NFL Notes: 49ers, Jets, & Patriots

49ers

49ers HC Chip Kelly mentioned during an interview with 95.7 The Game that he doesn’t see much difference between quarterbacks Colin Kaepernick and Blaine Gabbert, and believes both are “cut out of the same mold.”

“They’re similar. They have a similar skill set,” Kelly said, via NinersNation.com. “They’re both 6-foot-4-plus. They both can really run, which will help keep plays alive. Obviously, we’re not a quarterback-run offense, but if the quarterback can run, you can use a little of that to your advantage. And they both have extremely strong arms. So, from a skill set standpoint, the two of them are kind of cut out of the same mold.”

Jets

• Rich Cimini has confirmed with sources that franchise DE Muhammad Wilkerson isn’t planning to attend the mandatory minicamp June 14-16.
• Cimini points out that Wilkerson wouldn’t be able to practice anyway, considering that he’s still rehabbing his surgically repaired broken leg.
• According to Cimini, one of the reasons why first-round LB Darron Lee has yet to sign his rookie contract is because there’s a little room for him to negotiate the amount of guaranteed money in the fourth year of his contract.
• In regards to rookie QB Christian Hackenberg, Cimini says he’s looked like a typical rookie up to this point while second-year QB Bryce Petty has looked “significantly better.”
• Cimini mentions that there’s a “wide open” competition for one of their outside linebacker jobs between Josh Martin, Deion Barnes, Freddie Bishop and rookie Jordan Jenkins.

Patriots

• Mike Reiss of ESPN writes that if the Patriots seriously pursue contract extensions for players like CB Malcolm Butler, LB Jamie Collins and LB Dont’a Hightower before the start of the season, it’s likely that they would take a similar approach to the Jaguars and their decision to lock up WR Allen Hurns.
• Reiss points out that while Hurns receives a four-year, $40 million extension, it’s really a five-year, $40.6 million deal when you factor in his 2016 compensation.
• Reiss believes now is the time for the Patriots to start negotiating new deals for at least a few of their notable players, considering that they waited to lock up S Devin McCourty and wound up paying him a big market-value contract.