New England Patriots running back Dion Lewis won't be headed to the San Francisco 49ers in free agency. He intends to sign a four-year deal with the Tennessee Titans, according to a report by Adam Schefter of ESPN. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network adds that the deal will pay Lewis like "a Top 10 running back in the NFL."
Former Patriots' RB Dion Lewis intends to sign a 4-year deal with Tennesee, source tells ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 14, 2018
The #Titans are signing former #Patriots RB Dion Lewis to a 4-year deal that makes him a Top 10 running back in the NFL.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 14, 2018
At the moment, the 10th-highest average salary by a running back is a tie between Marshawn Lynch of the Oakland Raiders and C.J. Anderson of the Denver Broncos, who each make $4.5 million per year, according to Spotrac.com.
It was reported by Pro Football Talk on Tuesday that the 49ers were among the teams showing interest in Lewis. The other teams named by the news site were the Titans, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Houston Texans, and Indianapolis Colts.
Meanwhile, the starting running back for the 49ers in 2017, Carlos Hyde, is scheduled to become a free agent on Wednesday with little resistance from San Francisco. General manager John Lynch has expressed interest in Hyde returning to the 49ers in 2018 – but at the right price. While team officials met with Hyde's agent, Doug Hendrickson, at the NFL Scouting Combine, the running back will likely be free to test the open market.
"Carlos is a really good football player for us," Lynch said at the combine. "We'll see what happens there."
Lewis, who played college football at Pittsburgh, was a fifth-round draft pick by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2011. He also spent time with the Cleveland Browns before joining the Patriots on December 31, 2014. However, Lewis missed the 2013 season with Cleveland due to a fractured fibula and did not play in 2014 after a brief time on the Colts' roster.
Lewis' best season came in 2017 when he started eight regular season games for the Patriots and rushed for 896 yards on 180 carries (5.0 yards per carry average) with six touchdowns. He also had 32 receptions for 214 yards and three touchdowns.
In five NFL seasons played, Lewis has registered 1,584 rushing yards on 329 carries with 10 touchdowns while adding 88 receptions for 717 yards with five touchdowns through the air.