49ers top NFC grades as Harrison Jr. trade buzz grows: NFC South and West roundup

There were no games on the schedule for NFC South and West teams yesterday, but it was still an informative day: the San Francisco 49ers’ status as the NFC’s pace-setter was reinforced, trade chatter picked up around Marvin Harrison Jr. in Arizona, and the NFL adjusted its approach to player celebrations.

49ers reinforced as NFC’s early standard

At 4-0 atop the NFC West, the San Francisco 49ers headline CBS Sports’ first NFC report card of the season. The analysis places San Francisco at the top of the conference, while other teams with more uneven starts — including the Eagles, Rams, Lions and Vikings — draw more mixed reviews through four weeks.

On top of that stamp of approval on their hot start, the 49ers benefited from a league course correction on celebrations. The NFL rescinded the $14,926 fine it had given fullback Kyle Juszczyk for his touchdown celebration in the Week 2 win over Miami. The move coincides with a joint NFL–NFLPA statement clarifying which celebrations can draw flags or fines, and confirms that fake drinking gestures will no longer be penalized.

Cardinals weigh Marvin Harrison Jr. options

Sitting at 1-3 in a division led by Seattle (3-1) and especially San Francisco (4-0), the Arizona Cardinals may be headed for decisions on one of their marquee talents. A rumor piece notes that multiple teams have already called about wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. as the Cardinals study the possibility of trading the former first-round pick. Harrison’s sliding value has sparked fresh speculation that a change of scenery could be on the table, with clear implications for Arizona’s long-term offensive core.

Rams in the spotlight, quiet day in the NFC South

At 2-2, the Los Angeles Rams show up in two national conversations. First, they’re among the NFC clubs drawing more average marks than the 49ers in the CBS Sports report card. Second, they are included in an analysis of 2026’s top veteran additions, a piece headlined by Kenneth Walker III’s explosive impact with the Kansas City Chiefs and a broader group of veteran pickups already reshaping contenders.

In the NFC South, the Atlanta Falcons (2-2), Carolina Panthers (2-2), New Orleans Saints (1-3) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-4) had a quiet news day. The bigger ripple for them may come from elsewhere in the conference, with an analysis indicating the Eagles could listen on more veterans ahead of the 2026 NFL trade deadline, a reminder that the NFC landscape around them is still in flux.