NFL Notes: Bears, Lions, Jets, & Ravens

Bears

Jeff Dickerson of ESPN points out that Bears GM Ryan Pace has previously indicated that they could come away from this year’s draft with a quarterback.

“I don’t want to get into the specifics, but there are a handful of guys [who] are up near the top,” Pace said. “There are also a handful of quarterbacks in the middle part of the draft that I feel good about and that we’ve got to make sure we’ve accurately graded, and that’s where our scouts really earn their money.”

• Dickerson thinks they could consider second-tier quarterbacks such as Paxton Lynch, Connor Cook, Christian Hackenberg, Jacoby Brissett, Brandon Allen, Dak Prescott, Cody Kessler and Kevin Hogan.
• Dickerson believes the Bears would “sprint to the podium” if Oregon DL DeForest Buckner was available to them at No. 11 overall.
• In regards to a potential extension for OL Kyle Long, Dickerson could see them signing him to a deal that exceeds $25 million guaranteed, making him one of highest-paid guards in the league.

Lions

• Michael Rothstein anticipates Clemson DE Shaq Lawson being available to the Lions at No. 16 overall, and unless OT Ronnie Stanley or CB Vernon Hargreaves III falls to them, he’s likely to get heavy consideration.
• Other options, according to Rothstein, include Taylor Decker, Jarran Reed, Sheldon Rankins, Vernon Butler, Darron Lee and Reggie Ragland.
• Rothstein doesn’t see the Lions being a fit for veteran S Donte Whitner, due in large part to the kind of money he’ll want.

Jets

• According to Rich Cimini, it’s “highly unlikely” that the Jets would trade up from No. 20 to No. 1 overall, given the cost of making such a move.
• Cimini believes the Jets would have to part with their No. 20 overall pick and DE Muhammad Wilkerson to go along with first- and second-round picks next year.
• Cimini could, however, see them moving up a few spots to get a highly rated player who’s still on the board.

Ravens

• Jamison Hensley considers UCLA LB Myles Jack to be the safer pick than Ohio State DE Joey Bosa.
• Hensley mentions that while the Ravens have long been fans of veteran S Donte Whitner, they’ve also been effusive in their support of Lardarius Webb making the move to safety in 2016.
• Hensley can see the Ravens targeting a cornerback at some pointin the first three rounds such as: Houston’s William Jackson, Virginia Tech’s Kendall Fuller, Miami’s Artie Burns and Alabama’s Cyrus Jones.