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

Cardinals

• Football Outsiders via ESPN lists cornerback as the biggest hole left on the Cardinals’ roster, as Robert Alford is 32, 2019 second-rounder Byron Murphy struggled as a rookie and Patrick Peterson is a free agent following the season. 

49ers

49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo has shouldered much of the blame for San Francisco falling short in the Super Bowl a few months ago. Garoppolo infamously overthrew a pass late in the fourth quarter that could have changed the complexion of the game. But 49ers CB Richard Sherman said more of the blame should fall on him and the secondary for not closing out the Chiefs. 

“Jimmy played fine,” Sherman said on KNBR via the Sacramento Bee. “He did what he was supposed to do. We got to finish that game out. I got to finish that game out. I got to do what I’m supposed to do. I’m an All-Pro player, I got to play All-Pro down the stretch. . . . I think, along with other leaders on the team, we would defend him vigorously because that had nothing to do with him.”

• The Athletic’s Marcus Thompson lists Prince Amukamara, Eli Apple, Brandon Carr, Aqib Talib, Dre Kirkpatrick and Tramon Williams as free-agent options at cornerback available if San Francisco wants to try and upgrade their secondary. 
• However, Thompson says the more likely option is the 49ers roll with what they have, unless they want to try converting S Tarvarius Moore to cornerback. 
• Football Outsiders via ESPN lists safety depth as the biggest hole left on the 49ers’ roster, as neither Jimmie Ward nor Jaquiski Tartt have ever stayed healthy for a full 16-game season. 
• Per NBC Sports’ Matt Maiocco, the 49ers asked South Carolina HC Will Muschamp about WR Deebo Samuel after he impressed the team at the Senior Bowl. His account impressed 49ers GM John Lynch even more: “We both were just struck I think a couple months later how accurately he just depicted exactly who Deebo was both in his strengths and the limited weaknesses that he had. He was extremely honest, so Will was tremendous.”
• Muschamp described a player who was tough, physical and almost like a running back playing wide receiver, which also meant his weight needed to be monitored: “You’re going to need to stay on him about his weight in the offseason. Of course, he shows up a little bit overweight and (49ers WR coach) Wes Welker takes him out for some 6 a.m. runs to get him back in shape. But I said, ‘You’re going to get a guy who’s a playmaker with the ball in his hands.’ He’s a receiver, but he’s got a big lower body. He runs through contact. He plays almost like a running back. They utilized him a lot in that manner.”
• San Francisco went back to the South Carolina well this year, taking former Gamecocks DT Javon Kinlaw in the first round, another player Muschamp had praise for after he overcame tough circumstances to star in college: “(He’s) a guy who’s not let his circumstances define who he is.”

Rams

• According to Howard Balzer, the Rams filed 18 undrafted free-agent signings on Thursday, April 30 but all of them were disapproved by the NFL.
• Balzer adds that the NFL resubmitted contracts on Monday, May 4.  
• Football Outsiders via ESPN lists the offensive line as the biggest hole left on the Rams’ roster, as they didn’t make any major additions to a unit that under-achieved in 2019. 

Seahawks

• Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer writes the Seahawks make the most sense for DE Jadeveon Clowney on a one-year deal for 2020 to try and boost his value. 
• Football Outsiders via ESPN lists edge rusher as the biggest hole left on the Seahawks’ roster. Unless Seattle adds Clowney or DE Everson Griffen, their current group consists of Bruce Irvin, Benson Mayowa, Rasheem Green, L.J. Collier and third-round rookie Darrell Taylor.
• Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times writes that between the Seahawks’ unwillingness to invest major resources in the backup quarterback position and former Panthers’ QB Cam Newton‘s unwillingness to settle for anything less than a starting job, Newton probably won’t end up in Seattle. 
• Regarding a potential return by RB Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks GM John Schneider indicated nothing was imminent while not ruling out the possibility: “He knows we wouldn’t say no to anything. That we would discuss it.” (Condotta)
• Seahawks TE Will Dissly is expecting to be ready to play Week 1. (Omar Ruiz)