The new NFL league year kicked off with a bang today as word leaked around lunchtime that the Vikings were shipping Percy Harvin to Seattle.

That made Seattle the early leader in the race for “who had the best offseason” as long as the Seahawks can get Harvin signed to a contract that will keep the diva wideout’s whining to a minimum.

Not to be outdone, Super Bowl runner up San Francisco pulled the trigger a couple hours later on a deal that brought Anquan Boldin to the Bay Area in exchange for a sixth round pick.

Minnesota understandably got a better package for Harvin (A first and a seventh this year and, reportedly, a third next year) than Baltimore got for Boldin, but it was stunning to me that the Ravens couldn’t get more than they got for Anquan, who stepped up his play big time once Cam Cameron was replaced as offensive coordinator.

But the Ravens, coming off of a Super Bowl win, are cash-strapped and they got something for someone they otherwise would have cut. They are the day’s biggest loser, but they made a move they likely had to – the only question now is, with the Boldin trade and the retirements of Matt Birk and Ray Lewis, how far do they fall into rebuilding mode in 2013?

While the Vikings probably got as much as they could given the word on the street that Harvin didn’t want to play in Minnesota any longer, Minnesota was hardly a winner today. The extra picks will be nice, but the wide receiver depth chart currently consists of Jerrious Wright, a janitor and my Mom. And, when word leaked at ProFootballTalk.com that the Purple had narrowly missed out on acquiring Boldin by offering just a seventh rounder instead of a sixth, it made the brass look a little foolish.

Nonetheless, the winners of the day clearly are San Francisco and Seattle. The Seahawks made a huge move to give their second-year quarterback Russell Wilson a lethal, multi-faceted weapon. I’ve already seen speculation of what it will look like when Wilson is in the pistol offense with Harvin beside him. Defensive coordinators will lose sleep trying to figure that one out.

San Francisco countered, losing out to a division rival on a player there were some rumors they were interested in and quickly finding a very solid consolation prize to fill the role Randy Moss did in 2012, but likely with more production on the field. Boldin may not have a ton left in the tank, but he has enough to warrant San Francisco bringing him in to help with another potential championship run.

Make no mistake about it. I already loved the way both the 49ers and Seahawks were set up heading into 2013. I already was making their home-and-home match-ups in 2013 required watching. And with these acquisitions, the rivals in the NFC West currently sit atop my personal predictions for the best teams in the NFC.

These were huge, bold, gutty moves aimed at positioning for a championship run. Atlanta and Green Bay, notice has been served. You are on the clock.