NFC Notes: Lions, Packers, Vikings

Lions

• The Athletic’s Chris Burke predicts Lions S Tracy Walker will be the team’s breakout player in 2020 and make his first-ever Pro Bowl. 

Packers

• The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman predicts Packers CB Jaire Alexander will be the team’s breakout player in 2020 and make the Pro Bowl. 
• The Packers plan to feature 2019 third-rounder Jace Sternberger as their pass-catching tight end, with veteran Marcedes Lewis the primary blocking tight end. (Schneidman)
• Packers TE Robert Tonyan and third-round rookie TE Josiah Deguara will battle for playing time. Deguara could play a multi-faceted role including fullback and H-back, while Tonyan is Green Bay’s most experienced receiving tight end currently. 

Vikings

• According to the Athletic’s Chad Graff, Vikings RB Dalvin Cook is still prepared to hold out from training camp in his pursuit of a new contract. 
• Graff notes the Vikings have a track record of picking up negotiations with players near the start of training camp so while things have been quiet between the two sides, they could heat up soon. 
• Per the Athletic’s Arif Hasan, the Vikings could move OT Riley Reiff to guard at some point to accommodate second-round OT Ezra Cleveland. Otherwise, Cleveland is expected to start at guard. 
• The Vikings will be looking for more consistency from 2019 first-round C Garrett Bradbury, as he was largely average to above average as a rookie, but when he was bad, he was bad, per Hasan. 
• Hasan says Pat Elflein and Dru Samia are the top two candidates to start at guard. The Vikings also value Dakota Dozier as a backup and potential pinch starter.