apt to make tackles well downfield, whether or not they were primarily responsible for allowing the gains.

The lockout has come at a good time for NFC West alumni Oshiomogho Atogwe and Mike Singletary.

Neither will have to worry about football matters intervening when Atogwe, late of the St. Louis Rams, marries Jill Singletary, whose famous father coached the San Francisco 49ers through last season.

Bob Duff of the Province has the story. Atogwe and his bride-to-be have the wedding website.

According to Atogwe, this marriage might never have happened if the 49ers hadn't named Mike Singletary interim head coach after firing Mike Nolan. Atogwe had met the Singletary family a few years earlier at a Pro Athletes Outreach event in Arizona. Atogwe was in his second year with the Rams at the time. Jill Singletary was still in high school, but she evidently made a lasting first impression.

"Fast forward roughly three years (end of 2008)," Atogwe wrote in their online wedding journal. "I'm playing for the Rams. ... Mike Nolan, the then head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, gets fired and his interim replacement is, (you guessed it) Mike Singletary. Now, not only was I happy for him, but lo and behold thoughts of a daugther, who should be around 19 or 20, resurface, yet again ever so smoothly placed there by God. So I, being the obedient servant that I am, I take the initiative of reaching out to her via Facebook and as she says, the rest is history."

Jill was apparently wary enough to make sure their first face-to-face meeting took place in a safe setting -- her aunt's house. Having a Hall of Fame linebacker as her father had to add a sense of security as well.

The NFC West finds itself in transition at safety as ESPN.com considers the best players in the game at the position.

The poll asks for your help in identifying which safety within the division projects as the best for 2011.

Consider this my voter information packet:

• Arizona Cardinals: Adrian Wilson represents the past and present. He's coming off a down season and hip surgery amid expectations that he'll reemerge in 2011. Wilson is the prototypical old-school strong safety in terms of demeanor, hitting and power. With NFL passing games proliferating, there are times when more coverage-oriented safeties fare better. Teammate Kerry Rhodes had four interceptions and two fumble returns for touchdowns last season. He won't get Rex Ryan's vote in this poll, however.
• Seattle Seahawks: Earl Thomas represents the future of the position in the NFC West after an impressive rookie season. Thomas, drafted 14th overall, was on pace for nearly 11 interceptions through Week 7. He finished with five and sometimes paid for his aggressiveness in coverage. Thomas can be a strong tackler and his range sets him apart from most others at the position. Teammate Lawyer Milloy had four sacks and 16 starts last season, but he turns 38 this season and does not have a contract.
• San Francisco 49ers: Dashon Goldson could return as a restricted free agent or hit the market depending on what rules the NFL issues for free agency following the lockout. He was generally solid for the 49ers last season. All parties expected more, however, and the 49ers' pass defense struggled overall. Teammate Taylor Mays did not make a significant impact as a rookie after the 49ers selected him in the second round. Starting over in a new defense will not help him break through, particularly if the lockout keeps him off the practice field.
• St. Louis Rams: The ball-hawking Oshiomogho Atogwe left the Rams for the Washington Redskins this offseason. The team doesn't have an obvious candidate for consideration here.

Vote away.

There was some thought the St. Louis Rams would target defensive tackle in the 2011 NFL draft, even in the first round.

It never happened during the early or middle rounds.

The team has two seventh-round choices remaining after using the 158th overall choice, a fifth-rounder, for Ohio State safety Jermale Hines, who weighs 219 pounds and could have longer-term potential at outside linebacker, according to scouts.

The Rams had a need at safety after watching veteran starter Oshiomogho Atogwe sign with the Washington Redskins this offseason.

"I played nickelback, I played strong safety and I played free safety," Hines told reporters in St. Louis after being drafted. "I did a little bit of everything -- dropping down in the box, helping support the run, playing off the deep half."

Hines said he played a combination linebacker-safety position, and served as a blitzer.

That versatility could come in handy given the injury problems that have affected St. Louis at both safety spots.

"I'm a physical guy," Hines said. "I like to impose my will on opponents. Hit as much as I could."

Mel Kiper's fifth mock draft for 2011 provides the foundation for discussing how NFC West teams might proceed this offseason.

I'll continue with a look at his plans for the St. Louis Rams, who hold the No. 14 overall choice.

