NFC Notes: Giants, Lions, Vikings

Giants

• Darryl Slater of NJ.com writes that while former first-round CB Deandre Baker is coming off of a disappointing rookie season for the Giants, he still has a good shot of retaining his starting job.
• Slater does, however, think will look to add a veteran corner such as Byron Jones in free agency.
• Slater expects cornerbacks Corey Ballentine and Grant Haley, to battle it out for the starting slot corner job this summer. 
• At free safety, Slater can see the Giants cutting veteran FS Antoine Bethea and possibly targeting Devin McCourty and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix in free agency. 
• Zack Rosenblatt of NJ.com takes a look at some top options at pass rusher for the Giants to consider this offseason including: Yannick Ngakoue, Dante Fowler, Jadeveon Clowney, Robert Quinn, Kyle Van Noy, Mario Addison, and Vic Beasley.

Lions

• After polling sources at the Combine, Dave Birkett of Detroit Free Press believes Ohio State CB Jeff Okudah will be the third overall pick by Detroit in the draft.
• Birkett reports that many people he spoke with at the combine expect the Lions to trade CB Darius Slay in the coming weeks.
• Birkett mentions that Lions representatives spent time meeting with the agents of some of the top cornerbacks in free agency at the combine.
• Birkett’s sources indicated to him that despite the fact that they will try and trade their pick, they’re basically on the clock with the expectation that QB Joe Burrow and DE Chase Young going to go No. 1 and No. 2 overall respectively.
• An agent who represents multiple likely first-round prospects told Birkett that Washington is the team most likely to trade their pick, meaning Chase Young could fall to the Lions at No. 3 overall.
• From speaking to people at the Combine, Birkett gets the sense that the Lions can’t take Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa because he won’t help GM Bob Quinn and HC Matt Patricia because they’re in a win-now situation. 

Vikings

• Andrew Krammer of the Star Tribune writes that the Vikings are open to shuffling their offensive line this offseason following the comments from HC Mike Zimmer at the Combine, which could include moving LT Riley Reiff to left guard. Krammer says it’s unclear whether the Vikings would keep Reiff at his current salary of $10.9 million for the 2020 season. 
• Krammer adds that Minnesota appears likely to bench or release G Pat Elflein this offseason.
• Vikings GM Rick Spielman mentioned that the tackle group this year includes some prospects that may be able to step in and contribute in year one: “Last year, the interior was a little stronger [in the draft]. This year, I think there’s some tackles out there. Some of them, as we go and get to know these kids a little bit, may be ready to go right off the bat.”