NFL Notes: Buccaneers, Cardinals, Packers, Panthers, & Vikings

Buccaneers

• Pat Yaskinskas writes that the Buccaneers have made it clear to LB Lavonte David that they want to sign him to a long-term contract.
• In fact, Yaskinskas wouldn’t be surprised to see the parties have an agreement in place before the start of training camp.
• While the Buccaneers could probably use some more offensive line help, Yaskinskas mentions that the available options are available because majority are on the downside of their careers.

Cardinals

• Josh Weinfuss writes that rookie RB David Johnson has looked “very good” and drawn the attention of some Cardinals coaches in offseason workouts.
• According to Weinfuss, center remains a major question mark for the Cardinals because neither A.Q. Shipley nor Ted Larsen have separated themselves from each other yet.
• Another position worth keeping an eye on is the inside linebacker job next to Sean Weatherspoon.
• Weinfuss believes that there is an open competition for the No. 3 quarterback job, but not exactly wide open.
• Phillip Sims and Chandler Harnish will have an opportunity to impress the coaching staff, but they will clearly need to outshine Logan Thomas to get the job.

Packers

• Packers defensive line coach Mike Trgovac tells Rob Demovsky that this is a “big offseason” for 2014 third-round DT Khyri Thornton, who the team views as “a work in progress.”
• Demovsky writes that third-round pick Ty Montgomery will get an opportunity to secure the kick-return job this summer, and could even be used out of the backfield as a running back this year.
• Demovsky mentions that OLB Jayrone Elliott‘s quickness “showed up again and again” during this week’s OTA practice that was open to the media.
• Demovsky lists DT Lavon Hooks (Mississippi), WR Ricky Collins (Texas A&M-Commerce), WR Adrian Coxson (Stony Brook), CB LaDarius Gunter (Miami) and LB Tavarus Dantzler (Bethune-Cookman) as five undrafted free agents to keep an eye on.

Panthers

• David Newton of ESPN writes that if the Panthers continue to struggle on offense, there’s no question that OC Mike Shula will shoulder the blame.
• According to Newton, there’s no chance of the Panthers using rookie Devin Funchess at tight end this season.
• Newton mentions that unless Joe Webb shows that he can be a valuable option at receiver and special teams, it would be surprising if Carolina ends up keeping him.

Vikings

• According to Ben Goessling, there hasn’t been any significant movement towards a restructured contract for RB Adrian Peterson.
• Goessling mentions that the Vikings may want to get Peterson to show up and see where he is physically before broaching the subject adding more guarantees to his current deal.
• Assuming that the salary cap is $150 million in 2016, the Vikings are currently projected to have $18.5 million in available cap space.
• Minnesota could improve this figure by reworking the contracts of DE Brian Robison, RB Adrian Peterson and possibly even WR Mike Wallace.
• Goessling writes that the Vikings appear to be set on moving Brandon Fusco to left guard with rookie T.J. Clemmings playing right guard.