NFL Notes: Patrick Peterson, Bills, & Dolphins

Patrick Peterson

Former Eagles president Joe Banner mentioned on NFL Insiders that the lockout prior to the 2011 draft prevented Philadelphia from trading up for CB Patrick Peterson.

“When we were in Philadelphia, we traded Kevin Kolb to the Arizona Cardinals for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a second-round draft pick,” Banner said, via CBS Philly. “The original trade was the fifth pick of the draft – which we were targeting Patrick Peterson for –- and the second round pick the next year. Because there was a lockout, we weren’t allowed to make trades leading into the draft or else Patrick Peterson would have been a Philadelphia Eagle.”

Bills

Lisa Wilson of the Buffalo News spoke to some personnel men at the Senior Bowl regarding the direction of the Bills and the opinions appear to be mixed.

One GM credited the Bills’ decision to stay the course with GM Doug Whaley and HC Rex Ryan, rather than make sweeping changes.

Another GM pointed to the team’s cap situation and lack of a long-term quarterback and believes the team is instead stuck in 8-8 limbo.

Interestingly enough, Whaley explained that he believes bringing in Rex’s brother, Rob, will give both of the plenty of incentive to get things turned around.

“If you look at it, Rob and Rex, they’ve had some troubles,” Whaley said. “Their name is kind of like, ‘Hey, they’re the Ryans, what happened to their defense?’ So why not bring in your brother and try to reclaim that name? That’s the way I look at it. And who’s going to have your back more than your brother? I think it’s a positive. I know it’s a positive. Everybody in the building feels it’s a positive. It’s a positive for Rex, too. It can help him expand his horizons as the head coach and get into some other things.”

Dolphins

• Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald writes that the Dolphins’ linebacker situation will be of particular interest this offseason, due to the fact that the position is largely unsettled.
• Salguero mentions that there’s no question whatsoever that Miami is in need of two starting caliber linebackers in the coming months.
• According to Salguero, Koa Misi could end up being a cap casualty, given that he’ll count $4.878 million against their 2016 cap. The Dolphins could pick up $3.72 million or $4.3 million (post-June 1) in cap space by cutting him.
• Miami is interested in getting bigger, stronger, faster at the position, according to Salguero.
• In the end, Salguero expects the Dolphins to replace Kelvin Sheppard and Misi in the coming months.