NFC Notes: Bears, Packers, Lions, Vikings, Kirk Cousins

Bears

• The Bears declared $1,989,061 in unused cap space to roll over for 2021, though this figure will be audited for incentives by the NFL before becoming official. (Field Yates)

Lions

• The Athletic’s Chris Burke and Nick Baumgardner note the franchise tag might be an option for the Lions and S Tracy Walker at a figure of about $10.6 million for 2022. 
• The two think it’s about 50-50 that DE Charles Harris sticks on another short deal but the Lions will have competition in free agency given how much pass rushers are valued. 
• The Lions have indicated they want to keep both LBs Jalen Reeves-Maybin and Alex Anzalone but Burke and Baumgardner say if they have to choose, they should pick Reeves-Maybin.
• On offense, Burke and Baumgardner highlight FB Jason Cabinda as perhaps HC Dan Campbell‘s favorite player. They expect Detroit to keep the pending restricted free agent, perhaps with a long-term deal. 
• From a work ethic and fit perspective, Burke and Baumgardner think WRs Josh Reynolds and Kalif Raymond deserve to be back. From a talent perspective, they add Detroit needs to upgrade, though. 
• The Lions declared $1,079,476 in unused cap space to roll over for 2021, though this figure will be audited for incentives by the NFL before becoming official. (Field Yates)

Packers

• The Packers declared $2,891,923 in unused cap space to roll over for 2021, though this figure will be audited for incentives by the NFL before becoming official. (Field Yates)

Vikings

• The Athletic’s Chad Graff talked to league sources who think a parallel for the Vikings should they decide to trade QB Kirk Cousins this offseason would be what Washington gave up to acquire QB Alex Smith a couple of seasons ago, which was a third-round pick and CB Kendall Fuller on his rookie deal.
• Cousins is the same age as Smith was, 33. While he is a better player, Graff points out his $35 million base salary is a major impediment to a deal. 
• If the Vikings were willing to eat some of Cousins’ contract, Graff points out they could lower his cap for a new team by giving Cousins a $10-$15 million signing bonus. That would make Cousins much more affordable and could enhance the trade value the Vikings get in return to as much as a first-round pick, plus some additional picks. The downside is it would leave the Vikings with a big chunk of dead cap still on their books for 2022. 
• The Vikings declared $2,752,419 in unused cap space to roll over for 2021, though this figure will be audited for incentives by the NFL before becoming official. (Field Yates)