AFC East Notes: Bills, Dolphins, Jets

Bills

Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic takes a look at five “cost-effective” running backs the Bills could pursue in free agency, including:

• Eagles RB Jordan Howard
• Texans RB Lamar Miller
• Texans RB Carlos Hyde
• Raiders RB DeAndre Washington
• Saints RB Dwayne Washington

Dolphins

• Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post lists the Dolphins top five free agency needs as an offensive lineman, pass rusher, defensive back, running back and defensive lineman.
• According to Schad, Jesse Davis may start at right tackle or right guard and G Michael Deiter could have a shot at starting at left guard.
• Free agent RT Jack Conklin will likely land a large contract outside of Miami’s comfort zone, according to Schad. Some other offensive lineman Miami may be interested in include G Joe Thuney, C Ted Karras, G Graham Glasgow, and C Connor McGovern.
• Schad also notes that recently franchised players such as Yannick Ngakoue and Matthew Judon would be appealing sign-and-trade candidates for the Dolphins, but both could command a salary outside of Miami’s comfort zone. LB Kyle Van Noy, LB Markus Golden, LB Jason Pierre-Paul, and DE Shaq Lawson are some other options for Miami, according to Schad.
• Some potential cornerback candidates for Miami mentioned by Schad, include CB Logan Ryan, CB Trae Waynes, CB Mackenzie Alexander, and CB Brian Poole.
• Schad believes the Dolphins will draft a running back who will likely be their starter, as the team is unable to rely on RB Kalen Ballage. Potential draft candidates include Georgia RB D’Andre Swift, Ohio State RB J.K. Dobbins or Wisconsin RB Jonathan Taylor.
• Schad also mentions he would be surprised if the team spent a large amount of money on a running back such as Derrick Henry or Melvin Gordon, however, he could see the team signing a player such as RB Jordan Howard or RB Carlos Hyde.
• Don’t expect Miami to add a player such as DE Jadeveon Clowney, DT Chris Jones or DT Ndamukong Suh. Schad instead could see the Dolphins adding a player such as
  DT D.J. Reader, DT Javon Hargrave, or DL Leonard Williams.

Jets

• Regarding the relationship between Jets HC Adam Gase and GM Joe Douglas, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News does not think the coach and general manager “trust each other implicitly.”
• Mehta notes that some executives around the league feel Douglas will be able to keep Gase “in check” and not allow the coaches’ “emotional instability and fickleness” to become a problem. 
• Mehta estimates the Jets to have 8-10 new starting players on next season’s roster, while they should also sign players for the back end of their roster.
• As for the possibility of trading for Jaguars’ franchise DE Yannick Ngakoue, Mehta does not think the Jets would be willing to relinquish draft-capital and sign him to an expensive long-term deal.