AFC Notes: Colts, Jets, Patriots

March 17, 2018

Ian Rapoport would not be surprised if the Colts traded down again from the No. 6 overall pick in this year’s Draft, given that there are still enough teams in need of a quarterback to facilitate another trade.
The Colts officially released DT Johnathan Hankins on Saturday before a portion of his 2018 salary became guaranteed. (NFLTR)

Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reports that the Jets were clinging to hope that Kirk Cousins was going to sign with them earlier in the week, but got word from Cousins’ reps Tuesday morning that it wasn’t going to happen.
The Jets then moved on to their backup plan of signing Josh McCown and Teddy Bridgewater to one-year deals.
From there, Mehta says the Colts and Jets engaged in serious discussions the past few days before agreeing to the blockbuster draft trade on Saturday.
According to Mehta, this trade came together quickly, as the Jets were well prepared to make the deal and even spoke to the Browns about trading up to No. 1 overall.

Mike Reiss of ESPN views 2017 third-round DE Derek Rivers as a “substitute” pass rusher after the addition of veteran DE Adrian Clayborn.
While it’s been a few years since the Patriots drafted a running back, Reiss thinks that could change this year and suggests Georgia’s Sony Michel as someone who could make sense them.
Even so, Reiss admits that it remains to be seen if New England will really want to add to a running back group that currently consists of Rex Burkhead, James White, Mike Gillislee, Jeremy Hill and Brandon Bolden.