14. St. Louis Rams: Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois

Kiper's give: A selection I'm sticking with from the previous mock, Liuget is a relentless player who displays leverage, power and the ability to locate the ball well against both the rush and the pass. ... I also can see the Rams going for an outside linebacker at this spot. If they're that intent on a pass-catcher with their first pick, the Rams could also trade off the pick.

Sando's take: Kiper, NFL Network's Mike Mayock and St. Louis Post-Dispatch beat reporter Jim Thomas all have Liuget heading to the Rams with the 14th pick. Another analyst, Rob Rang, recently had Liuget going to the New York Giants at No. 19. In other words, there's a consensus building that Liuget fits the sort of defense Steve Spagnuolo brought to the Rams from the Giants. The thinking appears sound. Liuget does appear to fit better than some of the other defensive line options, including J.J. Watt. Rams fans will be watching closely to see whether receiver Julio Jones falls out of the top 10. If that happens, would the Rams stay in the 14th spot or move up for a shot at giving quarterback Sam Bradford needed help? The Rams have been fairly predictably in past drafts, in part because they were picking so early and had such obvious needs. Their needs go beyond receiver and the defensive line this year. They could use a change-of-pace running back, a starting guard, a starting outside linebacker and help for a secondary that lost safety Oshiomogho Atogwe this offseason. No single need is great enough to force their hand at No. 14.

Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. ranks NFC West defensive lines in this Insider piece posted Monday. I've listed the teams alphabetically while offering a few thoughts of my own, each punctuated with what to watch for from Williamson:

Arizona Cardinals: They have the best young talent across the board with Darnell Dockett, Calais Campbell and the emerging Dan Williams projected to start in 2011. I'm with Williamson in thinking the 2010 season was an aberration for this group. Dockett played hurt. Williams, as a rookie, faced an adjustment period. The Cardinals should expect improvement up front. Dockett expressed frustration during the season when his injured shoulder would not let him fight through double teams as effectively. He's a hard worker and should come back strong. New coordinator Ray Horton is adapting his system to fit some of the Cardinals' existing terminology, but the key is whether Williams builds on a strong finish to 2010 and whether Campbell bounces back from a down season. What to watch for from Williamson: strong thoughts regarding what's in store for Campbell.

St. Louis Rams: Chris Long's development has accelerated since moving to the left side. Some other key members of the line will decline in the near future. Will it happen in 2011? That is not known. Fred Robbins and James Hall defied their age last season. Robbins had a career-high six sacks last season at age 33. Steve McMichael, John Randle and Warren Sapp are the only defensive tackles since 1990 to hit that number in a season at 34 or older. It's a bonus if the Rams' older linemen continue to defy the odds, but it's not something the team should bank on. What to watch for from Williamson: how he sees George Selvie and Gary Gibson fitting into the rotation.

San Francisco 49ers: Williamson graded them lower than I would have anticipated, based mostly on Aubrayo Franklin's uncertain status. Using the franchise tag for Franklin last season allowed the team to keep him at a palatable salary number. I see some parallels between Franklin's situation and the situation the Rams encountered with Oshiomogho Atogwe. Both have been franchise players, but neither was a Pro Bowl performer. Their teams used franchise tags on them out of convenience, not because they viewed either player as indispensable. Replacing a solid safety such as Atogwe is easier than replacing a solid nose tackle in a 3-4 scheme. The 49ers might need to draft one. What to watch for from Williamson: where he ranks Justin Smith among linemen in the division, and what might be in store for Ray McDonald.

Seattle Seahawks: Health will be a key variable after Red Bryant, Colin Cole, Brandon Mebane and Chris Clemons battled through or succumbed to injuries last season. There is also the detail of re-signing Mebane, who could become a free agent. Williamson ranks the Seahawks' defensive line higher than I would have anticipated, to the point that he sees no reason for the team to address the position in the first round of the draft. I could see the team looking to use one of its choices for another player in Bryant's mold -- a big, top-heavy defensive tackle with the ability to serve as a run-stuffing defensive end opposite Clemons. Bryant, a fourth-round choice in 2008, is coming off his second ACL surgery since 2006. What to watch for from Williamson: where he sees Clemons fitting among the top pass-rushers in the NFL.

