NFC West Notes: 49ers, Cardinals, Rams

49ers

While the 49ers are behind the 20 of 22 starters the Super Bowl champion Chiefs are bringing back in 2020, they’re not doing too shabby with just five starters needing to be replaced from the team that led Kansas City by double digits in the fourth quarter. The hope is that continuity helps San Francisco even more as they try to get back to the Super Bowl while dealing with the particular challenges of this offseason. 

”It’s really important to have that continuity right now in these times because having everything the same for the veteran guys — the guys that have been part of the offense, defense, the special teams last year, all those installs are going to be the same or mostly the same,” 49ers G Laken Tomlinson said via the team’s website. ”Coaches can really focus on coaching the rookies coming in and making sure they’re on the same page. The veterans can help with the learning process in that sense. Just having the majority of the team coming back, I think is going to be a winning edge for this team in this phase.”

Cardinals

• Though Darren Urban of the team’s official site does not think the Cardinals need to sign any starting-caliber player, he could see them adding depth at tight end, safety, and pass rusher.
• Urban mentions veteran OLB Clay Matthews could make some sense for Arizona if he’s willing to be a reserve and have a reduced salary.

Rams

Rams WR Robert Woods was excited when the team chose Florida WR Van Jefferson in the second round of the draft.

“I was like, ‘All right, this dude, already he has that swagger, he has the confidence to come in and dominate,’ ” Woods said, via Gary Klein of the LA Times.

Jefferson’s father Shawn, played receiver for 13 NFL seasons and is currently the receivers coach for the New York Jets. Rams HC Sean McVay says his pedigree is apparent in his play.

“He plays like a coach’s kid that’s been around NFL-caliber players,” McVay said. “He looks like he’s been running routes in training camp since he’s 10 years old.”