NFL Notes: Paxton Lynch, Lions, Packers, & Vikings

Paxton Lynch

An AFC executive tells Albert Breer that Memphis QB Paxton Lynch reminds him of Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, and he expects him to be a top-15 pick next year.

“He goes top 15 — an athlete with a strong arm, a Big-Ben type,” the executive said.

Breer also spoke to an AFC area scout who believes Lynch is coming on much like Blake Bortles did a few years ago.

“No one’s really studied him, but you see the talent,” the scout said. “You go into Memphis to see the offensive lineman and the senior receiver, and then you look at the quarterback, and he’s got arm strength and athletic ability, he’s long. It’s a little scary. He was decent last year, and this is kind of like Bortles, where he just wasn’t on anyone’s radar.”

Lions

Lions Interim GM Sheldon White was noncommittal about the future of QB Matthew Stafford and WR Calvin Johnson Thursday during his introductory press conference.

“I’ll leave that to another day,” White said when asked about the two players, via the Detroit Free Press.

White did, however, refer to them as “ultra-talented” players whom they need to keep supporting with talent moving forward.

“Those guys are awesome,” White said of Stafford and Johnson. “They’re awesome. The things that I have to do on my end, in my opinion those guys are ultra-talented. I have to continue to surround them and continue to build our roster and you’ll see all the talents that those guys have. And they are unbelievable.”

Packers

• Rob Demovksy reports that the Packers brought in four players for tryouts including CB Donald Celiscar, CB Joel Ross, LB Derrick Mathews, and DE B.J. McBryde.

Vikings

Vikings WR Mike Wallace admitted that his $11.5 million salary next season could leave him as a cap casualty.

“I’m not stupid. I’m a pretty smart guy. I understand everything,” Wallace said, via Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. “When you go to look at that, that’s a lot of money to leave out there that you want to get, but you have to make plays to get those numbers up. We’ll see.”

Wallace also said that it’s been frustrating to not be more productive.

“You get frustrated because you’re not making your plays and you want to be around these guys and be on the team,” Wallace said, “but at the same time, you understand it’s a business, as well. I’m not new here.”