AFC Notes: Colts, Dolphins, Patriots

Colts

• Benjamin Allbright has heard that the Colts are “sniffing around” on some cornerbacks in the trade market.

Dolphins

• With an average yearly contract value of $5.5 million, Nick Korte of Over The Cap projects QB Ryan Fitzpatrick‘s contract to cancel out one of the Dolphin’s projected 2020 7th-round compensatory picks.  
• Depending on how much playing time he gets, Fitzpatrick could end up canceling out the projected fifth-round compensatory pick the Dolphins could get for DE Cameron Wake, according to Korte.  
• The Dolphins reportedly have their eyes on Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa in the 2020 draft, per Adam Schefter.  

Patriots

• ESPN’s Mike Reiss writes that the number of branches of Belichick’s coaching tree across the league have made it harder for the Patriots to land player types they typically covet, as they’ve been outbid for DE Trey Flowers, WR Adam Humphries and WR Cole Beasley.  
• After missing out on the top slot receivers on the market, former sixth-round WR Braxton Berrios could be in for a larger role with the Patriots this year.  
• While a Patriots-Browns season opener would be a big draw, Reiss thinks that matchup might be saved for later in the season.  Reiss says a matchup of Patriots-Jets could be a candidate for the season opener.  
• Reiss mentions Giants WR Sterling Shepard as a potential trade target for the Patriots, as the former Oklahoma receiver is entering the last year of his deal and is somewhat redundant as a slot receiver with the signing of Golden Tate.  
• While the Patriots extended a tender offer to WR Josh Gordon, Reiss believes the smart approach would be to treat the tender like an insurance policy in case Gordon is able to return rather than counting on him being available.