NFC Notes: Cardinals, 49ers, Rams

Cardinals

• While Cardinals QB Kyler Murray lobbied for Arizona to draft former Oklahoma teammate, WR CeeDee Lamb, in the first round, he couldn’t complain with the team trading a second for WR DeAndre Hopkins instead, per ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss: “It is what it is. I don’t make decisions. With D-Hop, man, he’s arguably the best receiver in the game. I’m excited to have him, as everyone who’s a part of the Arizona Cardinals should be.”
• The Athletic’s Mike Sando lists the Cardinals as a team that should pursue free-agent QB Colin Kaepernick. When Sando polled NFL evaluators in 2016 before Kaepernick’s protest, he was generally seen as a high-level backup. 

49ers

The comparisons between 49ers first-round DT Javon Kinlaw and Colts DT DeForest Buckner will be inevitable given they were effectively traded for each other. While the cap situation for each team was different, Indianapolis preferred to trade the 13th pick to San Francisco for the rights to extend Buckner while the 49ers thought Kinlaw could replace the veteran for a fraction of the cost. The team believes Kinlaw’s size, 6-5 and 320+ pounds, and pass-rushing ability make him a perfect scheme fit and his teammates think he could hit the ground running. 

“[He] is going to really be a perfect 3-technique for us and the way that we play,” 49ers LB Dre Greenlaw said via ESPN’s Nick Wagoner. “I think the way that [Nick] Bosa came and really showed his talent, I think Kinlaw can do the same thing and very well be the defensive rookie of the year. I think he has that potential.”

• Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer doesn’t think promoting 49ers executive Adam Peters to general manager and current GM John Lynch to team president would necessarily stop Peters from taking another GM job elsewhere. 
• If 49ers DC Robert Saleh takes a head coaching job, Breer thinks it could be as a part of a package with Peters as GM. 

Rams

• USA Today’s Cameron DaSilva lists six potential surprise cuts for the Rams, including RB Malcolm Brown, G Joseph Noteboom, C Brian Allen, LB Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, DT Greg Gaines and even TE Gerald Everett. 
• DaSilva says Brown and Everett could give Los Angeles a little over $1 million each in cap savings and have other, younger options on the roster. 
• Meanwhile, Noteboom, Allen and Gaines have a lot of competition for spots at their position. Okoronkwo also faces scheme fit questions under new DC Brandon Staley.