NFC West Notes: Cardinals, 49ers, Rams

Cardinals

• NJ.com’s Mike Kaye lists the Cardinals as a potential free-agent destination for Eagles OT Halapoulivaati Vaitai, as Arizona has a major need at right tackle. 

49ers

• Joel Corry of CBS Sports writes that 49ers TE George Kittle would be justified in asking to become one of the top pass catchers in the NFL. Corry mentions that such an extension could be as high as $17 million per year with around $50 million in guarantees and $30 million fully guaranteed at signing. 
• Corry admits that the 49ers would likely have “sticker shock” if Kittle were to ask for this kind of money. One consideration, according to Corry, is that NFL player salaries are constrained by position outside of pass rushers.

Rams

While long-time NFL DC Wade Phillips won’t be with the Rams in 2020, the hope is that his replacement, DC Brandon Staley, can bring a similar level of defensive excellence. At the very least, Staley, who worked as an outside linebacker coach for Broncos HC Vic Fangio in Denver and Chicago, plans to run a 3-4 similar to Phillips. 

“Structurally, our systems — from a personnel standpoint — there will be a lot of carryover,” Staley said via ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry. “I think that’s going to be a comforting thing for our players is they’re going to be performing a lot of the same jobs, a lot of the same roles . . . maybe schematically, situationally, technically, there may be some nuances, but it will be different.”

Staley is one of three new coordinators who will coach in Los Angeles in 2020 for the Rams, as HC Sean McVay also added OC Kevin O’Connell and ST coordinator John Bonamego to his staff. It’s part of McVay’s efforts to add what he called “fresh perspectives” to his staff this offseason after the Rams stagnated in 2019. 

“I would say (I’m) more rejuvenated and reinvigorated than I’ve ever been since I first got here,” McVay said via the team’s official website. “That’s a reflection of these men up here.”

McVay said he plans on collaborating and learning from new O’Connell after operating without an offensive coordinator for the past two seasons.

“His ability to communicate, big picture, I think it’s going to be a great opportunity for Jared to work with somebody like him because of some of the things that he’s done that maybe I haven’t gotten exposed to,” McVay said, via ProFootballTalk. “So I’m really excited about learning from him, working together and us positively pushing each other to ultimately figure out what’s the best version of the 2020 Rams offense and how does that look as we continue to try to put that together with our players in mind.”

• The Los Angeles Rams announced that they have officially hired Tory Woodbury as an assistant special teams coach.