NFL Notes: Broncos, Dolphins, Jaguars, Lions

Broncos

• Broncos DC Joe Woods said the team will keep their 3-4 base defensive scheme in place for the 2017 season.

Dolphins

• Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post views Dolphins WR Kenny Stills as the team’s top priority to re-sign this offseason. However, Schad writes that the “hope” is Stills values his relationship with HC Adam Gase and he accepts an offer in the range of $6.5 million annually.
• As for the Dolphins need at defensive end, Schad is unsure if the team would re-sign DE Andre Branch if he demands over $7 million per year. If Branch does depart through free agency, Schad writes that Miami must add a defensive end and mentions veteran free agent Calais Campbell as a possible fit.
• Schad believes it would be smart for the Dolphins to re-sign RFA LB Kiko Alonso to a long-term extension due to his athleticism, speed, instincts, and aggressiveness.

Jaguars

Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union expects Jaguars impending free agent CB Prince Amukamara to demand a No. 1 cornerback salary and possibly secure around $8-9 million annually in a long-term deal.

For what it’s worth, Amukamara appeared excited to be reunited with recently hired executive Tom Coughlin and DBs coach Perry Fewell.

“It was just, ‘Wow. Just great,’” Amukamara said. “A football guy. A successful guy. And a great person. Whatever reasons you have for wanting the organization to be successful, it’s a great start to hire T.C. And I said that before he was hired so it’s nothing new.”

Amukamara added that he feels Fewell was a big reason the Giants won a Super Bowl in 2011 and that it would be “great” to be coached by him full-time.

“I had a great time with [Fewell] in New York and he’s one of the reasons we went on that Super Bowl run [in 2011],” Amukamara said. “I think it would be great to be personally coached by him full-time.”

As for Amukamara returning to Jacksonville in 2017, O’Halloran writes that the team has the available cap space to offer him a lucrative contract, but did not say whether the Jaguars plan on doing so.

• Michael DiRocco of ESPN would not be surprised to see OT Luke Joeckel re-sign with the Jaguars since the team had prior interest in signing him to a one-year extension.
• DiRocco writes that impending free agents S Eric Berry and G Kevin Zeitler should be the team’s top targets if they reach the open market.

Lions

• Michael Rothstein of ESPN does not expect the Lions to be big shoppers during free agency and could instead see them taking a similar approach to last year when their largest acquisition was WR Marvin Jones and followed by mid-level upgrades at other positions.
• Rothstein thinks Lions GM Bob Quinn will target free agents that have experience in multiple roles, similar to how S Tavon Wilson, WR Andre Roberts, and S Rafael Bush were used last year.
• As for possible free agent fits, Rothstein says the Lions could focus on the defensive side and mentions Giants DT Johnathan Hankins, Patriots CB Logan Ryan, Texans CB A.J. Bouye or Patriots LB Dont’a Hightower as options for “high-level” contracts.
• In the end, Rothstein could see the Lions signing mid-range players that are undervalued.