Brady Henderson of 710ESPN Seattle quotes Trent Dilfer as saying Andy Dalton will be a first-round draft choice and a candidate for the Seahawks at No. 25 if available then. Dilfer: "I can't tell you how much Aaron Rodgers I see in Andy Dalton. They have tremendously quick releases, they can throw from multiple foot platforms, meaning they can be off balance, very aggressive by nature, (they can) extend the play, and they understand the value of a completion. I think that's one of the biggest things in evaluating a quarterback that goes unnoticed is which guys understand the value of completing the football. It doesn't have to be glamorous all the time, but they're going to get a completion, they're going to move the chains and they're going to get completions in the biggest moments of games. That's what I see with Andy Dalton. If there's one guy in this draft -- if I was coaching -- that I would want to coach, it's Andy Dalton."

Don Banks of SI.com sees no reason the Seahawks wouldn't pursue Kevin Kolb this offseason. Coach Pete Carroll: "It's good that people think that. Because every opportunity that's available, we investigate. We want to [take] every opportunity, and that's one that's been out there. They've said he's a guy they would possibly move. So those kind of discussions, it doesn't matter where it's coming from, we're trying to be privy to all of it. We just want to know what's going on."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says retired defensive end Michael Sinclair is grateful to land a spot on the 35th anniversary team, as voted by fans online.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic isn't reading too much into the Cardinals' workout with Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert. Somers: "The Cardinals will have private workouts and/or meetings with several of the top prospects, as you would expect from a team with the fifth overall pick. Their interest in Gabbert is genuine, but I'm still doubtful they will take a quarterback with that high of a selection. I believe they are leaning more toward a player more likely to make an immediate impact."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says Darnell Dockett realizes he needs to come out of games at times to remain fresh and most productive.

Also from Urban: a look at what quality control coach Ryan Slowik does for a living. Urban: "The job of quality control coach isn’t as vague as the name suggests. Slowik’s duties are very specific, breaking down game video – both the Cardinals’ games and other teams – building playbooks, analyzing stats. Slowik also serves as, essentially, an assistant linebackers coach and an assistant special teams coach. The goal is to move up the ladder, of course. Position coach. Coordinator. Head coach. Six seasons into his career, it’s about working and waiting."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams have no plans to hire a quarterbacks coach. That means Sam Bradford will work directly with new offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. Thomas: "I think that's a safe statement. We're going to head that way, at least this year. And I think it's a good thing. Josh has done it that way before. I think it's terrific that Sam will get the direct how-to-do-it, everything Josh is thinking. Now, you can put a quarterback coach in there and it works fine, but for the first year of absorbing it. I feel real comfortable because Josh has done it this way. Josh is really efficient with his time and his work. And when they finally get together, I just think it'll be good."

Also from Thomas: Spagnuolo responds to a question I asked at the NFL owners meeting regarding Oshiomogho Atogwe's departure. Spagnuolo: "O.J.'s a special guy. But you know it happens in this business. This is year 13 now (for Spagnuolo as an NFL coach). I've had to go through these before. I understand it. I get it. I know O.J. feels the same. I wish him a lot of luck. I do. And we'll remain close friends, I know, forever."

Tony Softli of 101ESPN St. Louis breaks down the Rams' options at No. 14 in the NFL draft, listing players the team could move back to select. Softli: "The Rams and general manager Billy Devaney will know by Washington’s pick at No. 10 if they are going to trade out of this spot or if they will have their guy waiting for them. If their player is off the board, look for the Rams to trade out of the 14th pick and drop back. They must be careful not to go back too far with the possibility of getting jumped by other teams and taking a chance of losing a player they really like. In this case, Devaney must make sure there are 6-10 players the team would love to have if they find a trade partner and move back."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh did not know his dealings with quarterback Alex Smith during a dead period could invite a fine from the NFL.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says it was probably "money well spent" if the 49ers were fined for spending too much organized time with Smith this offseason. Barrows: "Given the 49ers' quarterback situation -- one player, David Carr, under contract - Harbaugh had to get to know Smith to understand whether he was a plausible possibility should the labor situation grind into late summer."

Kevin Lynch of Niner Insider says the NFL's new rules for kickoffs make the 49ers more apt to sign a strong-legged kicker and less apt to focus on landing a return specialist in the draft. Lynch: "Diminishing kickoffs could also mean a drop in LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson's draft status. But is it enough to allow Peterson to fall to the 49ers's seventh overall pick? Peterson's position on mock drafts ranges from first to seventh, however many draftnicks consider him the most talented player in the draft." It might be easier to justify using a starter on kick returns if the rules change produces more touchbacks, as expected.

