NFC Notes: Cardinals, 49ers, Seahawks

Cardinals

After winning offensive rookie of the year in 2019, Cardinals QB Kyler Murray now has heightened expectations going into his second season. Other quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes have made massive leaps in their second year while elevating their teams to contending status. Others, like Browns QB Baker Mayfield, have faltered under the increased pressure. Cardinals OT D.J. Humphries sees Murray falling more into the former category. 

“The thing that he’s doing the most, I think, is becoming himself,” Humphries said via SI.com’s Mason Kern. “He’s realizing that he can be Kyler Murray and not have to try to stand up in the light and be this guy. It’s cool to be yourself and be the guy that you think you are and not have to hold yourself up to an image. I’m excited to see his progression from Year 1 to Year 2. I think he’s going to explode.”

49ers

One of the wilder NFL rumors this past offseason centered around the 49ers being QB Tom Brady‘s preferred destination as a free agent and San Francisco trading QB Jimmy Garoppolo back to New England to make room. San Francisco’s brain trust of GM John Lynch and HC Kyle Shanahan actually confirmed they talked about adding Brady but ended up deciding to stick with Garoppolo.

Asked about his feelings on the matter, Garoppolo said it came with the territory of being a starting quarterback. But he did appreciate the team’s honesty. 

“The one thing I can say about the whole situation was Kyle and John were very honest with me the whole time,” Garoppolo said via the Athletic’s Matt Barrows. “That’s their job — to put the best team together possible and you’ve got to respect that. So as long as the honesty and truthfulness is there, I respect those guys, I love those guys. And it’s going to be a fun year this year.”

Seahawks

• Josina Anderson reports while the Seahawks remain open to bringing back DE Jadeveon Clowney, the economic situation has drastically changed since the two sides last spoke. 
• Seattle had reportedly been offering Clowney $15 million per year but Anderson says the starting point in negotiations now would be very different. 
• Ben Volin of the Boston Globe writes the Seahawks are one of 11 teams where QB Colin Kaepernick would be a fit.