The Post’s Mark Cannizzaro previews the NFC South for the 2026 season.
1. Los Angeles Rams
Coach: Sean McVay
2025 record: 12-5 | 2026 O/U: 10.5
Key additions: Edge Myles Garrett, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, was added to an already talented defensive front. As was DT Aaron Donald, the former star who un-retired to play one more year. CB Trent McDuffie, the former Chief, plays both outside and in the slot. QB Ty Simpson, drafted from Alabama in the first round, is a potential eventual successor to Matthew Stafford.
Key departures: RT Rob Havenstein, CB Darious Williams, WR Tutu Atwell, CB Cobie Durant, CB Ahkello Witherspoon, CB Roger McCreary, edge Jared Verse.
First-and-goal: Matthew Stafford was the NFL MVP in 2025 and leads a loaded roster. The defense, already a strength, got stronger with the addition of Garrett and return of Donald. DT Kobie Turner, in his first three seasons in LA, has 24 sacks and 43 QB hits, and could be freed up with the presence of Garrett.
Fourth-and-long: Rams face possibility of losing both star WR Puca Nacua and starting LT Alaric Jackson to suspensions for violating the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy. Both cases have not yet been ruled on by the NFL. Nacua is the Rams top receiver — and one of the best in the NFL. Jackson would be replaced by David Quessenberry, who hasn’t played more than 400 snaps in a season since 2021 when he played for the Titans.
Prediction: 13-4. The additions of Donald and Garrett make the defense scary. Even at 38, Stafford still looks at the top of his game.
2. Seattle Seahawks
Coach: Mike Macdonald
2025 record: 14-3 | 2026 O/U: 10.5
Key additions: Edge Dante Fowler, who’s recorded at least 30 pressures in every season, will replace Boye Mafe. RB Jadarian Price, a first-round draft pick, should step in to replace departed Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker as the lead back. S Bud Clark and CB Julian Neal were Day 2 draft picks, though Clark was lost for the season with a broken ankle.
Key departures: OC Klint Kubiak, RB Kenneth Walker III, S Coby Bryant, CB Riq Woolen, LB Boye Mafe.
First-and-goal: Re-signing WR Rashid Shaheed, the Seahawks kept one of the NFL’s best wide receiver trios intact with No. 1 target Jaxon Smith-Njigba, coming off a standout 2025, and Cooper Kupp. Defensively, Seattle returns 12 defenders who played at least 300 snaps, which is huge for continuity.
Fourth-and-long: Continuity could be a problem for the offense as Seattle tries to replace Kubiak, who left to become the Raiders head coach. Brian Fleury replaces Kubiak after spending the past seven seasons with the 49ers as their run game coordinator. Another question: What does QB Sam Darnold have in store for an encore to his best career season?
Prediction: 12-5. Still one of the best teams in the NFL, but the division is the toughest in the league.
3. San Francisco 49ers
Coach: Kyle Shanahan
2025 record: 12-5 | 2026 O/U: 9.5
Key additions: Mike Evans missed nine games in 2025, but is only one season removed from catching 74 passes for 1,004 yards and 11 TDs and is part of a revamped WR corps with Christian Kirk and Demarcus Robinson. Veteran LB Dre Greenlaw is back after last season with the Broncos. Raheem Morris takes over for Robert Saleh as defensive coordinator after Saleh went to Tennessee to be head coach.
Key departures: WR Jauan Jennings, CB Charvarius Ward, S Talanoa Hufanga, G Aaron Banks, DT Javon Hargrave, edge Leonard Floyd.
First-and-goal: RB Christian McCaffrey is coming off one of the best seasons of his career, playing all 17 games and producing 1,202 rushing yards, 10 rushing TDs, 102 receptions for 924 receiving yards and 7 receiving TDs. RB Kaelon Black was drafted in the third round after two productive seasons at Indiana, where he averaged 5.3 yards per carry in his college career. Returning QB Brock Purdy gives continuity at the most important position.
Fourth-and-goal: Key starters McCaffrey, Evans, LT Trent Williams, TE George Kittle and FB Kyle Juszczyk all will be 30 or older when the season starts. The 49ers need to reduce McCaffrey’s workload after he had an NFL-high 413 touches in 2025. WR Ricky Pearsall, a 2024 first-round pick, is hurt again.
Prediction: 11-6. While still one of the league’s elite, the 49ers have been surpassed by the Rams and Seahawks.
4. Arizona Cardinals
Coach: Mike LaFleur
2025 record: 3-14 | 2026 O/U: 3.5
Key additions: Mike LaFleur, 39, gets his first shot as an NFL head coach. RB Jeremiyah Love, the first-round draft pick out of Notre Dame, forced 56 missed tackles last season and fumbled just once on 433 career carries in college. Guards Isaac Seumalo and Elijah Wilkinson step in to upgrade the OL.
Key departures: Head coach Jonathan Gannon, QB Kyler Murray, DL Calais Campbell, T Kelvin Beacham.
First-and-goal: The addition of starting guards strengthens an OL that already has top-flight LT Paris Johnson Jr. Carson Beck, the rookie out of Miami, could end up starting and may be a revelation as a rookie after a decorated and seasoned collegiate career.
Fourth-and-goal: This remains a team without a true starting QB. Jacoby Brissett, a journeyman with a nondescript career, is not inspiring. Arizona needs more from former first-round pick WR Marvin Harrison Jr., who had a down 2025.
Prediction: 4-13. LaFleur will bring energy, but this roster is in the bottom half in the league.
