NFL Notes: 49ers, Broncos, Steelers

49ers

• Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area writes that the 49ers will have plenty of cap space in 2018 to aggressively target QB Kirk Cousins in free agency, assuming that the Redskins don’t franchise him for a third time.
• As of now, the 49ers have $66.8 million of cap room to work with and the expectation is that they’ll roll that over to next year, which should leave them with a staggering amount of cap room to work with.
• While it’s possible Cousins could struggle this season, Maiocco says that San Francisco likely won’t be swayed too much by his 2017 performance.

Broncos

• Jeff Legwold of ESPN writes that RB Devontae Booker showed the coaching staff enough good things during the offseason program that he’s expected to get some snaps with the starting offense during training camp and could push for the No. 1 job.
• Legwold believes there’s a chance the Broncos could end up keeping four running backs on their 53-man roster, assuming Jamaal Charles‘ surgically repaired knees hold up during camp.
• At the receiver position, Legwold mentions that the ability to contribute as a returner could impact a few spots, as rookies Carlos Henderson and Isaiah McKenzie are in line to return kickoffs and punts this year.
• Legwold says the expectation for rookie TE Jake Butt is that he’ll open the season on the PUP list, but there’s a chance he could return and have a “significant” role in the Broncos’ offense by November.

Steelers

Steelers defensive backs coach Carnell Lake says that if former second-round pick Senquez Golson is to make the roster this summer, he’ll need to do it on two different levels.

“He’s going to have to make this team on two different levels,” Lake said. “He’ll have to make it as a special-teams guy, and he’ll have to make it and compete for playing time in the secondary. There is a lot on Senquez’s plate.”

Golson has struggled with injuries since entering the NFL, but Lake says they still expect more from him, considering that he’s still been around the team during this time.

“Being looked at as a second-round guy, we’re going to expect more out of him just because where we got him even though he missed two years,” Lake said. “Being (that he has been) in the system two years, more is expected of him as well.”