Eric Branch of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says kicking off from the 35 instead of the 30 could make it easier for veteran kickers such as the 49ers' Joe Nedney to stick around longer. Nedney had four touchbacks in 37 kickoffs last season before an injury sidelined him.

» NFC Draft Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Each Thursday leading up to the NFL draft (April 28-30), the ESPN.com NFL blog network will take a division-by-division look at key aspects of the draft. Today's topic: biggest team needs.

Arizona Cardinals

Quarterback stands out as the most obvious need for the Cardinals after Arizona suffered through a rough 2010 season with Derek Anderson, Max Hall and John Skelton under center. Acquiring a veteran passer in free agency or trade would clear the way for Arizona to focus on other areas in the draft. But if the labor impasse continues through April, the Cardinals will face more pressure to find one in the draft.

Beyond quarterback, the Cardinals need fresh talent at outside linebacker to improve their pass rush and perimeter run defense. They need help at offensive tackle, where Levi Brown hasn’t played to his status as the fifth player drafted in 2007. Their starting interior offensive linemen are without contracts for 2011, so that area is another concern.

Arizona does not have a starting-caliber tight end. Inside linebacker is another position needing attention.

San Francisco 49ers

Quarterback, cornerback and outside linebacker rank among primary needs for a team that has invested five first-round picks in its offense since 2006, including three over the past two drafts.

David Carr is the only quarterback under contract to the 49ers for 2011. Starting cornerback Nate Clements will not return under his current contract. Will Alex Smith come back for another year?

While San Francisco’s front seven has been strong, the team hasn’t had a player reach double digits in sacks since Andre Carter had 12.5 in 2002. That was also the last time the 49ers posted a winning record. New defensive coordinator Vic Fangio likes to build around a pass-rusher and a cover corner.

Nose tackle could become another concern. Starter Aubrayo Franklin played last season as a franchise player. The balloon payment Washington paid to Albert Haynesworth pumped up the projected franchise value for defensive tackles, making it prohibitive for the 49ers to name Franklin their franchise player for a second consecutive season, should the designation exist in a new labor agreement.

St. Louis Rams

The Rams are set at quarterback and picking late enough in the first round -- 14th overall -- to let the draft come to them. They’re in position to benefit when a highly ranked player falls unexpectedly. They should not feel pressured to reach for a position even though they do have needs.

It’s important for the team to arm Sam Bradford with a more dynamic outside receiving threat. Injuries severely weakened the position last season. Front-line talent was lacking at the position even when most of the Rams’ wideouts were healthy.

Defensive tackle and outside linebacker jump out as two additional primary needs. Finding a defensive end to develop behind James Hall would also make sense. Landing a right guard in the draft would solidify the offensive line while letting 2010 starter Adam Goldberg back up multiple positions. The team also needs safety help after letting Oshiomogho Atogwe leave. Finding a change-of-pace back to supplement Steven Jackson's contributions might count as a luxury.

Seattle Seahawks

Quarterback will be a primary need if the Seahawks fail to re-sign Matt Hasselbeck. The position needs to be stocked for the long term even if Hasselbeck does come back for an 11th season with the team.

Restocking the offensive line must take priority no matter what happens at quarterback. The Seahawks’ running game has disappeared in recent seasons, putting too much pressure on the rest of the offense. Drafting left tackle Russell Okung sixth overall a year ago was a start. Seattle needs to find answers at both guard spots and probably right tackle (assuming Max Unger returns from injury and takes over at center, as expected). Adding Robert Gallery in free agency could take off some pressure in the draft. Gallery played under Seattle's new line coach, Tom Cable, in Oakland.

The cornerback situation needs attention. Marcus Trufant’s salary jumps significantly, raising questions about how the team will view him coming off an inconsistent season. Another corner Seattle chose in the first round, Kelly Jennings, is without a contract and lacks the size Seattle prefers at the position.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch explains why he thinks the Rams could come away with a defensive lineman in the first round of the 2011 draft. Thomas: "There shouldn't be a CB, LB or WR at No. 14 overall worth taking. (That's assuming WRs A.J. Green and Julio Jones are gone -- as they should be -- and corners Patrick Peterson and Prince Amukamara are gone -- as they should be.) Once Von Miller goes, and he could be a top five pick, there won't be any LBs worth taking at 14. So where does that leave you? There are no safeties worth taking there; in fact, there may not be a safety taken in the first round. Even if you felt TE was a big need, there are no TEs worth taking there and may not be a TE taken in the first round. So that leaves us with QB -- don't need one -- OT (don't need one), RB (maybe Mark Ingram) or defensive line (where there should be plenty of ends and a couple of tackles that could be in play at 14.) So why not take an end?"

