NFC Notes: Romello Height, Trent McDuffie, 49ers, Cardinals, Rams

49ers

The 49ers picked up DE Romello Height in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. San Francisco DL coach Kris Kocurek said he’s been impressed by Height’s speed, athleticism, explosion off the line, and pass-rushing ability. 

“Just the speed, athleticism, his explosion on get-off, and then, just natural pass rush ability,” Kocurek said, via Nick Avila of NBC Sports. “It’s been really impressive so far. We’re not in pads or anything yet, so that’ll be the determining factor for the whole thing, but just the way he moves.”

Kocurek said they drafted Height to be a pass rusher, and he is posing problems for their offensive tackles. 

“At the end of the day, we drafted him to rush the passer, and he’s really excelled at that,” Kocurek said. “His get-off has been really, really good, being able to put tackles behind the eight ball with his get-off and making them set differently and protect differently and getting on them quickly.”

Kocurek also praised the rookie’s work ethic. 

“Just the work ethic that he brings in,” Kocurek said. “He works really, really hard. The energy that he plays with. Just the whole package. Excited about him.”

Cardinals

The Cardinals expect TE Tip Reiman to be ready to go for training camp after suffering an ankle injury in Week 5 last year. New Arizona HC Mike LaFleur believes Reiman is going to be a “big piece” of what they want to do on offense in 2026.

“Another guy I had a lot of respect for coming out of Illinois,” LaFleur said, via the team’s website. “Some of those guys, when you get the job, you’re like, ‘Yesss I wanted him coming out in the draft and now I inherit him.’ I can see that easily about Tip. Tip is made of all of the right stuff in terms of how he approaches it. It was unfortunate what happened (with his injury) but he’s a big piece of what we want to do.”

Rams

Rams CB Trent McDuffie is quite happy to be in Los Angeles as a California native with strong ties to the community dating back to his high school years.

“I’ve loved it here,” McDuffie said, via the team website. “I always talk to my fiancée (about) just the energy and the vibe that this place has each morning. I’m in the building at 7:00 AM and right away bro, I’m smiling. People are saying ‘good morning,’ people are just happy to be here back in L.A. So I’ve really enjoyed it these past few months.”

“This community has poured so much into me growing up,” McDuffie added. “Going throughout high school and going to college, there’s always been this love for me in this community. So coming back, especially in my position now that I’m able to give back to them and pour into the youth and do some youth football camps that I have this summer and just get around the community, I think it’s gonna be special for me. I haven’t been this far out, I’ve always been an OC guy, so finally coming up in the valley and being in downtown L.A. I think is gonna be really cool.”

“I mean, to me, a lot of it is happiness, but happiness in the sense of you get to come here and do what you love,” McDuffie concluded, referencing the energy in the locker room. “Everybody around here is like a true family. I think a lot of people talk about that in locker rooms, a lot of people talk about it at other organizations. But from the jump since I’ve been here, it’s been just constant love, constant support, constant just showing me what to do, showing me how to do things, and I like to just say no egos anywhere across this team, across the organization, coaching staff. Everybody who comes here is ready to do their best and to push each other, and I love being a part of that.”

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