AFC East Notes: Bills, Dolphins, Jets, Patriots

Bills

Bills OT Dion Dawkins is first in the extension line for a number of core Bills players drafted by GM Brandon Beane and HC Sean McDermott their first year in 2017. As a former second-round pick, Dawkins is entering the final year of his deal in 2020 and is looking at around $15 million a year in a new deal based on what the Cardinals gave OT D.J. Humphries. However, Dawkins isn’t worried about forcing the issue with a new contract. 

“My main priority is to get better, and I know if I continue to grow and learn and get better, then all of the chips will eventually fall,” Dawkins said via ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques. “As far as a new contract, I’m not worried about it. Whatever is supposed to happen is going to happen. I’m trying to be in Buffalo forever, so I’ve just got to do my part and when the time comes, I’ll be happy to sign on that dotted line.”

• The Athletic’s Connor Hughes reports the Bills expressed interest in G Greg Van Roten before he elected to sign with the Jets. 
• Bills WR Isaiah McKenzie said he turned down other offers as an unrestricted free agent after Buffalo declined to tender him as an RFA. (Sal Capaccio)
• Southern Illinois S Jeremy Chinn had a pre-hdraft video meeting with the Bills. (Justin Melo)
• LSU G Damien Lewis has had a pre-draft video meeting with the Bills. (Justin Melo)
• Texas A&M WR Quartney Davis had a meeting with the Bills. (Justin Melo)
• Georgia WR Lawrence Cager had a meeting scheduled with the Bills before the shutdown. (Justin Melo)
• Louisiana Lafayette OL Robert Hunt had a formal Combine interview with the Bills. (Justin Melo)
• Florida DE Jonathan Greenard had a private visit/workout scheduled with the Bills before the shutdown. (Justin Melo)
• The Bills had a private visit with Miami LB Shaquille Quarterman and also had a formal interview with him at the Combine. (Justin Melo)

Dolphins

• LSU G Damien Lewis has a pre-draft video meeting scheduled with the Dolphins. (Justin Melo)
• Iowa OT Tristan Wirfs has had a pre-draft video meeting with the Dolphins. (Justin Melo)
• Auburn CB Javaris Davis had a private workout with the Dolphins canceled due to the shutdown. (Justin Melo)
• LSU OT Saahdiq Charles had a formal interview with the Dolphins at the Combine. (Justin Melo)
• Louisiana Lafayette OL Robert Hunt was set to meet with the Dolphins before the shutdown. (Justin Melo)

Jets

• According to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, the Jets were telling agents during free agency this past week that they didn’t have the cash to do huge deals. 
• Iowa OT Tristan Wirfs was able to have his private workout with the Jets before the pandemic shutdown. (Justin Melo)
• LSU G Damien Lewis has had a pre-draft video meeting with the Jets. (Justin Melo)
• Auburn CB Javaris Davis had a private workout with the Jets canceled due to the shutdown. (Justin Melo)
• Georgia WR Lawrence Cager was able to have a meeting with the Jets before the shutdown, though he had a second meeting that was canceled. (Justin Melo)
• Louisiana Lafayette OL Robert Hunt had a formal Combine interview with the Jets. (Justin Melo)
• The Jets also had a visit/workout scheduled for Hunt that was canceled due to the shutdown. 
• Florida DE Jonathan Greenard had a private visit/workout scheduled with the Jets before the shutdown. (Justin Melo)

Patriots

• Per NBC Sports’ Darren Hartwell, S Duron Harmon said on the Double Coverage podcast Patriots HC Bill Belichick told him the reason they traded him to the Lions was to create cap space: “[Belichick] told me, ‘Look, it’s just at the point where we have to make some moves and we just paid Dev; it’s just going to be really tough to really do anything, or get anything done in free agency if we don’t do this.’” 
• ESPN’s Mike Reiss says the lack of interest the Patriots had in TE Eric Ebron shows how they didn’t see him as a fit despite the affordable, two-year, $12 million deal he ended up signing with the Steelers. 
• Reiss highlights LBs Nigel Bradham, LB Darron Lee, G Josh Kline, DE Kerry Wynn, DE Jabaal Sheard and LB Clay Matthews as potential free-agent fits for New England. 
• LSU G Damien Lewis has had a pre-draft video meeting with the Patriots. (Justin Melo)
• Michigan State DE Kenny Willekes has had a pre-draft video/phone meeting with the Patriots. (Justin Melo)
• Auburn CB Javaris Davis had a private workout with the Patriots canceled due to the shutdown. (Justin Melo)
• LSU OT Saahdiq Charles had a private visit with the Patriots canceled from the pandemic shutdown. (Justin Melo)
• Charles did have a formal interview with New England at the Combine. 
• Texas S Brandon Jones had a formal interview with the Patriots at the Combine. (Justin Melo)