NFC North Rumors: Bears, Lions, Packers, Vikings

Bears

• Mike Garafolo reports that Utah DE Bradlee Anae has had teleconference meetings with the Jets, Lions, Bears, Titans and, Browns recently. Garafolo adds that Anae will likely be chosen on the second day of the draft.

Lions

• According to Lions GM Bob Quinn, he doesn’t anticipate trading back to the point where they are unable to get a top-tier player. (Tim Twentyman)
• Quinn said QB Matthew Stafford calls him about once a week to check in: “I know he’s working out, feeling good. … If we were starting our offseason program next week, he’d be a full participant.” (Kyle Meinke)
• Quinn left the possibility open to Halapoulivaati Vaitai playing either right tackle or right guard: “We feel like we can plug him in either spot. … We’ll kind of see where the roster shapes up.” (Dave Birkett)
• League sources tell Jason La Canfora that the Lions are torn between taking OSU CB Jeff Okudah at No. 3 overall or going with DT Derrick Brown or Clemson LB/DB Isaiah Simmons. La Canfora says the Lions are “motivated to trade down” within reason.
• Mike Garafolo reports that Utah DE Bradlee Anae has had teleconference meetings with the Jets, Lions, Bears, Titans and Browns recently. Garafolo also says that Anae will likely be chosen on the second day of the draft.
• Dave Birkett believes that the Lions would not benefit from trading back in the draft to acquire more picks, and notes the team will draft Ohio State CB Jeff Okudah, Clemson LB Isaiah Simmons, or Auburn DT Derrick Brown.
• Birkett notes that Lions GM Bob Quinn has played it safe in the last four drafts, and thinks he may do so again by selecting Ohio State CB Jeff Okudah with the No. 3 pick in the draft.

Packers

New Packers ILB Christian Kirksey says he’s working to adapt to Green Bay’s defensive scheme, even though he had played for DC Mike Pettine in Cleveland. 

• Tony Pauline reports that Lousiana Tech CB L’Jarius Sneed has interviewed with the Patriots.
• According to Alabama DT Raekwon Davis, the 49ers, Packers, Dolphins, Ravens, and Eagles have been in the most contact with him.

Vikings

While the NFL shutting down offseason programs due to the pandemic is unusual, it’s not quite unprecedented. Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph was a rookie back in 2011 when the NFL locked out the players during CBA negotiations, which meant no offseason activities for anyone. He said he’ll try to use the lessons learned then to help this season. 

“I can just magnify it to the point where I have to do everything I can to prepare myself, both physically and mentally, to be ready for things to open back up tomorrow,” Rudolph said via Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. 

• A Vikings source tells Ian Rapoport that the report of them discussing a trade for Browns WR Odell Beckham Jr is “totally false.”
• Beyond that, a Browns source laughed when Rapoport inquired about the reported trade talks. Rapoport explains that Beckham is “firmly” in the plans for the Browns moving forward.