NFC Notes: Cardinals, 49ers, Seahawks

Cardinals

• According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, the Cardinals and RB Kenyan Drake have not made much progress on a long-term deal. 
• However, because Arizona used the transition tag on Drake and the running back signed the tender, the two sides can keep negotiating beyond Wednesday’s deadline for players on the exclusive franchise tag. 
• ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss lists Cardinals LB Haason Reddick as a veteran player in danger of being cut this preseason. 
• Darren Urban of the team website points out the Cardinals could use another pass rusher and were linked at one point earlier this offseason to free-agent DE Everson Griffen. 
• However, Urban says first-round LB Isaiah Simmons‘ ability as a blitzer might be enough for the Cardinals not to address the position. 

49ers

• Matt Barrows of The Athletic says that the 49ers will stick with RB Tevin Coleman as their starter and notes that this would have been the case even if RB Raheem Mostert wasn’t in the midst of a contract dispute.
• 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan has said he likes to lead with Coleman because he’s a little bigger than the rest of the group and can soften up the defense before other tailbacks enter the game.
• Barrows wonders if Mostert will still report to training camp on time and if RB Jerick McKinnon can remain healthy prior to the season. If not, undrafted rookie RBs JaMycal Hasty and Salvon Ahmed may need to make an impact.
• With WR Deebo Samuel out until at least the regular season, Barrows notes that there is an opportunity to grab not just a roster spot but a starting spot, which could be perfect for WR Dante Pettis who found himself in the doghouse last season.
• After failing to sign TE Austin Hooper this offseason, Barrows doesn’t believe the 49ers made an impact behind George Kittle at the tight end position. Despite the fact that they drafted blocking TE Charlie Woerner in the sixth round.
• Barrows also mentions that while there is still a possibility of a trade or a bargain signing, it is likely that TE Ross Dwelley will resume his role as the second tight end while Woerner and TE Daniel Helm battle for the third position.
• Due to a log jam at offensive tackle, Daniel Brunskill and rookie Colton McKivitz could be thrown into the mix at guard, according to Barrows. McKivitz played tackle at West Virginia but could be best suited at guard in the NFL and has spent most of the offseason at former NFL center LeCharles Bentley’s training facility in Arizona with 49ers C Weston Richburg. 

Seahawks

• Per the Athletic’s Michael Shawn-Dugar, legal analyst Daniel Wallach believes there’s already more than enough for the NFL to place Seahawks CB Quinton Dunbar on the commissioner’s exempt list. 
• Wallach added, given the state of the investigation into charges of armed robbery against Dunbar and the recent revelation of his lawyer potentially bribing witnesses to recant, “The prospects of Dunbar playing a single snap during the regular season, the likelihood is between slim and none.”
• Seattle traded for Dunbar to start at corner, but unless the charges are dismissed that appears unlikely. 
• Seahawks CB Tre Flowers was Seattle’s No. 2 corner in 2019 and appears to have the first crack at keeping that job in 2020. (Shawn-Dugar)
• Shawn-Dugar adds the Seahawks could explore a trade for Chargers CB Desmond King or sign a free agent like CB Darqueze Dennard.