NFL Notes: 49ers, Buccaneers, Panthers, & Rams

49ers

• Cam Inman of the Mercury News writes takes a look at the 49ers in-house options to replace RT Anthony Davis, who suprisingly retired on Friday.
• According to Inman, San Francisco could consider using Erik Pears at right tackle given that he has prior experience at the position.
• In regards to Anthony Davis returning to the 49ers at some point, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes that the CBA allows San Francisco to collect his remaining signing bonus money and later bring him back without owing him the signing bonus money he returned.
• Florio adds that the 49ers could argue that Davis’ signing bonus that he returns is gone forever since the CBA doesn’t stipulate that the money should be returned to the player upon him un-retiring.

Buccaneers

• According to Pat Yaskinskas of ESPN, the Buccaneers  are committed to going with a more up-tempo offense with Dirk Koetter as their offensive coordinator this season.
• Yaskinskas mentions that HC Lovie Smith has been “emphatic” that Doug Martin is the team’s starting running back, but they’ll still likely employ a two-back system that features Charles Sims from time to time.
• Yaskinskas considers the odds of backup QB Mike Glennon being traded to be “very slim and maybe even none.“

Panthers

• Davis Newton of ESPN expects the Panthers to have a long-term contract in place with veteran LB Thomas Davis at some point this summer.
• As for LB Luke Kuechly, Newton doesn’t see the Panthers rushing to sign him to an extension now that they’ve exercised his fifth-year option. According to Newton, Carolina could broach the subject before the start of the 2016 season.
• One thing that could contribute to Kuechly getting a contract extension at some point in the near future would be if the Panthers restructure DE Charles Johnson‘s contract.
• The Panthers picked up $1.7 million in cap space by signing QB Cam Newton to an extension last week.

Rams

• Nick Wagoner writes that the Rams are likely to start Greg Robinson at left tackle, Rodger Saffold at left guard and Rob Havenstein at right tackle this season.
• Barrett Jones, Tim Barnes and Demetrius Rhaney are all competing for the starting center job, but Wagoner seems to think Jones will come out on top in this battle.
• As for right guard, rookie Jamon Brown and Garrett Reynolds are both in the mix for the job, but Wagoner mentions that the Rams likely drafted Brown for a reason, which could give him the edge.
• Wagoner didn’t get the impression that the Rams had huge expectations for sixth-round WR Bud Sasser before it was discovered that he has a heart condition.
• According to Wagoner, the Rams’ No. 3 quarterback job is likely come down to Case Keenum or Austin Davis.
• Wagoner believes free agent acquisition LB Akeem Ayers could very well start over Jo Lon Dunbar this year.