NFL Notes: Broncos, Lions, Packers, Panthers, & Ravens

Broncos

• Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports that it’s a “safe bet” the Broncos will be applying the franchise tag to WR Demaryius Thomas.

Lions

• Even with the recent release of Reggie Bush, Michael Rothstein doesn’t see the Lions using their first-round pick on a running back.
• Instead, Rothstein suggests an either offensive or defensive lineman would make sense in round one.
• Rothstein can see Detroit looking for a running back in the middle rounds of the draft and suggests Boise State’s Jay Ajayi, Nebraska’s Ameer Abdullah and Minnesota’s David Cobb as guys to keep an eye on.
• Rothstein writes that the Lions have a lot of the pieces necessary to move to a 3-4 defense in 2015, but their preference appears to be to remain a 4-3 unit.

Packers

• According to Rob Demovsky, no deal is imminent between the Packers and WR Randall Cobb, but they are still focused on re-signing him.
• Demovsky doesn’t see any way the Packers re-signing ILB A.J. Hawk now that they’ve released him.
• Green Bay hasn’t closed the door on re-signing FB John Kuhn.
• Demovsky writes that there is a chance the Packers could retain both CBs Tramon Williams and Davon House, but it’s an unlikely scenario.

Panthers

• David Newton believes the panthers need to target some fast receivers in free agency such as Eddie Royal, Michael Crabtree or Ted Ginn Jr.
• Newton expects the Panthers to consider drafting an offensive tackle in round one, even in the event they sign Michael Oher, who recently visited with the team.
• Newton can’t see the Panthers working on a long-term contract for ILB Luke Kuechly until after the season given that QB Cam Newton is their top priority right now.
• Newton mentions that Panthers GM Dave Gettleman has a tendency to wait until after the first wave of free agency to begin shopping around for upgrades. Newton can see them going this route again in 2015.

Ravens

• Rich Cimini of ESPN writes that Michael Vick‘s “best bet” in free agency could be the Baltimore Ravens given that they could use a decent backup quarterback and former Jets OC Marty Mornhinweg is now their QBs coach.