NFC Rumors: Brandon Aiyuk, Kyler Murray, 49ers, Cardinals, Rams

49ers

49ers GM John Lynch didnโ€™t have a ton of interest in trading WR Brandon Aiyuk when asked if the team was shopping him.

โ€œWe love Brandon Ayuk and excited about Brandon being a part of this team, so Iโ€™ll just leave it at that,โ€ Lynch responded, via 49ers Web Zone.

Lynch admitted that the team will face obstacles to keep Aiyuk after already handing out a large contract to WR Deebo Samuel.

โ€œYou canโ€™t keep everyone,โ€ Lynch added. โ€œWeโ€™re trying to do something special this year, and Brandon is going to be a big part of that and beyond as well. And so, yes, you always have to think out a few years, but weโ€™re really excited about Brandon, feel like he made another big step [last] year, and I think the best is yet to come, and so we want him being a part of it. And at some point, yeah, you have to figure things out, and I guess weโ€™ll take that as it comes. But as of right now and into the future, weโ€™re really excited about Brandon Ayuk and where heโ€™s at as a pro, the work heโ€™s done to develop as a pro and become one of our core players here.โ€

Lynch said the team doesnโ€™t plan on announcing to the media regarding their plans on Aiyuk and DT Javon Kinlawโ€˜s fifth-year options until he has the opportunity to speak with both players personally.

โ€œJK is doing great,โ€ Lynch said. โ€œHeโ€™s really in a good spot. He looks tremendous. Heโ€™s preparing. Heโ€™s excited about his preparation. I think itโ€™s a good feeling when youโ€™ve battled injuries year after year, and youโ€™re in a healthy spot, and you can see it in the way heโ€™s walking around here. Heโ€™s just very encouraged and in a really good place, and I think heโ€™s earned that right. Heโ€™s worked really hard to be here, and I think weโ€™re all really encouraged by it and excited to see what can come.โ€

Cardinals

When asked if he feels like the Cardinals shouldโ€™ve selected Nick Bosa with the No. 1 overall pick in 2019 instead of Kyler Murray, former GM Steve Keim jokingly said picking Bosa likely wouldโ€™ve gotten him fired. 

โ€œWell, Kyler got me an extension. Nick Bosa probably would have gotten me fired,โ€ said Keim, via the Dan Patrick Show.

Keim explained the quarterback position can typically propel teams to success faster than defensive ends. 

โ€œWell, your quarterback position is the guy who can propel your team the quickest,โ€ Keim said. โ€œAnd he did that. Could Nick Bosa have gotten us to an 11-win team that year, two years ago?โ€

Keim thinks Murray is still deserving of the five-year, $230,500,000 extension he signed last year. 

โ€œItโ€™s because I still believe in the young man, and because supply-and-demand at that position, either you have one or you donโ€™t. And whether they all have questions and holes, you have to be able to โ€” youโ€™re either in or youโ€™re out.โ€

  • Cardinals HC Jonathan Gannon said LB Zaven Collins has been working with the outside linebackers group recently and praised him for doing whatever is asked of him. (Darren Urban)
  • Gannon deflected when asked about the whereabouts of WR DeAndre Hopkins, S Budda Baker and LB Isaiah Simmons: โ€œThereโ€™s some guys that you didnโ€™t see out there today that are in meetings. So when theyโ€™re ready to get on the grass and go, weโ€™ll get them on the grass ready to go.โ€ (Josh Weinfuss)
  • Simmons did report to voluntary minicamp. (Arizona Cardinals Insiders)

Rams

Rams GM Les Snead said the team will be โ€œintentionalโ€ in scouting the second-tier of quarterbacks, but added that the team makes it a point to look at that group of players yearly.

โ€œWeโ€™ve definitely been intentional about the second tier, right, and those players that would probably be beyond the [top] four, even the fifth one now [from] Tennessee [Hendon Hooker] thatโ€™s talked about a lot going early, going before us, things like that,โ€ Snead said, via PFT. โ€œBut no different than every year.โ€

  • Sports Illustratedโ€™s Albert Breer notes the Rams are one of a number of teams who like Boston College WR Zay Flowers and could make a move up for him. 

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