NFC North Notes: Bears, Lions, Packers, Vikings

Bears

• Kansas State DB Duke Shelley visited the Bears Tuesday. (Aaron Wilson)
• USC DB Iman Marshall has met with the Bears. (Mike Garafolo)

Lions

• According to Kyle Meinke, Lions DT Damon Harrison was not in attendance for the start of offseason workouts as he pursues a new contract. 
• Lions QB Matthew Stafford was also not in attendance as his wife, Kelly, recovers from surgery to remove a brain tumor. (Dave Birkett) 
• The Lions did not say when they expected Stafford to return to the team. (Dave Birkett)
• Dave Birkett reports that the Lions hosted Clemson DL Clelin Ferrell, Arizona DT P.J. Johnson and Middle Tennessee LB Darius Harris for pre-draft visits. 

Packers

According to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, the Packers don’t see wide receiver as one of their top-four needs in the draft. They’re more likely to count on the guys already on the roster than draft a receiver high. 

“I’m excited; this is certainly one of the longer receiving corps I’ve had a chance to work with,” HC Matt LaFleur said. “There’s still so many things to like about them. Davante, he can do it all. All those young guys can run and can really take the top off. That’s an important piece to our offense. We’re always trying to stretch the field vertically with our three-level throws, not necessarily throwing the top level, but you’ve got to have somebody with speed to get down there and make sure you’re clearing out the defense to open up those deep crossing routes and try to get those explosive plays.”

LaFleur identified WRs Davante Adams and Geronimo Allison as candidates to potentially fill the void left in the slot after the departure of WR Randall Cobb. 

• The Packers are hosting Alabama OT Jonah Williams and Washington State OT Andre Dillard for top-30 visits. (Tom Silverstein)

Vikings

According to ESPN’s Courtney Cronin, the Vikings could still consider taking a cornerback early in the 2019 NFL Draft. 

“We’re always going to keep looking for corners because they get hurt and it’s important in our defense that we have them,” HC Mike Zimmer said.

On paper, the Vikings group of Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes, Mike Hughes, Holton Hill and Mackensie Alexander is strong. But Waynes and Alexander are free agents after this year, Hill is suspended the first four games of 2019, Hughes is recovering from a torn ACL and Rhodes didn’t play his best last year. 

• Vikings WR Adam Thielen will make $14.31 million this year, $10 million in 2020 and $11.7 million in 2021, per Albert Breer.
• Vikings DE Everson Griffen said he knew he’d be asked to restructure his contract: “I had a rough year… When I came back, I didn’t play that well… I knew when the free agency came up it was going to lead to taking a pay cut.” (Chris Tomasson)
• Griffen added the restructure was “a tough pill to swallow,” but that he wants to be “a Vikings for life.”  (Tomasson)
• Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph says he would be open to an extension: “I would love to help our cap situation.” (Tomasson)
• Rudolph adds the team has not reached out to him about an extension, however. (Tomasson)