NFC Notes: Cardinals, Lions, Seahawks

March 5, 2018

Cardinals

Mike Jurecki said Monday that Cardinals free agent WR Jaron Brown is drawing interest from nine teams and some of them even view Brown as a potential No. 2 receiver.

“It’s definitely encouraging to have some teams showing interest,” Brown said during an appearance on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station. “I really only need one team to take a chance and just give me an opportunity to show what I can do.”

According to Mike Jurecki, the Cardinals would like to retain free agent OLB Kareem Martin this offseason.

Lions

Michael Rothstein lists Carlos Hyde, Isaiah Crowell, Dion Lewis and LeGarrette Blount as some running backs the Lions could consider targeting in free agency.
As for the draft, Rothstein considers Arizona State’s Kalen Ballage and Georgia’s Nick Chubb to be possibilities for Detroit.
Rothstein doesn’t expect the Lions to tender restricted offers to WR T.J. Jones, DE/LB Brandon Copeland, RB Zach Zenner and OL Zac Kerin.

Seahawks

Seahawks HC Pete Carroll mentioned during an interview with Pro Football Talk that they’ve got to get their running back situation figure out this year and stay healthy at the position.

“We have to get our running game back in order,” Carroll said. “We’ve just been so banged up the last couple years. We haven’t seen the continuity that we like. The connection to the overall play of the team really fits with the running game so I wanna make sure we bring that back. [Offensive line coach] Mike Solari’s gonna do a great job of that. [Offensive coordinator] Brian [Schottenheimer] and Mike have some background together. I’m expecting that we’re gonna put together a nice little look for us with the running game.

“We need to keep the continuity. We’ve got some really exciting backs in the system. We’ve got to keep them healthy. We haven’t seen much from C.J. Prosise but that which we have seen has been really exciting. Mike Davis had a nice finish to the season for us last year. Thomas Rawls is still there to maybe regain that stride that he had. Chris Carson is a guy that’s really one of our favorites coming up to see what he can do. He had a great lead into the season, unfortunately broke his ankle during the year. We’re anxious to see what he can bring.”

Charles Robinson reports that the Seahawks had “open ears” at the Combine and DL Michael Bennett and S Earl Thomas were both drawing interest.
Robinson says that no deal involving either player is considered imminent at this point in time.
Seattle would reportedly like to pick up some mid-round picks, given that they currently have no selections in either the second or third round.