NFC North Notes: Bears, Lions, Packers, Vikings

Bears

  • Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune says a trade for Jaguars QB Nick Foles makes sense given his familiarity with the offense, but he isnโ€™t completely sure Jacksonville will make Foles available. 
  • Biggs doesnโ€™t anticipate the Bears wading into the bidding war for either Patriots G Joe Thuney or Redskins G Brandon Scherff.
  • Biggs thinks the Bears could move on from veteran WR Taylor Gabriel and TE Ben Braunecker to trim their roster in the coming weeks. 
  • The Athleticโ€™s Kevin Fishbain puts the percentage of the Bears signing QB Teddy Bridgewater in free agency pretty low. 

Lions

  • NFL Mediaโ€™s Gil Brandt writes that Lions ownership made it clear the team needs to make the playoffs to save HC Matt Patriciaโ€˜s job in 2020.
  • Brandt adds given Patriciaโ€™s background as a defensive coach, the coach needs to get better results out of that side of the ball than he has his first two seasons. 

Packers

The Athleticโ€™s Matt Schneidman lists a number of potential free agents the Packers could have interest in to fill positions of need, including:

Vikings

  • ESPNโ€™s Courtney Cronin mentions Vikings DT Linval Joseph could be released, as his $11.15 million cap hit is high for a nose tackle. 
  • Cronin writes the Vikings are likely to move on from CB Xavier Rhodes, while CB Mackensie Alexander could seek a fresh start in free agency. That leaves pending free-agent CB Trae Waynes as the most likely of Minnesotaโ€™s top three corners to return. 
  • While the Vikings could put the franchise tag on S Anthony Harris for $12.735 million, Cronin points out they already have major cap resources invested in S Harrison Smith and might need the space elsewhere. 
  • Alexander has been cleared to run and do lateral work following knee surgery and will be 100 percent for OTAโ€™s with whichever team signs him. (Darren Wolfson)
  • Vikings DE Everson Griffen declined his player option to void his contract, but a return is not out of the question, as he said at the end of the season he wanted to be โ€œa Viking for life.โ€ (Ben Goessling)

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