NFC West Notes: 49ers, Rams, Seahawks

49ers

While there hasn’t been any confirmation from his side, there was a strong rumor QB Tom Brady had San Francisco as his top destination as he looked at leaving New England this offseason. The 49ers were of course aware of that, and both GM John Lynch and HC Kyle Shanahan seriously looked at the possibility of adding arguably the best quarterback of all time to a team that was potentially one completion away from winning the Super Bowl. In the end, though, they felt confident in incumbent starting QB Jimmy Garoppolo. 

“We went back and took a hard look at Jimmy,” said via Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. “We grinded for a period of three, four days. And I think we both came back and said, ‘You know what? We’ve got the long-term answer in our building right now, and we feel really strongly about that.’ As enticing as it might be—and we felt like it was a responsibility to take a look, because that’s a very unique situation—we did that, we talked with Jimmy, and told him just what we did. I think he appreciated that. And the great news is we’re more convicted than ever that Jimmy’s the guy that we want to work with going forward. We feel like he’s got a lot more in him. Shoot, he was a huge reason we were in the Super Bowl last year, and why we have every intention of getting back and finishing the job.”

• Matt Barrows of The Athletic mentions that the 49ers have been holding their offseason program over video and that TE George Kittle has been taking part in it, despite the possibility of a large contract extension in the near future.
• Barrows also notes that it’s hard to imagine the 49ers making LT Trent Williams the biggest offer out of all of their possible free agent’s next offseason.
• Solomon Thomas had his fifth-year option declined by the 49ers but is prepared to help the interior defensive line following the loss of DT DeForest Buckner and his contract year could be important for his career going forward. (Jeremy Fowler)

Rams

Per NBC Sports’ Peter Hailey, new Jaguars RB Chris Thompson said his familiarity with Jaguars OC Jay Gruden, who was his head coach for the past several seasons with the Redskins, helped sway him to join Jacksonville over a potential opportunity with the Rams.

“It’s weird because we’re going into this thing where training camp is basically everybody’s preparation for getting ready for the season,” Thompson said. “You have to weigh the options of what’s smart to do… You go with people that you’re comfortable with. I’ve been in that system for a long time.”

Seahawks

• Per John Boyle of the team website, Seahawks TE Greg Olsen says he wouldn’t have come back for a 14th season and foregone opportunities in the broadcast booth if he didn’t think he could still perform at a high level: “I know I can play.”