Also from Thomas: Former Rams safety Oshiomogho Atogwe will earn $8 million from the Redskins this season.

More from Thomas: New offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels met with the Rams' offensive staff to watch the team's games from last season. Coach Steve Spagnuolo: "And basically, Josh just listened and absorbed. (Wide receivers coach) Nolan Cromwell might say, 'Here's how we did this. We thought this was pretty good.' Or (tight ends coach) Frank Leonard might say, 'We had our tight ends do this on this route.' Josh just kind of picked the things he saw that we did well here. It was like a clinic for him, and then we started to dig into the stuff that he's used to."

Roger Hensley of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch asks colleagues what's at stake for the Rams if a lockout erases much of the offseason. Bryan Burwell: "The inability to conduct the business of football -- recruiting and signing veteran free agents -- is the biggest problem for the Rams. Sam Bradford is an intelligent football mind and he will pick up on the new offense just fine. He might not be able to talk with McDaniels during the strike, but he knows other QBs who have worked in that system. They can help him in the interim. But the Rams need players to upgrade this roster and if that is restricted in any way, it outweighs whatever delay Bradford might experience in learning the playbook."

Nick Wagoner of stlouisrams.com checks in with general manager Billy Devaney for thoughts on the team's philosophy.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says a cornerback drafted in the first round would not automatically start for Seattle opposite Marcus Trufant. O'Neil: "Automatically? No sir. Not with Walter Thurmond wanting to compete for that spot. And I would say that I wouldn't be so sure Marcus Trufant's starting job is written in with permanent ink. He would have to compete for that spot, too." Trufant's contract calls for him to earn $5.9 million in base salary for 2011, so if he's back under terms of that deal, he pretty much has to start. I'll be curious to see if the Seahawks bring back Trufant at that price. Trufant showed last season he can play at a high level when the defense is playing well, but the defense had issues as the season progressed and Trufant's performance fell off. Injuries might have been a factor, too, beginning with the one to his ankle suffered against San Diego.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt spent part of Tuesday working out Cam Newton at the Auburn quarterback's pro day. Somers: "The draft is seven weeks away, so things could obviously change. But I don't see the Cardinals taking Newton at No. 5, if he even drops that far. To take a quarterback that high, it would have to be someone such as Sam Bradford, Matt Ryan, etc. -- guys who were productive for more than one year in college and had no red flags when it comes to behavior, maturity, etc. Of course, Matt Leinart fell into that category."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says Auburn was one of several scouting stops planned for general manager Rod Graves. Urban: "Graves is scheduled to attend the pro days of TCU, LSU and Texas A&M over the next six days. There can only be four players taken before the Cards go. Someone high-profile is going to be sitting there at 5. Who that is, however, remains vague."

Brock Huard of 710ESPN Seattle expresses skepticism on Kevin Kolb as a quarterback prospect for the Cardinals. Huard: "Derek Anderson didn't work. Max Hall was abysmal. They've got the young guy, (John) Skelton, that's a good player from Fordham with some nice size but is certainly unproven. You go back and look at Kevin Kolb, if you didn't know all the hype and the hysteria and everything else and you just looked at the byline, you just looked at the raw numbers of what he's done in four years, he's got a QB rating in four years of 73.2. He has started, in four years, seven games. He got beat out by Donovan McNabb. They drafted him in the second round to replace McNabb; it never happened. He got beat out by Michael Vick, and granted, Michael Vick is a different guy and an All-Pro and everything else. Those are two really good players. But those are the facts."

Eric Branch of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat puts Michael Crabtree's first 27 games in perspective. Branch: "Consider that Crabtree has played 27 NFL games and has more catches (103) than Detroit’s Calvin Johnson (101), Green Bay’s Greg Jennings (98) and Miami’s Brandon Marshall (85) did at the same stage in their careers. It remains to be seen if Crabtree joins the NFL’s elite. He certainly won’t make the breakthrough due to breakaway speed. But it’s worth remembering his route running and inconsistency aren’t unusual for a 23-year-old wide receiver."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says the 49ers should be wary of drafting pass-rusher Von Miller seventh overall, according to former NFL scout Dave Razzano. Razzano: "He's got some Vernon Gholston in him. I'm not a big Von Miller fan. In looking at Big-12 tape, he does not have a motor. He doesn't chase hard. They run at him, and he doesn't fight off blockers. When he gets sacks, a lot of times he's not getting blocked. He's a one-move guy."

