We're more than halfway through this NFL season, and the NFC West has three realistic teams in contention to win the division. Those teams are the 6-2 Arizona Cardinals, 4-4 Seattle Seahawks and the 4-4 St. Louis Rams.

The NFL trade deadline passed with not much occurring, but the Rams did make a move in free agency. Jeff Fisher decided to bring in wide receiver Wes Welker to help the Rams passing offense. At first glance this appears to be a wise decision. The Rams rank dead last in total passing yards and 31st in passing touchdowns. Quarterback Nick Foles hasn't looked terrible in his first season with the Rams, but he needs more help. The Rams don't have a single player ranked in the top 75 in receiving yards this year. Kenny Britt leads the team with just 311 yards.

Welker used to be viewed as the best slot receiver in the game, but injuries and slowing production left the little wide out unsigned for the majority of the season. Welker's receptions and receiving yards have dropped the last four consecutive seasons. Because of the way Welker plays, he has accumulated a lot of head injuries throughout his career.

Welker has played more than 90 percent of his NFL career catching passes from Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. It's going to be a little bit different this year.

Britt and Tavon Austin make up a pretty good combination, but it's obviously not elite. Adding a productive Welker to the slot could take a lot of pressure off the rest of the receivers. Austin is extremely fast, and it would be good to see him run more deep routes. Running back Todd Gurley is having a terrific rookie season, but if the Rams have no passing threat, opposing teams will stack the box and contain Gurley.

As good as Britt can be, he only has 15 catches this entire season; just under two catches per game. That's where Welker comes in. Welker has never been a touchdown machine, but he has been known for moving the chains. If Welker can mimic what he did with the New England Patriots or Denver Broncos in the slot area, the Rams offense will improve. It's just that simple. Foles needs more of a short range option going forward. Jared Cook, who is making $8 million this season, has been a pretty big disappointment with zero touchdowns and a lot of drops.

Another factor to consider here is experience. Welker has played in three Super Bowls since 2008 while the Rams haven't made the playoffs since 2004.

The Cardinals currently lead the NFC West with a 6-2 record, but this divisional race is far from over. Back in Week 4 the Rams defeated the Cardinals by two points in Arizona. The Cardinals still have to travel to St. Louis in Week 13. The addition of Welker certainly doesn't make the Rams overwhelming favorites to now win the division, but it keeps other NFC West teams on notice. Let's also not forget that the Rams beat the Seahawks in Week 1.

The Rams are 3-0 against divisional teams this year. If they can transform Welker into the old Welker with that same production, watch out.

 Follow Damon Salvadore on Twitter @DamonSalvadore1