NFC Notes: Cowboys, Lions & Vikings

Cowboys

• Todd Archer doesn’t see WR Brice Butler winning the No. 2 receiver job, especially after WRs coach Derek Dooley talked up Terrance Williams this week.
• Archer doesn’t think the Cowboys will lock up Williams to an extension right now, considering commitments they have made elsewhere on offense.
• In the end, Archer expects Williams to open the year as the Cowboys’ No. 2 receiver and eventually land a decent contract from someone.
• While there has been some talk of the Cowboys potentially trading OL Ronald Leary and RBs Darren McFadden or Alfred Morris, Archer can’t see a deal happening until later in training camp.
• Archer adds that Dallas will want a quality pick in return for Leary, and may prefer to wait for a compensatory pick in 2018 than settle for a fifth- or sixth-rounder now.
• As for McFadden and Morris, Archer seems to think Morris’ job is safer, considering that the Cowboys signed him a few months ago.

Lions

• Michael Rothstein of ESPN mentions that second-round DL A’Shawn Robinson has looked good in OTAs and has seen some time with the first-team defense.
• Rothstein believes Zach Zenner has the early edge over Stevan Ridley for the between-the-tackles running back job, due in large part to the fact that Ridley has sat out of OTAs for the most part.
• According to Rothstein, it’s still possible that Dwayne Washington could work his way into the discussion.
• Rothstein writes that Quandre Diggs appears to be the Lions’ long-term answer at the slot.

Vikings

• Vikings HC Mike Zimmer said this week that the safety competition remains wide open for the job next to Harrison Smith.
• Ben Goessling expects the job to be decided in training camp, and could see veteran Michael Griffin winning the job if he performs well this summer.
• Goessling writes that Emmanuel Lamur is the favorite among the players currently on the roster to take over for veteran Chad Greenway at weak-side linebacker. According to
• Goessling, it’s possible Lamur could beat out Greenway for the job this year, which could result in Greenway seeing some time in sub packages.
• While Goessling isn’t ruling out Taylor Heinicke beating out veteran Shaun Hill for the backup quarterback job, he still expects Hill to be their No. 2 option to open the year.