NFC West Notes: Cardinals, 49ers, Rams, Seahawks

Cardinals

Cardinals first-round LB Isaiah Simmons is well-known for his athleticism. At 6-4 and 238 pounds, Simmons blazed a 4.39 40-yard dash at the Combine and that athleticism helped him play all over the field for Clemson. Headed into the NFL, though, Simmons is focused on the mental side of his game, particularly since that will be required to unlock his versatility at the next level. 

“The mental part of football is just as important, if not more important, than when you’re playing,” Simmons said via AZCentral.com’s Bob McManaman. “When you get to this point, everybody is a good athlete. Everybody is capable of doing the physical part. The guys that really separate are the guys who are really mentally sharp, so I really pride myself in that.”

• Per Darren Urban of the team website, Cardinals GM Steve Keim says Simmons will start out at inside linebacker. 
• ESPN’s Bill Barnwell thinks the Cardinals will try to trade LB Haason Reddick to the Panthers and his former college coach Matt Rhule after declining his fifth-year option and adding replacements this offseason. 
• SI.com’s Howard Balzer wouldn’t be surprised if Reddick was eventually released. 

49ers

The 49ers felt fortunate to be able to land LT Trent Williams as a replacement for retiring LT Joe Staley. On the field, the transition between the two in 2020 should be seamless as both were elite talents. Beyond 2020, though, there’s a question of if San Francisco will need to keep looking for a long-term left tackle given Williams is entering the final year of his deal. 

“I think the plan was to land him right now and then let the rest kind of work itself out,” 49ers GM John Lynch said via ESPN’s Nick Wagoner. “I think it’s always an advantage when you get someone in the building, on your roster. Now you’ve got a chance. We’ll get a really good look at him. We’ll see where the rest of our team is at, but right now we are just ecstatic that we were able to pull it off at a really opportune time.”

• ESPN’s Bill Barnwell says 49ers WRs Trent Taylor, Travis Benjamin, Kendrick Bourne, Richie James and Dante Pettis are likely competing for three spots. 
• Given Pettis’ status in HC Kyle Shanahan‘s doghouse, he might be the odd one out, especially if San Francisco can get a pick back in a trade. 
• NBC Sports’ Matt Maiocco notes that while the fifth-year option for 49ers DL Solomon Thomas would be worth $12.32 million for the 2021 season, don’t rule out the possibility that both parties would want to re-unite at a price that works for each side.
• 2019 third-round WR Jalen Hurd has been cleared from a back injury that shuttered most of his rookie season, per Lynch: “He is cleared. We’re ramping him up. We are very optimistic. I don’t want to be overly optimistic because last year we saw some progress and then we had some setbacks. . . . We love his skill set. We love his mindset. Now it’s time to put it all to work.” (Maiocco)

Rams

• After somehow hanging onto the practice squad last year, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell says the Rams’ additions at running back likely spell the end for John Kelly.  

Seahawks

• ESPN’s Bill Barnwell says he can’t see the Seahawks keeping more than four tight ends despite adding a host of players to the position this offseason.
• With Greg Olsen and fourth-round TE Colby Parkinson likely locks, along with potentially Will Dissly, Jacob Hollister and seventh-round TE Stephen Sullivan as contenders, that leaves veteran Luke Willson on the chopping block. 
• Adam Caplan mentions C Justin Britt, who was released with a failed physical designation, is still rehabbing his surgically repaired ACL and has had no setbacks. 
• John Clayton said on ESPN710 Seattle that Jadeveon Clowney could wait for “months” to sign and that while he thinks the team is offering him a deal worth $15-16 million per year, Clowney may still wait until he can undergo physicals with other teams. (Bob Condotta)