NFC Notes: Bears, Lions, Packers, Vikings

Bears

While the Bears are looking towards the future, some around the league have optimism for the development of QB Justin Fields now that HC Matt Nagy is out, pointing out how others had success once they left.

“Look at what Charles Leno did after he left Chicago,” one anonymous source said, via The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain and Adam Jahns. “And Cordarrelle Patterson. Those guys had success in different offenses.”

• Bears LB Roquan Smith is still not represented by an agent entering the final year of his contract, with Chicago having to decide on his fifth-year option which will cost the team $9.375 million. 
• Jahns and Fishbain add the word at the Combine was Bears G James Daniels could get a deal worth $8-$10 million, but probably not from Chicago as they look to remake their line. 
• They mention DE Khalil Mack and S Eddie Jackson are still seen as core players by the Bears. 
• ESPN’s Dianna Russini reports the Bears will let WR Allen Robinson become a free agent.

Lions

• The Athletic’s Chris Burke notes he hasn’t gotten the impression from talking to anyone with the Lions that they want to take a rookie quarterback with the goal of starting him right away. Instead, the preference of the team is to be patient. 
• Lions OC Ben Johnson suggested they’d be open to taking a developmental quarterback and working out the logistics of how to get them reps: “Certainly, I think there are ways that you can set up practice so that there are meaningful, valuable reps to where a guy is still improving and getting better, and not necessarily forcing him into game action when he may not be ready yet. That’s something we’ve gotta look at and talk about if we go down that road.”
• Burke mentions he doesn’t see Nevada QB Carson Strong as a real option for the Lions. 
• As far as Detroit’s plan in free agency, Burke writes they could look to make a relatively big signing at either wide receiver or safety. Burke lists Cowboys WR Amari Cooper, Jaguars WR DJ Chark and Bears WR Allen Robinson as names to keep an eye on, though it’s unclear what their level of interest in signing with Detroit is. 
• Burke adds even if the Lions re-signed S Tracy Walker and were planning to take Notre Dame S Kyle Hamilton with the No. 2 pick, that wouldn’t necessarily preclude them from making a run at someone like Saints S Marcus Williams because of how much DC Aaron Glenn‘s system asks from the position. 
• Reading the tea leaves, Burke says not to expect the Lions to cut OL Halapoulivaati Vaitai to save cap space. 
• The Lions had a formal interview at the Combine with Cincinnati QB Desmond Ridder. (Dane Brugler)

Packers

• Ian Rapoport mentions Packers QB Aaron Rodgers‘ cap hit on his new deal is set to decrease in 2022 and will not be in the top ten for quarterbacks in 2023, meaning the Packers will have room to make more moves over the next two seasons.
• Mike Kaye of PFN believes the Colts, Panthers, and Steelers could all be trade destinations for QB Jordan Love now Rodgers will be back next season.
• Packers GM Brian Gutekunst praised CB Rasul Douglas and said the team would like to bring him back, though no deal has been discussed at this point. (Matt Lombardo)
• Green Bay met with Alabama WR Jameson Williams, Ohio State WR Chris Olave and Georgia WR George Pickens at the Combine. (Packers Wire)

Vikings

• The Vikings will not be bringing back head trainer Eric Sugarman next season. (Ben Goessling)