Ravens Trade Alex Lewis To Jets
Remember that time the Ravens released offensive lineman Alex Lewis? Well, that didn’t quite happen. 
Before formally releasing him, the Ravens struck a deal to trade Lewis to the Jets, as Rich Cimini of ESPN.com tweets. In the trade, the Jets will send a conditional 2020 seventh-round pick to Baltimore.
It’s not uncommon for teams to intend on releasing a player before an eleventh-hour deal was struck. Often times, teams will leak word of an impending release via the press in order to solicit interest. In this case, the Ravens told Lewis directly that he would be released, so it’s likely that they connected with the Jets after failing to find a trade in discussions with other teams.
It’s a mild return for the Ravens, but they did manage to recoup something for a player who was owed $2MM for 2019 and was about to be released anyway. For the Jets, it’s a modest expenditure that could pay some dividends – Lewis is a former starter who can provide depth along the offensive line. Meanwhile, they will get him into the fold immediately without having to first vie for his services against other clubs.
Bills Work Out Sam Young
Former Dolphins offensive lineman Sam Young will work out for the Bills on Monday, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). With offensive tackle LaAdrian Waddle likely done for the season, Young could be a great fit for Buffalo.
The Bills – or at least, the remaining people that were around from 2011-2013 – are already familiar with Young, who made 20 appearances for the team. Since then, he’s spent time with the Jaguars and Dolphins.
Steelers, Joe Haden Making Progress
The Steelers and corner Joe Haden are making progress on a two-year contract extension, a source tells Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The two sides have exchanged proposals, so a deal might not be far off. 
For now, Haden is due $10MM as he enters the final year of his deal. A new pact would likely lessen Haden’s cap hit, while giving him security through the 2021 season.
After missing time in 2018 with an injury, Haden returned to play 15 games last season. He graded as a top-40 cornerback, per Pro Football Focus. That is a cut below his best Browns seasons, but the 30-year-old defender remains an upper-echelon cover man.
The Steelers added cornerbacks this offseason, signing Steven Nelson and drafting Justin Layne in Round 3. Meanwhile, they’ll move forward with disappointing 2016 first-rounder Artie Burns after cutting him an $800K bonus check over the weekend.
Haden has operated as the team’s No. 1 cornerback since arriving. The Steelers have not enjoyed much consistency aside from Haden at the boundary corner positions for a while, a new deal would make sense.
While the corner market has not moved much at the top in recent years, lesser-acclaimed DBs have signed for $10MM-plus since Haden last put pen to paper. The $9MM-AAV defender will almost certainly target eight figures per year for his early-30s contract.
Bills’ LaAdrian Waddle Likely Done For Year
Bills offensive tackle LaAdrian Waddle has a torn quad, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). It’s likely a season-ending injury, since quad tears usually require four or five months of recovery. 
The Bills signed Spencer Long, Mitch Morse, Ty Nsekhe and Jon Feliciano this offseason as a part of their offensive line revamp. Waddle, an experienced vet, factored into the plans, but they’ll have to make a depth addition to make up for his absence.
Waddle’s run as a Lions starter did not produce a long tenure in Detroit, and after being waived in 2015, he landed in New England. He was a part of two Super Bowl champions, the second such run including three starts. His departure to Buffalo continued the exodus of recent Patriot tackles, with Waddle’s defection following those of Nate Solder, Cameron Fleming and Trent Brown.
Waddle’s one-year, $2MM called for $1MM in base salary.
Ravens Release OL Alex Lewis
The Ravens have released Alex Lewis, according to a social media post from the offensive lineman. Just this week, Lewis was cleared for action, but he’s apparently not part of the team’s plans for 2019.
The Ravens shopped Lewis before cutting him and there was trade interest in him in recent days, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. That suggests that the former starter won’t be out of work for very long, especially after passing a physical.
Before today, Lewis was expected to compete for the Ravens’ starting left guard job. Over his last two healthy years (interrupted by a torn labrum in 2017), Lewis has made 18 starts in total.
Patriots To Sign Cameron Meredith
The Patriots are signing former Saints and Bears wide receiver Cameron Meredith, a source tells NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). It’ll be a low-cost deal for New England, but one that could have tremendous upside. 