Also from Maiocco: thoughts on the 49ers possibly acquiring a veteran quarterback. Maiocco: "The Cardinals might be the 49ers' biggest competition to land a veteran quarterback. A lot of that has to do with the timing of the new CBA. If the new league year begins after the draft, it could have a major impact. If the Cardinals take a quarterback with the fifth overall pick, that would seem to rule out the possibility of them investing a lot to pursue a trade for Kevin Kolb or Carson Palmer. The Cardinals might also go after 49ers free agent quarterback Alex Smith. Kolb seems to be a better long-term fit with the 49ers because he'd be coming from a West Coast system to another West Coast system. The Vikings, Redskins, Bengals, Seahawks, Titans, Panthers, Bills and Dolphins are among the teams that could use quarterbacks, too."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says Miller would give the 49ers ample speed at linebacker. Barrows: "With Miller, who ran his 40 in a furious 4.51 seconds, the amount of speed the 49ers would have at linebacker would be eye-opening. The future would include him, Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman at three of the four positions. The fourth? Fangio would have to decide among returnees Ahmad Brooks, Parys Haralson and Thaddeus Gibson as well as free agents Manny Lawson and Travis LaBoy."

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says letting safety Oshiomogho Atogwe depart in free agency could raise questions about new owner Stan Kroenke if the decision came down to money. But there were probably other factors. Miklasz: "And I also realize that Atogwe's role had changed in the Steve Spagnuolo defense. Atogwe was no longer a sweeper back, looking to pounce on loose footballs at the rear of the Rams defense. Atogwe had to line up more frequently in the box, or close to the box. This cut down on Atogwe's takeaway rate. Rams safeties have to be enforcers in the Spags system. Atogwe was more of a free-lancer with nice range. This wasn't an ideal fit." Earlier: my thoughts on the Atogwe situation.

Also from Miklasz: He'd like to see Kroenke keep a higher profile. Miklasz: "We still don't have a handle on what to expect from him as the owner. When the new agreement is in place, the NFL will open its annual free-agent market. Will the Rams be major players, conservative shoppers or stay on the sidelines? Will Kroenke encourage GM Billy Devaney to go out and do what he needs to improve the roster? Or will Kroenke urge caution?"

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Rams receivers could get together with Sam Bradford on their own. Danario Alexander: "I'm sure we're going to get together. Sam is going to get us all together and we'll go probably a week or two, just working on routes and stuff like that."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic notes that the Cardinals did not extend restricted free-agent tenders to tight ends Ben Patrick and Stephen Spach. The NFL Players Association lists each as having four accrued seasons even though Spach has played in parts of five. Both would qualify as unrestricted free agents under long-accepted terms of the previous labor agreement, but those definitions could change under a new deal. In the meantime, none of this really matters.

Also from Somers: Getting a new labor deal would help the Cardinals in particular. Somers: "Cardinals officials have said little about the labor negotiations, but the folks running the football department had to be fearful of a prolonged lockout. The Cardinals need a productive off-season to solve their problems, and a long lockout would mean a condensed time frame in which to re-sign and players and pursue free agents."

More from the Republic: An elementary school honors the Cardinals' Larry Fitzgerald with a mural of the Pro Bowl wideout. Said a teacher: "His mural has a dual purpose. It honors Larry Fitzgerald, but at the same time it provokes a question that students must answer one day. How will people paint you when you grow up? Will you leave a positive legacy?"

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says the 49ers' assistant coaches would suffer a 20 percent pay reduction immediately and a 40 percent cut beginning in August during a lockout, with the ability to earn back all the money if the team played a full schedule in 2o11, according to NFL Coaches association executive director Larry Kennan. Maiocco: "Kennan said the 49ers and the Raiders generally rank below the top teams when it comes to how they treat their coaches. Kennan said the New York Giants, Packers, Cowboys, Broncos, Dolphins, Colts, Steelers, Redskins, Eagles and Ravens are among the teams with the best reputations for working with assistant coaches."

