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Quarterback Matthew Stafford is still relatively new to the Los Angeles Rams. He ended up with the Southern California squad after a trade from the Detroit Lions last year. San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan was interested but was ultimately beat out by Sean McVay and company.
While he has only been with the Rams for one full season, Stafford quickly realized he was now entrenched in a long-time rivalry, one that he may have underestimated before landing in Los Angeles. The rivalry was very apparent when 49ers fans took over the Rams' home field, SoFi Stadium, not just once last season but twice. First during Week 18, and then again in the NFC Championship Game.
But it's not just the 49ers fans showing up in superior numbers that has Stafford concerned whenever he faces the Bay Area squad.
"I think, obviously, they're really well-coached, both offensively and defensively," Stafford told Rich Eisen on Thursday. "They're really sound in what they do. They're a physical unit. They do a great job of running around and hitting on defense. I know the challenge for us, just like in every single game, it always starts up front.
"They want to run the football on offense. We've got to do a great job of stopping it. They want to penetrate at the defensive line spot, whether it's in the run game or the pass game. We've got to do a great job of being the more physical team on Monday night."
The 49ers always present a tough challenge for the Rams. The Niners narrowly lost that playoff matchup last season, costing Shanahan and company a return trip to the Super Bowl. Before that, San Francisco won its six previous matchups with Los Angeles.
"They're always a big-time challenge," Stafford continued. "They've got great players. I mean, you look across the board, both offensively and defensively, they've got great players, guys that make impacts on the game. It's always a battle. [I] enjoy going to battle against them.
"It's [a rivalry] that was new to me a little bit last year, just being the first time in a Rams uniform, but the rivalry has quickly been ingrained in me."
49ers sign WR Trent Taylor, reuniting with former draft pick
By David Bonilla
Apr 16
The San Francisco 49ers announced the signing of wide receiver Trent Taylor to a one-year deal, reuniting with the team's former fifth-round draft pick out of Louisiana Tech.
Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area was the first to report that the 49ers were discussing a potential reunion with Taylor. The receiver was part of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch's first draft class in 2017 and spent his first four NFL seasons with the team.
The #49ers are talking with free-agent slot receiver/return man
Draft Watch: Western Kentucky WR Malachi Corley visiting 49ers on Wednesday
By David Bonilla
Apr 16
The San Francisco 49ers are hosting several draft prospects this week as the deadline for pre-draft visits draws near. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, the team will host former Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley on Wednesday.
Corley is expected to be a Day 2 pick. San Francisco owns two selections on Day 2—the No. 63 overall pick in the second round and the No. 94 overall pick in the third round. Currently, the receiver is visiting with the Seattle Seahawks.
Western Kentucky @WKUFootball receiver Malachi Worley
Rapoport: 49ers send clear message to teams inquiring about Brandon Aiyuk
By David Bonilla
Apr 16
Ian Rapoport didn't offer much of an update on the ongoing contract negotiations between the San Francisco 49ers and their standout wide receiver, Brandon Aiyuk. However, the NFL insider emphasized one thing: The team is not entertaining trade discussions at this juncture.
Reacting to Aiyuk's decision to unfollow the 49ers on Instagram, Rapoport couldn't help but chuckle at the latest development. This practice has become commonplace among players who are unhappy with their contract situations. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel similarly took this action in 2022 before requesting to be traded just before the draft.
Things have yet to escalate that far with Aiyuk, but Rapoport sees his
7-round mock draft from The Athletic sees 49ers fortifying defense early
By David Bonilla
Apr 17
Analyst Dane Brugler recently revealed his seven-round mock draft for The Athletic, forecasting all 257 selections in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft, set to kick off next week.
"Piecing together a mock like this is time consuming, but I enjoy the exercise, because it allows me to focus on each team's needs, organizational trends and prospect-team pairings that make sense based on '30' visits, league buzz and overall interest," Brugler wrote.
Most expect the 49ers to address the trenches early in the draft, and Brugler has the team doing that. It's just not on the offensive side of the football. In fact, Brugler doesn't have San Francisco
