NFC West.(NFL: Free agents PREVIEW)

ARIZONA CARDINALS

CAP SPACE: With about a $15 million cap surplus, the team likely will be a major player. Coach Dennis Green plans to acquire a handful of free agents so the club can get help in several areas instead of going for one marquee addition. MOVING ON: QB Josh McCown, who started 22 games the past three seasons, will be the biggest loss. QB John Navarre, who has been unimpressive in limited duty, will move into the backup role behind Kurt Warner. The club would be wise to re-sign NT Russell Davis, who spent most of 2005 on injured reserve but is a strong run defender, and versatile FB Obafemi Ayanbadejo. TARGETS: Much attention will be focused on making upgrades at center and right guard. The team needs a savvy veteran to play center; someone such as the Titans' Justin Hartwig or the Saints' LeCharles Bentley would be perfect. At guard, the Lions' Brock Gutierrez and the Vikings' Toniu Fonoti are intriguing. Fonoti (6-4, 350) has the size Green likes, but he comes with some baggage. On defense, the club needs another run-stuffing tackle, especially if it can't re-sign Davis, but it might have to find one in the draft. The team likely will try to bring in a free safety to replace or challenge Robert Griffith. The Steelers' Chris Hope and the Ravens' Will Demps are young and athletic. The Cardinals also could seek a free-agent running back such as Edgerrin James. Because they have so many needs, though, they might not want to devote a big chunk of cap space to one player.--Kent Somers

ST. LOUIS RAMS

CAP SPACE: The Rams have about $10 million of cap space, which could grow by a couple million if they renegotiate WR Isaac Bruce's contract. The team will be active and might have enough money to add a couple of big-name players. MOVING ON: DT Ryan Pickett and SS Adam Archuleta are the team's most high-profile free agents; whether they return will be crucial to the offseason strategy. At the urging of defensive coordinator Jim Haslett, the team wants to re-sign Archuleta. The club seems more lukewarm about Pickett, an underrated run stopper coming off a career year. DL Tyoka Jackson and DT Damione Lewis will be back only if the price is right. TARGETS: The team will focus on defense. Haslett needs more impact players on the line, at linebacker and in the secondary. If Pickett doesn't return, the Seahawks' Rocky Bernard would be an ideal inside pass-rushing complement to LE Leonard Little. DE Darren Howard, who played for Haslett in New Orleans, is a possibility. Although he has had injury issues over the years, Howard (6-3, 275) can play on both running and passing downs and is capable of double-digit sacks. He also would add needed bulk on the line. The Rams' free-agent options at cornerback are limited because the Vikings put a transition tag on Brian Williams and the Bills put a franchise tag on Nate Clements. On offense, QB Sage Rosenfels, who worked for new coach Scott Linehan last season with the Dolphins, could be one option to compete for the No. 2 job behind Marc Bulger.--Jim Thomas

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

CAP SPACE: The club is about $11 million under the salary cap. It figures to be active but judicious in its spending after only recently emerging from years of cap problems. MOVING ON: Free-agent FB Fred Beasley is a tough runner and solid receiver out of the backfield but ...