Kevin Lynch of Niner Insider says the 49ers' long-term interests hinge of getting a labor deal suitable to them. Lynch: "In the long run, the 49ers need a strong deal for ownership so they can fund their new stadium. Unlike many of their fellow owners, the Yorks are not billionaires. They also don't have a thriving side business that could help fund the football operation. Also, the 49ers are one of the lowest revenue teams, if not the lowest, in the league. Consequently, the 49ers will likely push for a huge set aside for stadium construction not only in savings realized from lowering the percentage devoted to players' compensation, but also from their fellow owners. Being a low-revenue generator, the 49ers will likely want to retain as much revenue sharing as possible."

Eric Branch of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat passes along Mike Singletary's comments regarding Alex Smith's 2010 season, as told to ESPN's Colin Cowherd. Singletary: "I’ll put it this way. I believed in Alex Smith before the season started. I think the most important thing for a guy that has struggled like Alex has -- I think the most important thing for him is to get him off to an early start. And our first five games were brutal. And so they were all playoff teams. And so we don’t get off to a good start. And when you don’t do that, then maybe Alex begins to look at himself and think ‘Maybe I’m not the guy.’ Maybe some of the players begin to look around and go ‘I thought we had it maybe we’re not.’ I just felt that if we could have got off to a better start then I think the season would have been a whole lot different."

Brock Huard of 710ESPN Seattle says Matt Hasselbeck's price went up when the Seahawks failed to reach agreement with him before the league year expired. He expects the San Francisco 49ers in particular to show interest in Hasselbeck. How much interest? That is hard to say. Coach Jim Harbaugh has been talking up Smith recently, in part because the 49ers haven't had other options at quarterback. Hasselbeck would present another option. I don't think the Seahawks would panic if they lost Hasselbeck to a division rival; they're building for the longer term and realize Hasselbeck hasn't posted a single-season passer rating higher than 75.1 during the last three seasons. They also realize Hasselbeck might be their best option, and it makes little sense to get worse at a critical position.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams have a big hole at safety now that Oshiomogho Atogwe has agreed to terms with the Redskins. Thomas: "In the end, Atogwe chose a coach he is familiar with in Jim Haslett, but just as important is the fact that Haslett's system probably is a better match with Atogwe's skills. He didn't have as much freedom to roam the field and maximize his playmaking skills under Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo, playing more in the box -- like a strong safety would -- and being used more as a blitzer." Craig Dahl, James Butler and Darian Stewart become the Rams' top three safeties minus Atogwe. The team clearly has a need at the position now.

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says a lockout would hurt the Rams in particular. Miklasz: "Yes, all 32 teams have roster issues that can't be tackled right now. But how many have a second-year QB who must learn a new playbook, get on the same page with a new coordinator and connect with a new wide receiver? Things are awfully quiet at Rams Park. Some NFL teams have spent money this offseason by re-signing their own players or players released by other franchises. But the Rams haven't signed anyone. Just the opposite; they released fullback Mike Karney and made safety and team leader O.J. Atogwe a free agent by declining to pay an optional roster bonus. There's more work to do in St. Louis than most places."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com looks at how a lockout would hurt the 49ers. Maiocco: "There can be no player movement until there is a new CBA in place. Free agency will begin only when there's a labor agreement. The 49ers are prohibited from pursuing trades for a quarterback, such as Philadelphia's Kevin Kolb or Cincinnati's Carson Palmer, until there's a new CBA. It's possible the first opportunity the 49ers -- or any other team -- will have to add players will come April 28-30 during the NFL draft. The 49ers own 10 draft picks." It's looking more like labor talks could avert a lockout.

Sam Good of 49ers.com profiles former 49ers safety Eason Ramson, who has battled through substance abuse and other problems since retiring from football. Good: "The pain started when he was a little kid and was the driving force behind everything Ramson did. From becoming a star athlete in Sacramento, to earning his scholarship to Washington State, to becoming an NFL player, and even his drug addiction. It all stemmed from the pain. Ramson isn’t sure if his father ever loved him; he never heard him say it, and it’s a question that still lingers. If he did love his son, the elder Ramson never showed it. He was a provider – food, clothes, shelter – but that was it. No bonding, no hugs, not even an occasional pat on the back. Instead of fatherly advice, Ramson’s dad told his son, 'You’re never gonna be nothing.' "

Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News says the 49ers have incentive to get a labor deal done.

Eric Branch of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat has this to say about a lockout in relation to the 49ers: "Consider that seven other teams also have new head coaches, but, unlike Harbaugh, those coaches were NFL head coaches or coordinators last year. In addition, those seven teams all have more stable quarterback situations than San Francisco, which only has journeyman David Carr under contract."

