AFC East Notes: Bills, Dolphins, Jets, Patriots

Bills

• Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer points out that WR Stefon Diggs‘ cryptic tweet of “It’s time for a new beginning” after Minnesota signed QB Kirk Cousins to an extension actually did spark multiple teams, including the Bills, calling Minnesota with trade interest. 
• Buffalo had inquired with the Vikings about Diggs before the trade deadline last year and had gotten the vibe it would take two first-round picks or a first and second to get Diggs. This time, they mentioned the deal they did with WR Percy Harvin, sending him to the Seahawks for first, third and seventh-round picks, as a template. 
• Acquiring Diggs provides a big boost to Buffalo’s receiving corps, as the next best option would have been 33-year-old veteran WR Emmanuel Sanders. Buffalo would have only been able to move up four spots in the draft with the picks they used for Diggs. He is also affordable for a No. 1 wideout with four years and $47.5 million left on his deal. 

Dolphins

• Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald says the Dolphins’ offseason shopping list still includes two offensive tackles, a running back, an interior defensive lineman and wide receiver help. 
• Aaron Wilson reports that the Dolphins discussed a contract worth $17 million per year with free agent DE Jadeveon Clowney, However, he declined it and the Dolphins moved on to signing DE Shaq Lawson instead. Clowney is reportedly seeking $20 million per year but could end up signing a shorter deal.
• According to Barry Jackson, the Dolphins never made an offer to Clowney, despite the report and preferred to sign Emmanuel Ogbah and Lawson for less money combined. 

Jets

• Per SNY’s Ralph Vacchiano, an NFL agent thinks there’s a good chance WR Robby Anderson will take what he can get to re-sign with the Jets after he apparently didn’t find the $13 million per year he was seeking as a free agent: “At this point, he’s got to be thinking about getting the best deal he can from the Jets. He can still get a decent deal for maybe one or two years, and then be back on the market when the cap starts to go way up. He’ll still be young. Maybe his numbers go up and he can really cash in then.”
• Vacchiano points out that besides Amari Cooper, other free-agent receivers have struggled on the market given how deep the coming draft class is expected to be. Randall Cobb signed for three years and $27 million with the Texans, while the Saints got Emmanuel Sanders for two years and $16 million. 
• New York is optimistic about being able to keep Anderson on a two-year deal for $16-$18 million that would give him another chance to test free agency when the cap is expected to go up following the new TV deals. (Vacchiano)
• If they can’t, some other options could include Breshad Perriman, Phillip Dorsett or Demarcus Robinson. 
• Some bargain options at cornerback, per Vacchiano, include former Titans CB Logan Ryan and former Ravens CB Jimmy Smith.
• Vacchiano says the Jets have not reached out to QB Matt Moore about their open backup position. 
• Jets WR Quincy Enunwa‘s $6 million base salary became fully guaranteed Sunday. Previously it had been guaranteed for injury as he rehabbed a neck injury. (Rich Cimini)

Patriots

• Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer says the Patriots were talking with the Vikings about a trade for WR Stefon Diggs, but after tying up a chunk of cap space by franchising G Joe Thuney and learning that QB Tom Brady wouldn’t return, a trade for Diggs made less sense. 
• Per Pro Football Talk, QB Brian Hoyer‘s agent Joe Linta said his client turned down more money to sign with the Patriots because they offered him the chance to compete for the starting job. 
• The Patriots have not among the teams that have inquired about former XFL TE Donald Parham. (Doug Kyed)