AFC East Notes: Jets, Tom Brady, Patriots

Jets

• Rich Cimini of ESPN says that the Jets should proceed with caution if they inquire about Redskins LT Trent Williams due to his age and a possible large contract extension.
• Cimini wonders if the Jets should invest in Williams, who will turn 32 this season and will likely seek a long-term extension for $16-18 million per year. Cimini believes the Jets could use their No. 11 pick to draft a left tackle instead.
• Connor Hughes of The Athletic says many around the league expect Jets free agent WR Robby Anderson to sign for $13-$15 million annually. However, the deep receiver draft class could potentially result in a lower salary for Anderson.
• According to Hughes, the Jets would like to re-sign CB Brian Poole and OLB Jordan Jenkins. Although, he doubts they’ll re-sign them before the legal tampering period. Some league execs think Jenkins could secure $10-$12 million annually.
• As for potential cap casualties, Hughes lists CB Trumaine Johnson ($3 million savings), CB Darryl Roberts ($6 million), G Brian Winters ($7.2 million), WR Josh Bellamy ($2.25 million), CB Nate Hairston ($2.14 million) and potentially ILB Avery Williamson ($6.5 million).
• A league source tells Hughes that the Jets are doing their homework on Jadeveon Clowney and are among the teams in on him.
• According to Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network, the Jets had representatives at Kansas’ pro day to watch OL Hakeem Adenji.

Tom Brady

According to Greg Bedard of the Boston Sports Journal, the market for Patriots free agent QB Tom Brady may not be as robust as some have said and the Titans could be using him to gain some negotiating leverage with Ryan Tannehill. 

“League sources expect the Titans to lock in Ryan Tannehill at some point at a cheaper rate thanks to the Brady leverage, although that could change,” Bedard writes, via the New York Post.

However, Jeremy Fowler says Tennessee believes they have a “pretty good chance” to beat out the Patriots for Brady. 

“I was told the Titans believe that they have a pretty good chance in a head-to-head match-up with the Patriots to land Tom Brady,” Fowler said. 

Regarding Tannehill, Fowler hears he’s looking for a lot of money, possibly around $30 million per year.

• A league source tells Ben Volin of the Boston Globe that Brady’s only realistic option outside of the Patriots right now is the Chargers.
• Regarding the Titans, a league source close to Tennessee’s coaching staff told Volin: “They’re not going to do Ryan Tannehill like that.“
• Volin mentions that a league source explains that Bill Belichick is cognizant of the fact that many people will blame him if Brady leaves, and he doesn’t want to be known as the guy that ran Brady out of town.

Patriots

• The 49ers are reportedly discussing potential trades involving WR Marquise Goodwin. Doug Kyed of NESN writes that the Patriots could make sense as a possible trade partner for Goodwin if the compensation is a low-round pick.
• However, considering that the Patriots have limited cap room and a number of notable players in line to be free agents this offseason, Kyed says Goodwin’s cap hit might not be worth his potential.
• In his mailbag, Kyed writes that he could see the Patriots cutting Marcus Cannon and Stephen Gostkowski this offseason, which would free up $8 million of cap room.