NFC Notes: Buccaneers, Lions, Packers, Saints

Buccaneers

• Greg Auman of The Athletic reports that the Buccaneers are hiring former S Keith Tandy as a special teams assistant for the upcoming season.

Lions

The Lions went through a carousel of quarterbacks in 2019, including going to backup Jeff Driskel after starting QB Matthew Stafford went out with a back injury. Driskel is a much different type of player than Stafford, as he offers much more of a threat with his legs than the elder Stafford. While Lions OC Darrell Bevell said in an ideal world the backup and starter would have similar skillsets, he would much rather have the better players. 

“Obviously, it’s easier because the changes are seamless, but I’ve had the same thing in a lot of different places,” Bevell said via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “I want the best players, and whoever those best players are — whether it’s a guy like Russell Wilson or it’s a guy like Matthew Stafford, it’s my job to be able to make the necessary adjustments, put those guys in the situation to be successful.”

• Birkett says there’s mutual interest between Driskel and the Lions in a return. 

Packers

• A source familiar with the market tells Ryan Wood of PackersNews.com that Packers free agent FB Danny Vitale‘s asking price could approach $2 million per year. This would make Vitale the third highest-paid fullback in the NFL.
• Wood mentions that the Packers may believe they could find similar production at a lower cost, given their cap restraints this offseason.

Saints

• Per Luke Johnson of the New Orlean Time-Picayune, Saints LB Alex Anzalone tweeted that he’s fully recovered from his shoulder surgery.