NFL Notes: Bills, Packers, Broncos, & Patriots

Bills

According to Chris Brown of BuffaloBills.com, free agent acquisition is G Chris Williams is the “only lock to start among the newcomers.“

Brown adds that Bills’ HC Doug Marrone “had an edict to get bigger up front and that’s been done across the board on the offensive line in both free agency and the draft,” which likely explains the reasoning for Williams being penciled in as a starter.

Williams, 28, signed a four-year, $13.5 million contract that included $5.5 million guaranteed this offseason. Williams graded as a bottom tier offensive guards in 2013, finishing the season ranked as the No. 73 player, according to Pro Football Focus.

Packers

According to the Green Bay Press-Gazette, Packers fifth-round rookie WR Jared Abbrederis’ ability to contribute on special teams and as a kick returner should give him a great opportunity to secure one of the final roster spots this summer.

“I’ve had a couple nice plays that I’ve had in these practices that definitely boost my confidence and let me know I can be here,” Abbrederis said. “I’ve just got to keep working because every day people are coming for your job. We’re going to be competing for spots on the team come camp, so it’s been good.”

The Packers have maintained that they would like to remove WR Randall Cobb from return duties, which means an impressive performance from Abbrederis should go a long ways towards securing one of the final receiver spots.

The Packers have a fairly deep group of receivers including Jeff Janis (seventh-round), Chris Harper, Kevin Dorsey, Myles White and Alex Gillett competing for one or two rosters spots.

Broncos

Andrew Mason of the Denver Broncos official website writes that “it would be no surprise” if CB Chris Harris opens the season on the teams physically unable to perform list.

Regardless, Harris does not seem to be in a rush to return to the active roster.

“The goal is to strive for Week 1,” said Harris. “If I’m not ready for Week 1, there are no negatives. This team, they need me December, January and February, when the big games come. If I’m not ready by Week 1, which I know I should be ready, then it’s no big hurt.”

Harris, 25, went down with a torn ACL injury during the Divisional Round of the playoffs and subsequently underwent surgery on his left-knee back in February.

With the additions of CB Aqib Talib and first-round pick CB Bradley Roby, the Broncos are not going to push Harris to return, despite the fact that he proved to be one of the best corners in the league last season.

Harris, 25, signed his restricted tender worth $2.187 million this offseason and will be an unrestricted free agent next year. In 2013, he recorded 65 tackles, three interceptions and 13 passes defensed. Pro Football Focus rated him as the No. 8 overall cornerback in the league.

Patriots

According to ESPN Boston’s Mike Reiss, Patriots rookie C Bryan Stork appears to be a “viable competitor for the starting center job in training camp.”

Reiss notes that Stork has been working with the first-team offense and snapping the ball to QB Tom Brady, which can’t hurt his chances of pushing Ryan Wendell for the job.

Reiss adds that the Patriots’ coaching staff values Stork’s “combination of smarts, toughness and size.”

Wendell, 28, re-signed with the Pats back in March when agreed to a two-year, $6.85 million contract. However, he was rated as one of the worst qualifying centers in the league last season, according to Pro Football Focus.

It will be interesting to see how Stork progresses during training camp.