NFC West Notes: 49ers, Cardinals, Rams

49ers

49ers DL Arik Armstead said first-round DL Javon Kinlaw‘s addition will do “a lot” for their defense and is excited to “be a leader” for the rookie. 

“He’s going to add a lot to our team and I’m excited for when we all get back together to start that journey, to help bring him along and up to speed, be a leader and guide him through his career, especially in these early stages,” Armstead said, via ProFootballTalk.

Regarding second-year WR Deebo Samuel, his former coach South Carolina HC Will Muschamp said 49ers WRs coach Wes Welker quickly helped the receiver properly train over the offseason toward helping his weight after getting drafted last year. 

“Wes is hard on Deebo,” Samuel’s college coach, Will Muschamp, said, via Matt Barrows of The Athletic. recently. “Deebo’s a guy that’s always got to worry about his weight a little bit as far as the offseason and those things. And I think Wes took him on some 6 a.m. runs when he first came out to San Francisco to introduce him to getting into real good shape.”

• 49ers’ new OL Tom Compton said he is focusing on competing for the starting right guard role this season. (Matt Barrows)

Cardinals

Cardinals OLB Chandler Jones says their defense is “loaded” with talent after their additions during the 2020 NFL Draft and free agency.

“We look loaded,” Jones said, via David Brandt of the Associated Press. 

Jones said he was surprised to see first-round LB Isaiah Simmons fall to them at No. 8 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. 

“Watching guys like (Simmons), you can’t not draft him,” Jones said. “I’m surprised that he fell to us honestly. He’s the kind of guy that you can’t compare him to anyone. He’s a player who can play anywhere. I thought he was a pass rusher and then I turn on the film and this guy’s covering guys, interceptions. The sky’s the limit for him.”

Rams

• Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated writes that Rams HC Sean McVay‘s job security “is safe as can be” and he remains a “centerpiece” of the organization as they move into SoFi Stadium.
• Breer also writes that Rams GM Les Snead remains under contract through 2023 and is not expected to be on the move.
• Should the Rams struggle in 2020, Breer could see more the blame being directed toward the organization’s “big-ticket trades,” which could result in changes being made to the front office instead of the coaching staff. 
• Daniel Kaplan of The Athletic reports that the Rams have requested up to $500 million in additional NFL stadium financing and asked for double the amount of time typically required to pay the money back.
• This would effectively bring their total up to around $900 million that the team has borrowed from the NFL for SoFi Stadium.