AFC East Notes: Bills, Dolphins, Jets

Bills

The Bills traded up for OT Cody Ford in the second round of the draft and continued their vote of confidence in the rookie by giving him first-team reps at right tackle after free-agent signing OT Ty Nsekhe missed time due to injury.

“I think it shows they have a lot of trust in me,” Ford said via Nate Mendelson of the official team website. “I really want to build from what I’ve shown so far. I’m very grateful for the opportunities they game me at this point and I definitely want to take advantage of it as much as I can.”

However, Ford still has to show he’s consistent enough to earn the starting job over Nsekhe when the latter returns to full health. The Bills were high on Nsekhe, signing him away from the Redskins this offseason. 

“Ty is a guy who has persevered and wasn’t this big draft pick or anything. He’s played well,” Bills GM Brandon Beane said. “He’s played on several teams. What I saw with him when you turn the tape on is a guy who played both tackles and both guards as well. He has position flex. He’s a big man to get around and he can move. He’s got pretty good feet. I like the edge. You see a little bit of nasty to him. That’s what was attractive with his game.”

Dolphins

• According to Ian Rapoport, Dolphins DT Kendrick Norton will have his sixth and hopefully final surgery to close wounds on his amputated left arm on Monday. Norton could be released from the hospital next week. 

Jets

Former Jets first-round DL Leonard Williams has a chance for a big payday after the season, as he’s entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2019. However, Williams says he’s more focused on learning DC Gregg Williams‘ new defense and his next contract will fall into place after that.

“I try not to think about that stuff and let my play do that,” Williams said via Manish Mehta of the NY Daily News. “At the end of the day … what’s going to get my contract (is) my play on the field. I’ve been trying to figure out the (new) defense, play as fast as possible, do what the coaches are expecting out of me and do what I can to help win. I feel like by doing that, everything else will come along.”

• According to Tony Pauline of PFN, the Jets had some interest in Washington State S Jalen Thompson, but preferred to sign him as an undrafted free agent rather than use a future pick to select in the supplemental draft.