NFL Notes: 49ers, Browns, Panthers, Saints

49ers

According to 49ers GM John Lynch, they were able to come away with two of their top three players on their draft board by selecting DL Solomon Thomas and then trading back into round one for LB Reuben Foster.

“I can tell you right off the bat that what we had on the board was just under 200 players, and in terms of how we rated them, we got two of our top three players,” Lynch said, via ESPN.com. “We were able to do that, and we’re thrilled. We’re ecstatic. We think these guys have a lot of traits of what we want to be about as a football organization.”

Browns

Browns executive Sashi Brown told reporters after Thursday’s night’s portion of the draft concluded that they “won’t rest” until they’ve found an answer at quarterback.

“We won’t rest until we solidify that position,” Brown said, via Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “It’s not solidified right now, so we know we need the guys here to work their tails off and Hue (Jackson) is going to develop them as much as possible and push them to be their best and we also know that until we get it solidified, we’re going to continue looking for players all over the league and in college.

“That may be in next year’s draft, it may be in free agency, it may be via trade. So  But again, Brock (Osweiler), Cody (Kessler), and Kevin (Hogan) are here working hard and we’re going to support them as best we can.”

Brown was asked if they might pursue a trade for a veteran quarterback.

“Every day until we solidify the position we leave this building thinking about what opportunities might be out there, so absolutely,” Brown said.

Panthers

Panthers GM Dave Gettleman compared first-round RB Christian McCaffrey to Hall of Fame RB Curtis Martin.

“It doesn’t happen very often,” Gettleman said, via Pro Football Talk. “The best tackle-box runner I’ve ever seen is Curtis Martin out of Pitt. Christian is right there with him. Running in that tackle box takes unique vision and unique quickness, and he’s got it. Curtis had it, and he had a great career – a Hall of Fame career – and this kid’s got those kind of skills.”

Saints

According to Josh Katzenstein of the Times-Picayune, the Saints considered trading up for CB Marshon Lattimore, as he began to fall in Round 1. However, New Orleans didn’t want to give up any Day 2 picks, considering that the draft is so deep at the position.

“Just through a lot of the different scenarios, he was one of the players that we felt would be difficult maybe to anticipate him being there, but things happen,” Saints HC Sean Payton said.