NFC Notes: Bears, Cowboys, Giants

Bears

• Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune writes that the Bears’ most pressing need on defense is probably a pass rusher now that they’ve moved on from OLB Pernell McPhee.
• Biggs mentions that Titans ILB Avery Williamson could be a free agent option for Chicago, but he adds that he’s not crazy about spending big money on two inside linebackers.
• Biggs doesn’t think veteran ILB NaVorro Bowman is a good fit with the Bears’ direction.
• As for Chicago’s recent decision to move on from veteran G Josh Sitton, Biggs doesn’t think this was based solely on money and probably ended up being a pure football decision from their perspective. The Bears have plenty of cap space and could have afforded to keep Sitton at his $8 million.
• Biggs thinks there’s a chance Notre Dame G Quenton Nelson could be available to Chicago at No. 8 overall.
• As for free agent CB Kyle Fuller, Biggs thinks there’s a “good chance” the Bears will use their franchise tag on him in the coming weeks.
• Biggs isn’t sold on the idea of the Bears possibly trading for Dolphins franchise WR Jarvis Landry.

Cowboys

• Cowboys executive VP Stephen Jones said Tuesday that they will take a “worst case scenario” approach in regards to the potential reinstatement of DE Randy Gregory. (Todd Archer)
• Jones did say that the hope is that Gregory is getting his life in order but they do not play a role in the reinstatement process.
• Dallas does not have a meeting scheduled with WR Dez Bryant’s agent yet, but Jones said the team wants to make a decision soon. (Drew Davison)
• Jones plans to meet with the agents for RG Zack Martin and DE DeMarcus Lawrence at the combine. (Todd Archer)
• Jones mentioned that they plan to tender restricted free agent DT David Irving, but haven’t decided on which tender they’ll use. (David Helman)
• According to Jones, the Cowboys will not draft a nose tackle in the first round. (Clarence Hill)
• Jones didn’t rule out the possibility of drafting a left guard in the first round. (Clarence Hill)

Giants

Giants free agent LB Jonathan Casillas said Monday night on SiriusXM NFL Radio that he expects to test the open market in the coming weeks.

“I’ve spoken to (the Giants) briefly. I didn’t have a formal conversation with them about any contract or getting me back there or anything like that,” Casillas said, via the Sporting News. “It doesn’t seem like they love me as much as the old staff did.”

Casillas admitted that he’s preparing for the possibility that he may not get another shot in the NFL, even though he would like to be back with the Giants.

“I’m preparing myself to not play football ever again,” Casillas said. “I still know I can play football and want to be in New York. I’m a (New) Jersey boy.

“I definitely want to be home, but at this point it’s not really up to me.”