NFC Notes: Cardinals, 49ers, Rams, Seahawks

Cardinals

Cardinals HC Kliff Kingsbury voiced some positives about the NFL and NFLPA’s virus screenings and protocols for training camp.

“The protocols here are not meant to have zero positives. It’s meant to limit the positives you have and when you do recognize them, to handle that situation accordingly as quickly as you can,” said Kingsbury, via Darren Urban.

Kingsbury called this offseason similar to his college coaching experience at Texas Tech given they had no preseason games.

49ers

Last year, 49ers CB Emmanuel Moseley stepped up as San Francisco’s No. 2 corner when Ahkello Witherspoon was injured. Moseley played well enough to keep the starting job in the playoffs and 49ers CB Richard Sherman thinks Moseley will keep the job in 2020. 

“I think he’ll have a whole training camp of starting,” Sherman said via the Athletic’s Matt Barrows. “It’s a different preparation and a different mindset when you come into the year knowing where you stand and being able to prepare in that way. And I think that will be good for him.”

• Sherman thinks 2019 sixth-round CB Tim Harris has the physicality to develop into a contributor for San Francisco: “He’s physical. You can’t coach that. You can’t teach that. So if a player has that, you can definitely work with him and mold him into the guy you want him to be. But without that trait, in this defense it’s hard to play.”
• Sherman mentioned 49ers CB Jason Verrett has done well in his rehab and is running as fast as 21 miles per hour: “I think that’s why he’ll succeed. It’s difficult to knock somebody like that down and out because they won’t ever quit. A guy that won’t ever quit is very difficult to defeat. And I look forward to him succeeding.”

Rams

• ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry notes if the cap drops to $175 million in 2021 that would leave the Rams with just around $8 million in projected space right now, which won’t make negotiations with CB Jalen Ramsey any easier. 
• Ramsey already has a good deal of leverage considering what Los Angeles traded to get him, but Thiry says the franchise tag is an option for the Rams. 
• Thiry says to expect the Rams to work out an extension for WR Cooper Kupp, who is also entering the last year of his deal. 
• Thiry mentions the Rams have expressed a desire to keep S John Johnson beyond 2020 but it’s unclear if he would be impacted by the financial uncertainty. 
• Rams WR Josh Reynolds is expected to have a larger role in his contract year after the team traded WR Brandin Cooks, but Thiry notes he’ll be competing with second-round WR Van Jefferson.
• Thiry also writes that between TE Tyler Higbee breaking out and the Rams using a fourth-round pick on TE Brycen Hopkins, there’s a good chance 2020 is TE Gerald Everett‘s last season with the Rams. 
• 2020 is a major prove-it year for Rams EDGE Samson Ebukam, per Thiry.

Seahawks

• Per John Boyle of the team website, new Seahawks S Jamal Adams said he broke down with “tears of joy” after hearing about the trade. 
• Adams said he’s not focused on his contract situation right now but his goal is to sign an extension with Seattle: “The plan is to retire here, that is my plan.” (Boyle)
• Adams defended his reputation leaving the Jets: “I’m not a distraction in the locker room. Never been in trouble in my life. Anybody that was my teammate, they’ll tell you I’m far from a problem.” (Curtis Crabtree)
• He mentioned he loved watching the Legion of Boom and was thrilled to be stepping into a role like former Seahawks S Kam Chancellor, who he planned to reach out to: “I used to watch those guys, from Earl, to Chancellor, to Sherm. … I used to watch those guys and be inspired by the energy and passion they played with.” (Crabtree)