NFC North Notes: Lions, Packers, Vikings

Lions

Teams sometimes will let rumors be rumors and not address them publicly. That not the tack Lions GM Bob Quinn took with a rumor Detroit was shopping QB Matthew Stafford, however, as he categorically denied it to several Lions beat reporters. While there’s been some speculation the Lions could use the No. 3 pick in the upcoming draft on a successor to Stafford, who has dealt with a back injury for the past two seasons, Quinn said the team is happy with Stafford going forward into 2020. 

“I’m totally comfortable and happy Matthew Stafford’s our quarterback,” Quinn said in an interview with SiriusXM NFL Radio. “He’s going to be in full health once the offseason program starts its course. He’s pretty much at full health right now. I talked to him about ten days ago, he was in the office so he’s feeling great, he’s in a good mindset, he’s excited. Obviously he’s a competitor, so for him to miss half the season, it was hard on him. But he did a great job with our backup quarterbacks….He’s going to come back strong and we’re ready to go for next year.”

• NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport confirms Stafford is not being shopped and will be Detroit’s starting quarterback in 2020. 
• Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio says there’s a good chance the Stafford trade rumors started because of an agent trying to create confusion around QB landing spots and scare other agents away from a team they want their clients to go to. 
• KUSA’s Mike Klis reports the Lions discussed a deal with the Broncos at the trade deadline last year that would have sent CB Darius Slay to Denver in exchange for Broncos CB Chris Harris. However, the deal never came together because Detroit also wanted a high-round draft pick. 
• Klis says the Broncos could also explore a trade for Slay this offseason for a third-round pick. 

Packers

• Per ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, Packers GM Brian Gutekunst revealed Green Bay explored adding a receiver at the trade deadline in 2019: “We looked at that, but I also was very optimistic that some of our young players would improve and get us where we needed to be.”
• Demovsky mentions Cowboys WR Randall Cobb could be a candidate to return to the Packers this offseason as a free agent, particularly given the lack of slot production in Green Bay in 2019. 
• The Athletic’s Bob McGinn points out that Packers backup QB Tim Boyle is the highest-regarded out of all the backup quarterbacks in the NFC North. 
• NFL Media’s Gregg Rosenthal lists Packers TE Jimmy Graham as a likely cap cut this offseason. 

Vikings

• NFL Media’s Gregg Rosenthal lists Vikings CB Xavier Rhodes and DT Linval Joseph as likely cap cuts this offseason. 
• Rosenthal says the Vikings could also consider releasing DE Everson Griffen because it would save around $13 million in cap room.