49ers
- Per the Athletic’s David Lombardi, to facilitate a trade for Falcons WR Julio Jones, the 49ers would either have to get Atlanta to eat a portion of Jones’ $15.3 million 2021 salary or restructure contracts for DL Arik Armstead, S Jimmie Ward and QB Jimmy Garoppolo.
- That’s because in addition to needing more than their current $10 million in available cap space, the 49ers need to budget for a long-term deal for LB Fred Warner, who very well could be the highest-paid linebacker in the league by the end of the summer.
- Lombardi notes that’s possible but the danger in that for San Francisco will be pushing too much money to 2022 when they also will have to navigate limited cap flexibility.
- The bigger challenge though, Lombardi writes, is the draft capital a trade for Jones will cost given the 49ers already mortgaged two future firsts and a future third to trade up in the draft this year.
- However if 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan still feels the way he did in February 2018 about Jones, Lombardi doesn’t rule out San Francisco finding a way to make it work: “If there’s a Julio Jones available and you have the opportunity to get him, you go get him, it’s worth it. Whatever the price is, whatever the draft pick is, go get him.”
- When asked more recently about the 49ers’ potential interest in acquiring Jones, Shanahan said they are always looking for ways to improve the team: “We’re always interested in improving our team… I would never say we’re just done.” (Nick Wagoner)
- Shanahan mentioned Garoppolo appears “totally healthy” after dealing with a lingering high-ankle sprain last season: “His ankle seems totally healthy. I haven’t even asked him about it because it looks so good.” (Matt Barrows)
- Regarding 49ers WR Jalen Hurd‘s recovery from a torn ACL, Shanahan expects the receiver to be ready for training camp: “He’s done a good job on his ACL rehab. He should be ready to go by (training) camp.” (Barrows)
Rams
Rams WR Robert Woods said he is not concerned about the organization signing WR DeSean Jackson or second-round WR Tutu Atwell and believes they both add “explosiveness to our offense.”
“Whatever weapons (the team adds) – running backs, receivers, quarterbacks – we’ve got a team goal, we’re trying to win a Super Bowl,” Woods said, via Kevin Modesti of the LA Daily News. “We’ve got a loaded team. We’re bringing in receivers (who) bring explosiveness to our offense.”
Woods reiterated that he does not think their offensive additions affect him negatively and feels they have “a lot of weapons” going forward.
“I don’t think it affects me. I think it’s going to be affecting the defenses this year,” Woods said. “We’re going to be coming at them with a lot of speed, a lot of weapons in our rotation.”
As for the acquisition of Matthew Stafford, Woods believes the veteran quarterback has “great touch” and will help lead a productive offense.
“Great touch, great quarterback, great addition to our offense,” Woods said.
Seahawks
The Seahawks typically have strict length thresholds that they look for in cornerbacks. But they went against type to select CB Tre Brown in the fourth round out of Oklahoma this past draft. While at 5-9 Brown isn’t as big as Seattle prefers, he doesn’t lack for confidence, as evidenced by an interview at his pro day where he called out D.K. Metcalf as the receiver he’d most like to face in the NFL. He was the same person in his first interview with Seattle media.
“We heard his interview as well,” Seahawks HC Pete Carroll said via the Athletic’s Michael-Shawn Dugar. “He came across with the confidence and the cockiness that is necessary quite often in the makeup of the guys that play out there, and he’s not going to be wowed by any of it.I’m sure there will be guys ready for the challenge in camp when we get rolling, and one of them (Metcalf) wears number 14. He don’t care who it is, he’s going to want to go against him and make it a battle. DK will look forward to it. That’s what we need to find your best. We need the competitiveness, and that’s why the kid really fits. We think we can really be in a very fortunate situation with him in the competition right now.”
Looking for the latest NFL Insider News & Rumors?
Be sure to follow NFL Trade Rumors on TWITTER and FACEBOOK for breaking NFL News and Rumors for all 32 teams!
