NFC North Notes: Bears, Lions, Vikings

Bears

• Bears GM Ryan Pace says he sees similarities between RB David Montgomery and Kareem Hunt, the latter who made his name in HC Matt Nagy‘s offense. (Adam Jahns)

Lions

Lions GM Bob Quinn says DT Damon Harrison‘s absence from OTA’s is not related to his request for a new contract. 

“No, he’s got other things going on,” Quinn said via Justin Rogers of the Detroit News. “The offseason program is voluntary,” Quinn said. “We have different guys, in different stages and different things in their lives, just like we have every year. So, Damon hasn’t been here the last couple of weeks, but we’ve communicated with him, talked to him multiple times and I’m sure we’ll see him here soon.” 

• The Lions gave UDFA OT Ryan Pope $145,000 in guaranteed money. (Adam Schefter)

Vikings

• Per Ben Goessling, Vikings GM Chris Spielman says newly-drafted TE Irv Smith doesn’t affect TE Kyle Rudolph: “We’ve got two different types of tight ends.”
• Spielman said Smith has a lot of “Jordan Reed-type traits” as the Vikings try to recreate what made QB Kirk Cousins successful in Washington. (Goessling)
• The Vikings gave undrafted rookie QB Jake Browning $140,000 in guaranteed money, including a $15,000 signing bonus. (Tom Pelissero)