NFC North Notes: Bears, Lions, Packers, Vikings

Bears

• Jeremy Fowler reports that there’s a “strong sense” at the Combine that the Bears will be adding established veteran quarterback to push Mitch Trubisky.
• Fowler says Chicago will likely target a quarterback with “pedigree and extensive starter’s experience.”
• Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller says both internal scouts and external pro evaluators have mentioned offensive tackle, cornerback and tight end as pressing needs for the Bears. 
• The Athletic’s Adam Jahns writes the Bears are expected to be active on the guard market in free agency this offseason to replace Kyle Long.

Lions

Since a report came out the Lions were in talks to trade QB Matthew Stafford, the team has been vociferous in its denials. Lions HC Matt Patricia continued the team’s public support of the veteran quarterback, who’s missed large chunks of the past two seasons with different back injuries, at the NFL Scouting Combine this week, scoffing at the notion that trading Stafford is on the table. 

“It’s comical. Not interested in doing any of that, there’s no conversation about that whatsoever,” Patricia said in an interview with Peter Schrager of Good Morning Football. “…It’s just one of those things I kind of laugh at cause it’s not even a conversation…He’s one of the reasons I came to Detroit…An opportunity to work with a guy like Matthew Stafford, for me, I mean there’s no question.”

Lions GM Bob Quinn says they expect “big things” from former first-round TE T.J. Hockenson in 2020. 

“I think we have a really good tight end that had a really strong rookie season,” Quinn said, via the Detroit Free Press. “Ended with an injury, but he’s fighting back so we’re extremely happy to have him on our team and expect big things going forward.”

Meanwhile, Patricia admitted that year two is going to be “a bigger challenge” for Hockenson. 

“He works hard, he plays hard,” Patricia said. “Obviously plays aggressive. All the things you love about him is what you see every day. It’ll be a bigger challenge coming up this year and certainly he’s got his work cut out for him from that aspect of it, so we’ll do everything we can to try to address it from there.”

• Penn State WR KJ Hamler said he had an informal meeting with the Lions this week. (Thor Nystrom)
• TCU DT Ross Blacklock has formal interviews with 21 teams scheduled at the Combine, including the Lions. (Jordan Reid)

Packers

• Per Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Packers TE Robert Tonyan underwent core muscle surgery to fix an issue that bothered him all 2019. 
• Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller writes the Packers see wide receiver and linebacker internally as big needs. LSU LB Patrick Queen or WR Justin Jefferson would be options in the first round at No. 30. 
• Wisconsin LB Zack Baun said he had an informal meeting with the Packers at the Combine. (Zach Heilprin)
• Oklahoma LB Kenneth Murray said he had a formal interview with the Packers at the Combine. (Matt Schneidman)
• LSU LB Patrick Queen said he met with the Packers at the Combine. (Jordan Reid)
• Michigan LB Josh Uche said he had a formal interview with the Packers at the Combine. (Twitter)
• TCU DT Ross Blacklock has formal interviews with 21 teams scheduled at the Combine, including the Packers. (Jordan Reid)

Vikings

• Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller writes the Vikings are expected to do some work on this year’s quarterback class with QB Kirk Cousins entering the last year of his deal. 
• Minnesota LBs Carter Coughlin and Kamal Martin had informal meetings with the Vikings at the Combine. (Andrew Krammer)