NFL Notes: Lions, Seahawks, Texans, Titans

Lions

• Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press says the “prevailing wisdom” throughout the league is that the Lions will reach an agreement on a contract extension for QB Matthew Stafford this offseason, which would make him the NFL’s highest-paid quarterback.
• Though Birkett mentions that the Raiders and Derek Carr‘s lack of a contract agreement could hold up the negotiating process with Stafford, he says that should be no reason for the two sides to not get a deal done this offseason.
• Birkett expects second-year Graham Glasgow to start at left guard, while Travis Swanson at center and T.J. Lang starts at right guard.
• As for G Laken Tomlinson, Birkett views him as the team’s first backup on the interior line. However, this could be his final season in Detroit if he doesn’t make strides in both his technique and consistency.
• Michael Rothstein of ESPN thinks it would be wise for the Lions to pursue free agent WR Jeremy Maclin, but admits his price could be an issue given he was set to make $9.75 million over the final three years of his contract with the Chiefs.
• Rothstein believes Maclin would give the Lions more options in three-receiver sets and enable the team to lineup TE Eric Ebron in multiple ways.

Seahawks

Seahawks QB Russell Wilson said he wouldn’t have “any issue at all” with the team signing free agent QB Colin Kaepernick.

“I haven’t had the chance to be around Colin too much, but the times I have he’s been great,” Wilson said, via Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk. “Obviously, I think first of all he’s a really, really good football player. He’s made a lot of good plays in a lot of big games and done a lot of good things. I have tons of respect for him in that way. And then in terms of everything else he stood for, I think he was trying to stand for the right things, he was trying to stand for equality. And so I respect that too, as well. . . . I wouldn’t have any issue at all. As many good players as we could have, the better.”

Texans

Texans QB Tom Savage admitted that he has to continue to go out and perform to ensure that he opens the season as the team’s starting quarterback.

“It’s a great opportunity,” Savage said, via HoustonTexans.com. “I hate to say it’s special because I have to go out there and I have to earn it every day. It’ll be special at the end of the season.”

Savage added that he is building a rapport with WR DeAndre Hopkins and other receivers on the team.

“I think a little more of it is in the communication, obviously, with some of the guys,” Savage said. “When you’re a third-string quarterback, you’re not really going up to DeAndre Hopkins and telling him how you want a bow route or something. Now communication comes in and you have to be on the same page with all of them. That’s what we’re working on now.”

Titans

• Jim Wyatt of the Titans’ official site expects S Kevin Byard to have a “breakout” season with a “big role” on defense.
• At the receiver position, Wyatt believes Rishard Matthews will continue to be a playmaker for the Titans, while he expects first-round Corey Davis to gain a role early on in training camp.
• Wyatt also mentions that third-round WR Taywan Taylor has “looked good” so far and could start at the slot position.
• Wyatt thinks WR Tajae Sharp will make a “big case” for himself during training camp, with Harry Douglas and Tre McBride also in the mix to earn a starting role.
• Wyatt believes that seventh-round OT Brad Seaton and sixth-round OL Corey Levin will compete for a spot on the active roster.