NFC West Notes: 49ers, Cardinals, Rams

49ers

• NBC Sports’ Scott Bair writes it’s only a matter of time before the 49ers agree to an extension with TE George Kittle, the only question is how much Kittle will make given how the tight end market has stagnated. 
• Bair projects that Kittle could sign anywhere from $12.5 million to $15 million per year, which would impact other deals San Francisco has to work out. 
• With the 49ers and LT Trent Williams content to let the 2020 season fall how it may, Bair says a strong season by Williams could put him out of San Francisco’s price range if he approaches the current $22 million per year standard for tackles. But if he helps the 49ers win a Super Bowl, Bair believes the team will consider that worth the one-year rental. 
• Bair also points out 49ers CB Richard Sherman will be entering a contract year this season and his performance will be closely monitored given he’ll turn 33 before the 2021 season. 
• Bair says if the 49ers were to make another hard, cost-cutting decision like they did by trading DL DeForest Buckner, QB Jimmy Garoppolo and DE Dee Ford are two players to watch. 
• San Francisco would save $24.1 million by releasing Garoppolo after 2020 with just over $2 million in dead money. Cutting Ford after 2020 would free up $12.8 million in cap with $4.8 million in dead money. 
• While it won’t factor against the cap, Bair expects the 49ers to extend the contracts for GM John Lynch and HC Kyle Shanahan soon. Both are locked up through 2022. 
• Per the Athletic’s Matt Barrows, 49ers LB Dre Greenlaw mentioned he hasn’t been told if he or LB Kwon Alexander will start at WILL this year, but he’s been preparing for either the WILL or SAM position. 

Cardinals

After failing to secure a multi-year contract in free agency and settling for a one-year deal with the Cardinals, LB De’Vondre Campbell remains confident despite Arizona selecting LB Isaiah Simmons in the first round of the draft.

“Plenty of snaps to go around,” Campbell told Kyle Odegard of AZCardinals.com. “You can never have enough great players, and Isaiah, he’s a unicorn. He’s very gifted. We’ve had the pleasure of being in the same meeting room together. He’s very intelligent. He’s picking up on the defense pretty fast. I think I’m picking up on it as well. At this point, the only we can do is take it day by day, compete and continue to make each other better…”I still honestly believe I can cover any tight end in the league. It’s professional football, so of course this is the best of the best, but I’m very confident in my abilities.”

Rams

New Rams DC Brandon Staley said they view Jalen Ramsey as being a quarterback for their defense and believe he can play anywhere in the secondary. 

“He’s got command of all the positions in the defensive backfield. I cannot look at him just as a corner. I look at him as a DB. This guy can do anything. He thinks like a quarterback,” Staley said, via USA Today. “What’s awesome about him is he can play anywhere. He can play outside or inside or safety. So we can move him around if we need to.”