NFC West Notes: 49ers, Rams, Seahawks

49ers

• The Athletic’s Matt Barrows expects the 49ers and DL DeForest Buckner to have preliminary extension discussions at the NFL Scouting Combine this weekend. 
• Signing Buckner to an extension and lowering his $14.36 million cap hit could help create room to keep DL Arik Armstead, per Barrows.
• Barrows mentions the 49ers love DE Ronald Blair and his torn ACL should make him easier to re-sign. 

Rams

• NFL Media’s Gregg Rosenthal doesn’t think the Rams will use the franchise tag on either DE Dante Fowler or LB Cory Littleton given their lack of cap space. 
• ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry writes it wouldn’t be surprising to see changes to the Rams receiving corps. Both Cooper Kupp and Josh Reynolds are in the last years of their rookie contracts, while WR Brandin Cooks suffered multiple concussions in 2019 and has a more uncertain outlook. 
• Thiry adds Rams TE Gerald Everett‘s future in Los Angeles is uncertain after the extension and subsequent breakout of his teammate, TE Tyler Higbee, in 2019. Everett is also in the last year of his rookie deal.
• Rams OL Austin Blythe is expected to test the open market, per Thiry. She adds the Rams will likely try to re-sign LT Andrew Whitworth.
• On March 19, Rams QB Jared Goff is set to have his $21 million 2020 roster bonus, $25 million 2021 base salary, $2.5 million 2021 roster bonus and $15.5 million 2022 roster bonus all become fully guaranteed. (Spotrac)

Seahawks

• According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Seahawks DE Jadeveon Clowney is expected to sign one of the biggest deals in free agency this season despite never having reached double-digit sacks in his career so far, per an NFC exec: “Pass-rushers in this class will get paid big-time. Teams saw what (Packers LB) Za’Darius Smith and other guys did to help their teams last year. Even if Clowney isn’t perfect, he’s still a headliner.”
• NFL Media’s Gregg Rosenthal doesn’t expect the Seahawks to use the franchise tag on DT Jarran Reed.  
• Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times writes that all indications are that Clowney plans to test the open market first even if he does eventually return to Seattle. 
• Condotta doesn’t anticipate the Seahawks getting involved in trades talks for Lions CB Darius Slay unless the price drops to maybe a third-round pick. 
• The Cardinals’ three-year, $45 million deal for OT D.J. Humphries likely hurts the Seahawks’ chances of re-signing OT Germain Ifedi, per Condotta. 
• Seattle is much more likely to re-sign OT George Fant, who has indicated he wants a chance to start, if Ifedi leaves. 
• Seahawks QB Russell Wilson was a driving factor in pushing the team to sign TE Greg Olsen, per NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero. 
• Pelissero adds the Seahawks expect TE Will Dissly to be healthy and ready for Week 1 after tearing his Achilles last season.