Kevin Lynch of Niner Insider checks in with tackle Joe Staley for thoughts on the labor situation.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says the recently released Chris Baker, 31, was the oldest of four tight ends on the Seahawks' roster. The team also released quarterback Nate Davis in a move that begs for some explanation. Davis was a project and it was unclear whether he would fit with the Seahawks' offense, but there was no obvious advantage to the timing of his release.

Brian McIntyre of Mac's Football Blog notes that Baker was due to receive a $500,000 bonus on the seventh day of the new league year. That helps explain why the Seahawks released Baker now. Baker finished the 2010 season on injured reserve. Fellow tight ends Cameron Morrah and John Carlson made key contributions in the playoffs.

Brock Huard of 710ESPN Seattle says Matt Hasselbeck will have suitors in free agency.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says Cardinals players have honored safety Matt Ware with the Ed Block Courage Award after Ware continued playing following a diagnosis showing he has Type I diabetes. Note: "Ware's return to the football field in 2010 was remarkable on multiple fronts. He has overcome Type I Diabetes and arthroscopy on his right knee following the 2008 season. His 2009 season was shortened by a knee injury that ended December 16, 2009, when he sprained his right knee ACL and MCL ligaments. Ware was first diagnosed in March of 2009 with Type I Diabetes. He had suffered from fatigue, an increase in thirst and a 15-pound weight loss during a three-week period. It was during the rehabilitation phase of his knee injury he began to experience the diabetic symptoms that slowed his workouts. His appetite had increased and his thirst mechanism was insatiable. Matt was referred to an endocrinologist for screening."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com lists Arizona players with expiring contracts.

Also from Urban: Larry Fitzgerald discusses the Cardinals' quarterback situation with Mike & Mike on ESPN Radio. Fitzgerald on landing a veteran or drafting a quarterback: "You can see it on both sides. You see veteran guys having success, and then you see the Matt Ryans and guys like that who come right in, Mark Sanchez, guys who can do it. I’m just about winning. We want to have success, and I know my coaches and teammates feel the same way. Whatever the way it is, I am for it."

Oshiomogho Atogwe's contract agreement with the Washington Redskins, reported by Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, leaves the St. Louis Rams weaker in the secondary.

That is the bottom line.

ESPN's Adam Schefter says the deal is for five years and $26 million. It's unclear how the contract is structured. Atogwe's previous deal with the Rams wound up paying him $4 million. His new deal surely represents an upgrade even though players often don't see all the money in a long-term deal.

Unusual and unfortunate circumstances negatively affected negotiations between the Rams and Atogwe. The team named him its franchise player following the 2008 season. Atogwe played the 2009 season under terms of the one-year, $6.34 million franchise offer. He became only a restricted free agent following the 2009 season, however, as the labor agreement upped requirements for unrestricted free agency in an uncapped year.

This was an unfortunate step backward for Atogwe.

The Rams took advantage of the RFA designation by making the lowest possible offer. Rules required them to up that $1.226 million offer to $7 million or let Atogwe become a free agent last June. The Rams opted to let Atogwe become a free agent. They liked him, but not at the $7 million price. The timing made it tougher for Atogwe to find a suitable deal. He re-signed with the Rams.

At the time, Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. thought Atogwe would have been better off joining a superior defense elsewhere on a one-year deal and re-marketing himself. Instead, Atogwe came back to the Rams and played well at times, but he did not stand out.

Atogwe has built a reputation for forcing turnovers, but his production in that area has fallen off even while the Rams have improved on defense. He had three interceptions in 2010 and two the previous season after collecting 13 in 2007 and 2008. Jim Haslett, the Rams' defensive coordinator during Atogwe's ball-hawking years, is coordinating the Redskins' defense. Perhaps Atogwe will fit better there.

I think the Rams would have liked to have brought back Atogwe, but they never valued him as a sideline-to-sideline force. They never valued him the way the franchise designation said they valued him. For them, the tag was a convenient way to keep him for a year, not a sign they valued him at that price over a long-term deal. Throw in the unusual RFA situation last offseason and this negotiation wasn't as easy as it should have been.

The Rams will miss Atogwe, but their fans should be happy for him, too. Atogwe handled himself more professionally than I can recall another player handling himself under the circumstances. He practiced with the team as a franchise player even though he hadn't signed the $6.34 million tender. He was a team player all the way.