AFC Notes: Dion Lewis, Patriots, Broncos, Steelers

Dion Lewis

Patriots free agent RB Dion Lewis said he would like to return to New England, but heโ€™s aware that this is a business first and foremost.

โ€œI love it here,โ€ Lewis said on The Adam Schefter Podcast. โ€œIโ€™ve grown great relationships in this area the past three years, and Iโ€™m close to home โ€” Albany, New York, is 2ยฝ hours [away], so Iโ€™m real close to my family. At the same time, itโ€™s a business. Hopefully it will work out, but at the same time, you canโ€™t really think that way. You have to take care of yourself and your family at the same time.

โ€œAt the same time, Iโ€™m not putting all my eggs in one basket,โ€ Lewis said. โ€œI know how the team likes to handle their business, and as a running back, you have to make the most of your opportunity, and me being the player I am, my main thing is making sure I can go out there next year and show people what type of player I can be. I still think I can improve from what I did this past year. My main thing is just making sure Iโ€™m valued. Thatโ€™s my biggest thing โ€” to make sure Iโ€™m valued the way I value myself.โ€

We have him featured in our Top 100  โ€“ 2018 NFL Free Agents list.

Broncos

  • Mike Klis could see the Broncos looking closely at punters and kickers at NFL Combine this week after the team struggled on special teams in 2017.
  • Klis adds that he would still be surprised if Broncos gave up on either K Brandon McManus or P Riley Dixon, but points out that with a new special teams coordinator in place, it wouldnโ€™t be surprising to see Denver bring in some competition this summer.
  • Klis lists Alabama P J.K. Scott, Texas A&M P Shane Tripucka, Texas P Michael Dickson, and Auburn K Daniel Carlson as some prospects to watch.

Steelers

  • Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports that the Steelers are expected to keep veteran CB Joe Haden his $11.6 million cap number.
  • However, itโ€™s possible that Pittsburgh could approach Haden about reworking his deal at some point, but thatโ€™s not the expectation right now.
  • Fowler says that Artie Burns should have the inside track to win a starting job.
  • Fowler mentions CB William Gay, CB Coty Sensabaugh, S Mike Mitchell and S J.J. Wilcox as potential cap casualties for the Steelers, which could free up $11.225 million of cap room.

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