NFC Notes: 49ers, Buccaneers, Rams

49ers

Joe Fann of 49ers.com writes that it would be a mistake to sleep on CB Dontae Johnson this season, as he should have an opportunity to earn a starting role.

“I’m building my confidence, and I know that I can do this,” Johnson said. “I can come out here and compete at a high level and do it consistently.

“I think the offseason went well. I’m just trying to get acclimated to this new scheme and build off of it.”

“All I can do is control what I can control,” Johnson added. “What I can control is my effort that I put forward every day. I made that a big point of emphasis this year. I’m locked in and keyed in on whatever I have to do. I’m playing technique sound and getting my job done.”

Buccaneers

Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston seems to be pretty happy with the team’s decision to sign WR DeSean Jackson and draft TE O.J. Howard in round one.

“They’re dynamic,” Winston told Tiffany Blackmon of NFL Network on Saturday. “We haven’t had a true deep threat guy in Tampa Bay and now we have DeSean. So we’re excited to throw him a couple bombs. O.J., man, he’s just a specimen. We’re privileged to have O.J. Howard.”

Winston made it clear that they’re really excited about Howard and the kind of talent he brings to their offense.

“We’re happy to have O.J. What he’s going to do to that team is going to be amazing,” Winston said. “This is the fastest, most athletic 6-6, 255 guy I’ve ever seen in my life. It’s unreal.”

Rams

Rams GM Les Snead explained his thinking when they made the decision to trade down from No. 37 overall and pick up an addition third-round pick during the recent episode of Amazon’s “All or Nothing” series.

“You don’t want to pick early second [round] often,” Snead told new HC Sean McVay, via ESPN.com). “But when you’re picking early second, never fall in love with a player. You’ll always get an extra third[-round pick].”

The Rams used the extra third-round pick on safety John Johnson.

McVay also sounds pleased with their free agent acquisitions.

“If the minicamp is any indicator, we hit on our free agents,” McVay said.