NFC Notes: Jefferson, Cards, Seahawks, Bears

Let’s take a quick spin around the NFC…

• Restricted free agent safety Tony Jefferson expects to sign his tender and return to the Cardinals, as he tells Arizona Sports 98.5 FM (link via Vince Marotta of ArizonaSports.com). “I wouldn’t think so,” said Jefferson when asked if he might be leave for another club. “You don’t want to get yourself locked into long-term deals where you don’t even like your salary, and you’re unrestricted next year, so you have a chance to make more money.” Jefferson reportedly drew interest from the Texans and the Raiders over the past month or so, but ultimately never saw an official offer, so he’ll likely head back to the desert on a one-year, $1.671MM deal. Restricted free agents have until April 22 to sign offer sheets.
• The Seahawks had been mentioned as a possible suitor for left tackle Ryan Clady, but that union obviously won’t happen now that the Jets have acquired Clady from the Broncos. Seattle is likely “all-in” on starting either Bradley Sowell or Garry Gilliam at left tackle, as Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times tweets. Neither player was very productive in 2015, as Gilliam was ineffective while Sowell played only 33 offensive snaps. But Sowell said last month that the main reason he signed with the Seahawks was that they expressed interest in him playing on the blind side.
• “They will have to literally fight me to move me from right guard,” Bears offensive lineman Kyle Long tells Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times, reiterating his desire to not move to tackle. After playing right tackle in 2015, some had speculated that Long might move to the left side next season, but it doesn’t sound like Long is interested. Chicago did sign Ted Larsen and Manny Ramirez this offseason, but it looks like they will add depth on the interior rather than facilitate a Long move.