There’s a very long list of teams interested in recently released cornerback Keenan Lewis. Part of the group chasing him are the New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals and Detroit Lions.
Lewis, who was released by the New Orleans Saints, has visited the Pittsburgh Steelers. Lewis played for the Steelers from 2009 through 2012, becoming a starter there in his final season. He started all 16 games for the Saints in 2013 and 2014, but a hip injury limited him to just 6 appearances and one start in 2015. According to Sean Payton, Lewis’ availability is what made the team cut him, although there have been rumors about a dust up between Lewis and the defensive coaching staff.
It’s not quite clear what the exact number of teams trying to sign Lewis is, but it’s probably between four and seven. The Jets, Lions and Cardinals emerged yesterday, along with an unknown team in the NFC South. At least we know it’s not the Saints.
Lewis himself seems to be intrigued about the possibility of playing for the Jets or the Cardinals, mentioning both Darrelle Revis and Patrick Peterson as players he’d like to work with. Bruce Arians was coaching on the Steelers while Lewis was still with the team. Overall, Lewis’ goal is playing for at least another two or three years, hopefully on a Super Bowl bound team. He knows very well that he’s not going to be a starting corner for anyone, not right away.
Perhaps the Lions will be the team giving the strongest chase. Lewis could play a part thanks to his experience, with their two starting corners only 25, and the average age of their backups being 25.75, with no one older than 29. Lewis turned 30 in May, and has 83 appearances in the NFL since being drafted 96th overall in 2009, starting in 50 of those games.