NFC Notes: 49ers, Rams, Seahawks

49ers

49ers’ HC Kyle Shanahan is excited that the team was finally able to reach an agreement with TE George Kittle and knows he has certainly earned it.

“He’s earned it,” Shanahan said, via Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area. “He does everything the right way. It starts with how talented and good you play on Sunday, which he does better than any tight end in the league. But after that. The way the guy takes care of himself. The way he works year-round to put his body in a position to stay healthy with the way he plays. It makes you believe in the guy. It makes you believe in not what he has done but what he’s going to do. When you have a guy like that, it makes it a lot easier for the owner to commit to him like that. We were just pumped to get it done because it’s something we all were dying to get something like that done with a player like George, and thankfully we did.”

• David Lombardi of The Athletic takes a look at how much the 49ers potentially backloaded the contract of TE George Kittle.
• Lombardi theorizes that the 49ers can suppress Kittle’s cap hits to around $4.6 million for the next two years but would have to take larger cap hits in 2022 and after to make up for it.
• Lombardi also believes it is important to note that every small-cap hit makes it harder for the 49ers to keep the core of their roster together. 
• At this point, Lombardi notes that all we know is that cap hits of Kittle’s guaranteed $18 million signing bonus must be paid out over the next five years, adding up to $3.6 million per year along with a minimum salary of $1 million.
• The 49ers had about $12 million in salary-cap space to work with throughout these negotiations, meaning Kittle’s deal is almost certainly backloaded with large cap hits in later years, according to Lombardi.
• Lombardi also points out that unlike Chiefs TE Travis Kelce’s contract, there’s no possibility for Kittle’s deal to open up any cap space for the 49ers.
• According to Field Yates, TE Jordan Reed‘s contract with the 49ers includes a $1.05 million base salary with up to $750,000 in playing-time incentives.

Rams

• ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry lists running back as the biggest position battle on the team, as second-round RB Cam Akers, 2019 second-round RB Darrell Henderson and veteran RB Malcolm Brown all vie to replace Todd Gurley.
• Rams S John Johnson when asked how new DC Brandon Staley will change the team’s defense: “In the past, Coach Staley came from Denver and Chicago. I think we have better guys on defense than he had in both of those places. So just picture what they were doing, but with better guys.” (Eric Williams)
• Rams TE Tyler Higbee said his impressions of rookie TE Brycen Hopkins were that he was pretty quiet at first, but is an outstanding athlete and is picking things up under his and the coaches’ guidance. (Jourdan Rodrigue)
• Higbee also says he can see that QB Jared Goff changed his diet and looks to be “in the best shape of his life right now”, adding that Goff’s mobility looks better so far. (Rodrigue)

Seahawks

Seahawks RB Chris Carson hasn’t participated in training camp so far and is away from the team. HC Pete Carroll said that Carson is “a ways away” from returning. The team will likely use RB Carlos Hyde during this time, as RB Rashaad Penny is still recovering from injury.

Carroll also added that “there are a couple of things that have happened” at  Carson’s home, including a death in his family that has led to the absence.

“Chris has got some family stuff going on that he’s had to take care of,”  Carroll said via Gregg Bell of The Tacoma News Tribune. “Our hearts go out to Chris. He’s going through some really big stuff with family members that he is looking after and taking care of. He’s fine, and all that. It has nothing to do with Chris, personally, physically or anything. But he has to do this, at this time, right now. . . . I’m not sure how many more days it’s going to be before he takes care of all of that business. But they are trying to figure it all out. It’s back home.”

• According to Brady Henderson, Seahawks CB Shaquill Griffin made it clear he wants to stay in Seattle long-term saying he’s “found my home” and that HC Pete Carroll lets him be himself. Henderson notes that while Griffin is entering the final year of his rookie deal, he doesn’t get the impression that any deal is imminent between the two sides.
• Seahawks DT Jarran Reed came up limping after a drill and eventually went into the locker room.  Reed then remained on the field while DT Poona Ford sat out with what appeared to be a calf injury. (Bob Condotta)