Seattle Seahawks:

The Seahawks were very quiet for much of the opening night of the draft, not having a pick until late in the second round. Where did his first-round pick go, you ask? Well, they traded him with his center, Max Unger, for a little-known player named Jimmy Graham (more on him later). Much of their draft was spent on defensive players, as they’ve lost quite a bit in recent years through free agency. The three defensive linemen they caught look solid, particularly second-round pick Frank Clark of Michigan. The most notable recruit, in my opinion, was WR Tyler Lockett from Kansas State. He is a playmaker and will find a kick return and work the slot right away for Seattle.

Notable non-draft moves include adding DB Will Blackmon from Jacksonville. The funny thing is that Seattle cut him 2 years ago when he wasn’t good enough to get out of the team’s training camp. With Kam Chancellor, Earl Thomas and Richard Sherman hanging around the secondary, the leasing DBs tend to look a little better. After talking retirement, RB Marshawn Lynch is back to inflict a lot of pain on opposing defenses when he is given the ball. Fans are hoping that QB Russell Wilson’s contract differences won’t carry over into this season, especially since he has a new toy in Jimmy Graham. I liked the way TE Luke Willson played down the stretch last year, but Jimmy Graham immediately makes a big difference on this team. Now he’s THE big game threat the Seahawks have been missing.

Fantasy starters: QB Russell Wilson, RB Marshawn Lynch, WR Jordy Nelson, TE Jimmy Graham, Seattle D

Fantasy Bench: WR Doug Baldwin

Fantasy sleeper: WR Tyler Lockett

Arizona Cardinals:

After coming close to starting a different QB every game last year due to injuries, the Cardinals focused on protecting their QB and helping their running game by drafting OT DJ Humphries from Florida with their first pick after they took G Mike Lupati in free agency. After that, they tackled the defensive line by adding defensive linemen with three of their next four picks, with Missouri’s DE Markus Golden being the best option with their second pick.

They’re betting their current crop of RBs stays healthy or they’re hoping their third-round pick, RB David Johnson from northern Iowa, is ready for pro play. To be a small guy, you have to like a player like JJ Nelson in the draft. Granted, he’s got 4.3 speed, but he’s 5’10” and 160 pounds! It’ll be entertaining to watch opposing defenses try to track him down when he’s loose. I certainly hope the Cardinals can stay healthy this year. My favorite receiver, Larry Fitzgerald, he’s not getting any younger. Also, it would be nice to see WR Michael Floyd deliver his full potential. He was supposed to step up to All-Pro last year, but QB injuries put a lid on his season. .

Fantasy starters: RB Andre Ellington, WR Larry Fitzgerald, WR Michael Floyd, Arizona D

Fantasy Bench: WR John Brown

Fantasy sleeper: RB David Johnson

St. Louis Rams:

Honestly, I was surprised when the Rams took RB Todd Gurley with their first pick in the draft. I thought Tre’ Mason was fabulous last year and I don’t think Zac Stacy was a one-year wonder. I felt that improving his offensive line and getting one of the many great receivers available through the draft should have been a focus. Granted, Gurley is a beast once he’s back in form, but how long will it be before you can ride him? With his defense, they are ready to step up and make the playoffs this year. I’m not sure how you do that with the receivers they have on their list. Speaking of their defense, they got even better by adding Detroit manager Nick Fairly.

Now, they took three O-lines with their next four options following Gurley, so they beefed up that unit. However, I still think Devante Parker would have been the better first-round pick for them. They added local WR Bud Sasser in the sixth round to a middle group of receivers that includes Kenny Britt, Chris Givens, Stedman Bailey, Tavon Austin and Brian Quick. No reference type in the mix. Throwing at them is no longer quarterback Sam Bradford, though he didn’t throw playing-time passes to them last season and played less than half of 2013. Assuming the starting quarterback position for 2015 is a somewhat less fragile Nick Foles . It will be interesting to see what he can do outside of Chip Kelly’s offense with a group of WR3s.

Fantasy starters: RB Tre’ Mason (until Todd Gurley is The Man, then him), Rams D

Fantasy bench: QB Nick Foles, WR: Kenny Britt, Chris Givens, Stedman Bailey, Tavon Austin and Brian Quick (watch the preseason and see if Foles hits it off with anyone in particular)

Fantasy Sleeper: T.E. Jared Cook

San Francisco 49ers:

The Niners blew up last year, firing their head coach and giving up a lot of players in hopes of rebuilding a winning attitude. That rotation includes the retirement of LBs Patrick Willis and Chris Borland. With the defense needing more work than the offense, the Niners used their first three picks on that side of the ball. They grabbed DE Arik Armstead of Oregon, S Jaquiski Tartt of Samford and LB Eli Harold of Virginia. They’ve all promised it, but they haven’t fully delivered yet, so it’s going to take some time for them to get to the NFL game. For offense, they used the next three picks at TE Blake Bell from Oklahoma to transition to Vernon Davis’s successor, WR DeAndre Smelter from Georgia Tech (WRs don’t grow their game quickly at Georgia Tech due to their style of offense but he’s got talent) and South Carolina RB Mike Davis to add depth after the loss of RB Frank Gore.

The Niners are hoping free-agent acquisition DT Darnell Dockett can turn back the clock on his glory days in Arizona after missing the entire 2014 season with a torn ACL. On the offensive side of the ball, they overpaid for WR Torrey Smith to become their new #1 WR. Maybe he’ll put together a consistent year on the Left Coast since he got away in Baltimore. They also hope RB Reggie Bush has something left after making little difference in Detroit last season as he dealt with ankle issues. This offense has all the ingredients to be a complete disaster this season.

Fantasy starters: QB Colin Kaepernick, RB Carlos Hyde, WR Anquan Boldin, WR Torrey Smith

Fantasy Bench: RB Reggie Bush, TE Vernon Davis

Fantasy Sleeper: T.E. Blake Bell