On a player-friendly second tampering-window day, Dion Lewis has yet to make his decision. He’s going to be receiving a notable raise from his previous contract, however, when he does choose his next team.
The 27-year-old running back does not look like he will be returning to the Patriots, who were not believed to be a bidder if the price escalated to a certain point. Now that it apparently has, the Dolphins, Jets, Giants, Titans, Texans, Colts and 49ers are in on Lewis, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports.
The Jets, Colts and Titans were reported suitors earlier this week, but the remaining teams are now diving into the fray.
The Giants signed previous Pats passing-down back Shane Vereen in 2015 but haven’t found much in the way of backfield success in several years, and the 49ers may well lose Carlos Hyde in free agency. The Dolphins traded away Jay Ajayi and have versatile runner Kenyan Drake. Houston, interestingly, has a Lamar Miller–D’Onta Foreman setup but is evidently eyeing big-name help.
Lewis’ asking price was rumored to be around $6MM per year, and given the events of Tuesday and the number of interested teams here, it’s quite possible the sixth-year veteran could surpass that despite having just one 100-touch season on his resume. However, that also means Lewis could have a few productive seasons left despite being set to turn 28 later this year.
Come on 9ers!
i would like to see him go to the texans, where they release Miller and make Foreman the between the tackle runner( if Achilles are 100%) and have Lewis as the receiving RB. They have to get a better O-line first though.
Titans
Out of all of those teams, 49ers look most appealing.
If the 49ers sign him? You can almost close the door on Carlos Hyde coming back.
Hyde ain’t coming back. He wants more than sf is willing to pay, and he doesn’t fit this new outside run system at all. He led the league in drops at running back also, as well as in sacks allowed.
Lewis is a much better cut outside guy, kinda like breida (which is why breida did so well and had higher yards-per-carry at the end).
Plus Lewis would be about half the price of what Hyde wants.