AFC Notes: Jets, Patriots, Steelers

Jets

• Ralph Vacchiano of SNY believes the Jets should not pursue Steelers WR Antonio Brown given their past with “disruptive” players like WR Brandon Marshall, DL Sheldon Richardson, DE Muhammad Wilkerson, and CB Trumaine Johnson. 

Patriots

• Mike Reiss of ESPN puts the odds of the Patriots re-signing DE Trey Flowers at 70 percent. 
• Reiss says it’s 50-50 whether the Patriots bring back CB Jason McCourty and WR/RB Cordarrelle Patterson. 
• Patriots LT Trent Brown should have a significant free agent market much like Nate Solder did last year, which is why he has the odds of Brown returning at just 25 percent. 
• Other players with 25 or less percent chance to return to New England, according to Reiss, include DT Malcom Brown, WR Chris Hogan, WR Phillip Dorsett and DT Danny Shelton. 

Steelers

Ian Rapoport reports that the Steelers “have no plans” of releasing WR Antonio Brown, but he has not received clearance to facilitate a trade himself.

Although Brown wrote on social media that it is “time to move on” from the Steelers, Rapoport mentions that Pittsburgh still has control on how they want to proceed with Brown. 

Regardless of the recent domestic dispute allegations, Rapoport believes the Steelers would likely get a second-round pick in exchange for Brown 

• Jason La Canfora writes that the Steelers would not trade Brown to the Patriots, Ravens, Browns, or Bengals. 
• While Jeremy Fowler of ESPN points out that the Steelers would likely want a first-round pick for Brown, he believes that will be difficult with his off-field issues. 
• Fowler cited “two high-ranking” NFL executives who could see the Steelers receiving a Day 2 draft pick, which could fall to a fourth-round pick if anything is uncovered in his domestic dispute investigation. 
• Fowler could see a trade going down anywhere between March 13-16, given March 13 is the start of the league year and Brown will be owed a $2.5 million bonus on March 17.