Today's question: Who is the best newcomer in the NFC West division?
Josh Weinfuss, Arizona Cardinals: Jimmy Graham. There will be other free agents and myriad draft picks playing in the NFC West this season but none will have as significant of an impact as Graham. He's been a top-five tight end since entering the league in 2010 and will force teams to rethink how they cover tight ends. He also gives the Seahawks, who already have plenty of offensive threats, another one. He'll give defensive coordinators nightmares in the week leading up to playing Seattle because, now, teams have to take resources away from defending Marshawn Lynch and Russell Wilson. Graham changes everything.
Nick Wagoner, St. Louis Rams: The clear answer here is Seattle picking up Graham. That move made a lot of sense on many levels but none more so than it finally gives the Seahawks a game-changing receiving threat for Wilson to throw to. Considering that since 2001, John Carlson's 627 receiving yards in 2008 are the most by a Seattle tight end and Graham hasn't had fewer than 889 yards in any of the past four seasons, it's safe to say he immediately is going to be Wilson's favorite target. Wilson and the passing game have never been the focal point of Seattle's offense, but as Lynch heads toward retirement in the next few years, that transition to making it Wilson's offense should be smoother with Graham in place.
Paul Gutierrez, San Francisco 49ers: Graham. End. Of. Discussion. The three-time Pro Bowler's arrival makes the Seahawks not only the division favorite, but a sensible pick to become just the third team in league history to appear in three straight Super Bowls. He has 46 TD receptions in his 355 receptions over the past four seasons, so his presence and dependability as a safety valve will make Wilson a league MVP candidate.
Terry Blount, Seattle Seahawks: Is there any doubt? It's Graham by a landslide. The Seahawks added one of the top three tight ends in the NFL to a team that has gone to back-to-back Super Bowls. They've given one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the league in Wilson an explosive weapon he never has had in his arsenal. Graham's big-play ability as a receiver fills a huge gap Seattle had in its offense. Receivers Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse will be open a lot more because defenses will have to concentrate on Graham downfield. But here's one stat that tells you all you need to know for a team that just lost the Super Bowl on a heartbreaking interception at the 1-yard line. Graham has been targeted on the opponents' 1-yard line nine times in his career. Eight of those were touchdowns. Enough said.