NFC West stock up, stock down: Trey Lance, Stetson Bennett heading in opposite directions

With the second week of preseason over, teams are rounding into final shape. Here are three stocks trending up and three down in the NFC West:

 Stock up

Trey Lance, 49ers quarterback: He won't start, but the 49ers have so much invested in the former No. 3 overall pick that it's unlikely for him to be cut or traded. Besides, starter Brock Purdy — "Mr. Irrelevant" as the final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft — is far from a sure thing. 

Injuries and inconsistency have limited Lance over the first two years of his career, but he has shown flashes this preseason of what the 49ers were hoping to get when they traded three first-round draft picks to select him in the 2021 NFL Draft. 

The brightest of those flashes came in the second preseason game, when he overcame a rocky start and led the winning drive against Denver. In two preseason games, Lance has completed 66% of his passes for 285 yards, two touchdowns and sports an above-average 101.2 passer rating. 

Devin Bush, Seahawks linebacker: The Seahawks, who desperately must improve defensively, took a big gamble at middle linebacker by signing Bush to a one-year deal. He was a massive disappointment in Pittsburgh after never fully recovering from a major knee injury in 2020, but the talent has always been there. 

So far this preseason, Bush has stood out by playing the type of attacking, aggressive defense that he did not during his past two years in Pittsburgh. Sometimes players need a fresh start in a new environment and a new system to reach their full potential, and we might be seeing that happen with Bush. 

Tyler Johnson, Los Angeles Rams wide receiver: The Rams won only five games in 2022, but there's reason for optimism this season, mainly due to the better health for QB Matthew Stafford, WR Cooper Kupp and DT Aaron Donald. 

Johnson, who is battling for the No. 3 wide receiver spot, is also having a strong preseason. The three-year veteran played in two games last season for the Texans and has not caught a pass in the regular season since 2021. But he has has looked good in the preseason, hauling in eight passes for 105 yards. 

Stock down

Stetson Bennett, Los Angeles Rams quarterback: Bennett had a strong showing in his preseason debut, but he took a significant step back against the Las Vegas Raiders in the second preseason game, completing 15 of 24 passes for 142 yards and an interception. 

Bennett (5-foot-11 and 190 pounds) lacks prototypical size and arm strength and at 25, he is already older than most rookies. That greatly limits his upside. 

Jake Moody, San Francisco 49ers kicker: There is always a risk with taking a kicker high in the draft because the position can be so volatile and tough to scout. 

The 49ers selected Moody, a standout at Michigan, with the No. 99 overall pick (third round) of the 2023 NFL Draft, but he is only 3-for-5 on field goals and 1-for-2 on extra points. The 49ers, a Super Bowl contender, need a reliable kicker. Will doubts creep in about Moody? 

Isaiah Simmons, Arizona Cardinals safety: The Cardinals have clearly soured on Simmons after not picking up his fifth-year option and moving him from linebacker to safety. So far, that transition is not going particularly well. 

Against the Kansas City Chiefs in the second preseason game, he had a dreadful showing, taking poor angles and getting beat on passes. He might not be in danger of being cut, but he is not cementing his roster spot either.