AFC East Notes: Bills, Dolphins, Jets

Bills

• The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia expects the Bills to look at wide receiver in the 2020 NFL Draft. 
• Buscaglia adds Bills DT Jordan Phillips could be playing himself into a larger deal than Buffalo is comfortable with on the open market next season. 
• Phillips started ahead of first-round rookie DT Ed Oliver on Sunday against the Redskins, as Bills HC Sean McDermott said he had earned more opportunities with his play: “Jordan earned the right to get more opportunities — whether he started, or not.” (Marcel Louis-Jacques)

Dolphins

Despite the apparent tanking efforts by the Dolphins front office, HC Brian Flores has maintained that it’s still his job to coach the team as hard as he can to get a win. On Sunday, the Dolphins accomplished that by beating the Jets, earning Flores both his first win as head coach in Miami and his first orange Gatorade shower. 

“A lot about coaching is building relationships and having fun out there, so those moments mean a lot more. I wasn’t expecting any kind of bath,” Flores said, via ESPN’s Cameron Wolfe. “It was a fun moment for them, fun moment for me. It was something I’ll never forget.”

• Nick Korte from OverTheCap writes that according to his projection formula, even if Broncos OT Ja’Wuan James plays every snap the last seven games, he’s still projected to net the Dolphins only a fourth-round compensatory pick. 

Jets

• Per Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, Jets HC Adam Gase said he’s not thinking about his job security after New York lost to the previously winless Dolphins Sunday: “It’s something that I don’t really focus on. 1-7 is not fun to go through.”
• Asked what he tells Jets CEO Christopher Johnson after a loss like that, Gase responded: “When we lose a game, I feel like I let him down… He understands he’s going to get everything I have…. to get fighting to try to win games.” (Mehta)
• Johnson reportedly feels like he’s being unfairly criticized for hiring Gase and other moves he’s made this offseason. (Mehta)
• Jets OT Kelvin Beachum has a good chance to return to practice Wednesday. (Mehta)
• The Jets won’t release CB Darryl Roberts despite a social media post criticizing Jets fans. (Rich Cimini)