NFC Notes: 49ers, Panthers, Saints

49ers

49ers rookie QB Trey Lance said QB Jimmy Garoppolo has been extremely helpful so far.

“Yea, it’s been awesome,” Lance said, via Jackon Roberts of KVRR. “He’s a great guy. I mean, one of the best people I’ve been around and I’ve been fortunate to be around some, I think, really really great people, guys that are going to play today and guys still in that locker room right now. Jimmy is just like it and that organization is the same exact way. So I just feel very blessed and fortunate to be where I am and be able to be a part of something like this. I’ve heard from other guys’ experiences and how we handled OTAs and things like that, our coaching staff and everyone that runs that organization does it at a really high level.”

Panthers

Panthers LB Jermaine Carter believes CB Jaycee Horn will compete for Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. 

“Jaycee Horn, he’s one of those guys who can compete to be defensive rookie of the year,” Carter said, via Will Kunkel of Fox46. “From what I’ve seen at OTAs, that’s the kind of player he’s capable of being.”

Carter pointed out that Horn did well covering Panthers WR D.J. Moore in OTAs and minicamp. 

“He had a good showing at his first practice,” Carter said. “He and DJ [Moore] were going at it pretty well and he held his own. He’s a great player, he’s a good athlete, he’s a big corner, he can play inside, he can play outside, and he’s not scared to come up and tackle you. In today’s NFL they like to test the corners in the running game. That’s a big asset to have a great corner like him.”

Saints

Saints GM Mickey Loomis addressed whether New Orleans pursued Tom Brady prior to landing with the Buccaneers, describing that they were committed to Drew Brees once he confirmed he’d play in 2020.

“All I can say is this,” Loomis said, via The Adam Schein Podcast. “As soon as Drew made the decision that he was gonna play again last year, then that’s the route we were going. That’s probably all I’m gonna say to that.”