NFC Notes: 49ers, Lions, Seahawks

49ers

• Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports does not think the 49ers will sign a free agent safety after Jimmie Ward‘s injury, given he is expected to be recovered prior to the start of the regular season. 
• Maiocco doesn’t view free agent S Tre Boston as a potential addition for the 49ers, given that he’s more of a “hybrid” safety who doesn’t fit their scheme. 
• As for veteran free agent S Eric Berry, Maiocco points out that he has missed 29 games over the past two years. 
• Maiocco considers RB Tevin Coleman to be the “clear favorite” to have the most touches for their running backs group due to his talent as a runner and receiver. 
• Maiocco expects 49ers LB Malcolm Smith to start at the SAM backer spot. 

Lions

Lions HC Matt Patricia said he wasn’t worried about the absence of CB Darius Slay and DT Damon Harrison from OTA’s, both who would like updates to the deals they signed in 2016. 

“Back in the day I’ve had other great players, really great ones, on my defenses before that just whatever the situation was to them, whether they have offseason routines that are agreed or talked about or kind of just gone through so everybody’s on the same page with all that stuff,” Patricia said via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “For us it’s just focusing on the guys that are on the field.”

Seahawks

• Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times believes that Seahawks DT Al Woods‘ one-year, $2.25 million contract should guarantee him a spot on Seattle’s 53-man roster, given that he has the team’s second-highest cap hit for defensive linemen. 
• Condotta writes that Seahawks DT Jarran Reed, Woods and Poona Ford are likely the top-two defensive tackles on the roster.
• As for the fourth and final defensive tackle spot, Condotta mentions Jamie Meder, sixth-round Demarcus Christmas and undrafted free agents Bryan Mone and Jay-Tee Tiuli as players competing for the job.
• Regarding Seahawks’ recently signed QB Geno Smith‘s one-year, $895,000 contract, Condotta does not believe his deal has “any bearing” on the competition with Paxton Lynch for the backup role.
• Condotta could see the Seahawks waiving Lynch and re-signing him to their practice squad just as they did with QB Trevone Boykin back in 2017.