Meredith failed to meet his high expectations in New Orleans thanks to health issues, but he’s apparently healed up from the torn ACL and assorted problems suffered towards the end of his run in Chicago.
With the Saints, Meredith had just nine receptions on the year. But, in 2016, Meredith flashed major potential with 66 grabs for 888 yards and four scores in 14 games, only ten of which were starts.
The Patriots could use someone like Meredith as Julian Edelman deals with a thumb injury and Demaryius Thomas works his way back from the PUP list. Of course, Josh Gordon also remains suspended, leaving a need for talent in the WR group.
Besides those names, the Pats’ WR depth chart includes N’Keal Harry, Phillip Dorsett, Maurice Harris, Jakobi Meyers, Braxton Berrios, Dontrelle Inman, Damoun Patterson, Gunner Olszewski, and Ryan Davis.
NFL Suspends Morris Claiborne
Veteran cornerback Morris Claiborne has been hit with a four-game ban for a violation of the substance abuse policy, sources tell Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). Claiborne, they hear, plans to appeal the suspension in hopes that it will be overturned or eliminated. 
Claiborne stands as one of the best available free agents left at this stage of the offseason, but the impending ban could explain his extended unemployment. Recently, the Vikings kicked the tires on the cornerback, but did not sign him.
Claiborne, 29, spent the past two seasons with the Jets and has played on one-year deals for the past three seasons. He hasn’t really excelled since his 2016 season with the Cowboys, when he graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 12 ranked corner in a limited sample of seven games. Last year, Claiborne graded out as just the No. 75 CB in the NFL out of 112 qualified players, per PFF.
Colts Working Out WR Brandon Marshall
The Colts worked out wide receiver Brandon Marshall on Friday, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). The 35-year-old hasn’t been on the NFL radar much lately, but he’s interested in extending his career and the Colts may be willing to give him a shot. 
[RELATED: Patriots Meet With Cameron Meredith]
Marshall has appeared in a grand total of eleven games for the Giants and Seahawks over the last two seasons, with little in the way of results. Injuries and age have chipped away at a once very strong career, and Marshall did not take the field during his brief stint with the Saints in 2018.
Marshall is a six-time Pro Bowler, but he hasn’t played at an elite level since the 2015 season in which he posted 109 receptions, 1,502 yards, and a league-leading 14 touchdowns for the Jets. He also hasn’t played in a playoff game in his 13-year career, so he’s eager to change that.
For now, the Colts’ WR depth chart is headlined by T.Y. Hilton, Devin Funchess, Chester Rogers, and second-round draft pick Parris Campbell. Deon Cain, Zach Pascal, Roger Lewis, and Marcus Johnson are also fighting to capture the final one or two slots.
Patriots Meet With Cameron Meredith
Wide receiver Cameron Meredith is set to meet with the Patriots for the second time this week, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The free agent met with the Patriots a couple of days ago, soon after his release from the Saints. 
[RELATED: 4 Potential Landing Spots For Trent Williams]
Meredith failed to meet his high expectations in New Orleans thanks to health issues, but he’s apparently healed up from the torn ACL and assorted problems suffered towards the end of his run in Chicago.
With the Saints, Meredith had just nine receptions on the year. But, in 2016, Meredith flashed major potential with 66 grabs for 888 yards and four scores in 14 games, only ten of which were starts.
The Patriots could use someone like Meredith as Julian Edelman deals with a thumb injury and Demaryius Thomas works his way back from the PUP list. Of course, Josh Gordon also remains suspended, leaving a need for talent in the WR group.
Details On Donald Penn’s Redskins Deal
Donald Penn is officially a member of the Redskins. On Friday, we learned the details of his deal, courtesy of NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). 
[RELATED: 4 Potential Landing Spots For Trent Williams]
If Penn is the starting left tackle for the Redskins, he can make $5.03MM in 2019, according to RapSheet. The deal’s $250K signing bonus, meanwhile, represents the only guarantee in the deal.
Beyond that, the veteran will also receive a base salary of $1.03MM, 46-man active roster bonuses worth $750K, and incentives that can net him $3MM more.
There’s a clear opportunity for Penn to play, start, and show that he’s still a top-tier lineman. Redskins notable Trent Williams is still holding out from the club, and the Redskins are already exploring possible trades. The Patriots have been heavily connected to Williams and the Bengals would also be a logical fit.