NFC North Notes: Bears, Lions, Packers

Bears

• New Colts TE Trey Burton told reporters that he was surprised the Bears released him, as he didn’t get the feeling he would be cut at the end of the season or during offseason conversations. (Joel A. Erickson)
• Burton said he was misdiagnosed before the start of last season and had a surgery that was fairly extensive. Burton feels he rushed back instead of taking the time to get ready. (Joel A. Erickson)

Lions

Lions GM Bob Quinn told reporters that they had a lot of trade talks for the No. 3 pick, but ultimately never received an offer. 

“We had a lot of conversations,” Quinn said, via the Detroit Free Press. “We never got a firm offer. No team put anything on the table. Had multiple conversations with multiple teams. They were kind of fishing around and we were open for business as you guys know, and nothing was ever put out in front of us to evaluate.”

• Adam Schefter reports that the Dolphins and Chargers never made an offer to trade up with either the Lions at No. 3 or Giants at No. 4 and were “content to stay” at their respective spots.   

Packers

Packers GM Brian Gutekunst talked to reporters after the team surprisingly traded up in round one for QB Jordan Love. 

Gutekunst explained that they plan to have Aaron Rodgers competing for championships in the years to come, despite drafting a quarterback of the future. 

“We’ve got the best quarterback in the National Football League, and we plan to have him for a while competing for championships,” Gutekunst said, via ESPN.com. “I can understand the fan base and people thinking, ‘Why would you do this at this time?’ But I just think the value of our board and the way it sat, it was the best for the Green Bay Packers, and we’re really excited to get Jordan here and get him in the door and learning our system.

“I know a lot of people will look at this as not a move for the immediate, and I understand that, but the balance of the immediate and the long term is something that I have to consider, and that’s why we did it.”

Gutekunst declined to call Love the heir apparent to Rodgers. 

“I think that’s probably not fair — I don’t think you can put that on him right now,” Gutekunst said. “Right now I think he just needs to come in and learn and try to become the best quarterback he can be. We did draft him in the first round, so we like a lot about him. We think he has a very good upside to become a starter in the National Football League.”

• Ian Rapaport reports that despite rumors the Colts were interested in Love, the Packers remained committed to trading up and drafting him.
• Dan Graziano of ESPN reports that several teams at the top of the second round were threats to trade up and select Love, prompting the Packers to do so in the first round.
• Love spoke not playing right away and backing up to Rodgers: “This is a really good situation to be in. Not being in thrown out there, being behind one of the great quarterbacks in the league and just sit in learn, what’s better than that?” (Rob Demovsky)