AFC East Notes: Bills, Dolphins, Jets, Patriots

Bills

• In an interview with NFL Media’s Rich Eisen, Saints WR Emmanuel Sanders says the Bills expressed some interest in signing him before pivoting to trade for WR Stefon Diggs, per WGR 550’s Sal Capaccio: “I spoke with the Bills for a little bit, and I told them, ‘let me think about the idea and give me a night.’ Then 30-minutes later the Stefon Diggs deal went through and I was like, ‘ok.'”
• Per the Athletic’s Mike Sando, Buffalo’s trade for Diggs drew mixed reviews. A veteran coach thought the move to add a proven receiver for QB Josh Allen was smart: “They found a real guy who is young, hungry, cannot wait to get to a new team, grow together with the quarterback, 26 years old, all that. I like draft picks, too, but with Diggs you get a young finished product, a known quantity who will help the quarterback more than a rookie. Now, if the kid (Allen) still completes under 60 percent, then it falls back on him in year three, but Diggs will certainly help. That is a helluva move.”
• Other executives didn’t like the value the Bills gave up — four picks including a first-round pick — for a player as volatile as Diggs: “I wouldn’t have done it for one first-round pick, let alone all those other picks. Diggs seems happy now, but he is going to play with the most inaccurate quarterback he has ever had, and even if you are the No. 1 receiver there, they are not going to change who they are. Is anyone shocked if Diggs wants a new deal or a trade within a year?”
• Bills RB Taiwan Jones‘ one-year, $1.75 million deal includes a $400,000 signing bonus, $300,000 of his $1.05 million is guaranteed and can earn up to $300,000 total in per-game active roster bonuses. (Aaron Wilson)
• Bills ILB Tyler Matakevich‘s two-year, $7.15 million deal includes a $700,000 signing bonus, a guaranteed base salary of $1.75 million in 2020 and a non-guaranteed salary of $3 million in 2020. He is due a $1 million bonus by the fifth day after contract execution and can earn up to $250,000 in per-game active roster bonuses and $600,000 in playing time incentives over the next two years, to go along with a $600,000 base escalator for 2021. (Wilson)

Dolphins

• Per the Athletic’s Mike Sando, NFL evaluators are bullish on the Dolphins’ ability to fill the void in the AFC East: “You can honestly say the Dolphins, based on how they finished up the year, could be a favorite to win that division. They have some good picks. They will get a quarterback, whether it is Tua Tagovailoa or one of those other guys. They signed some guys on defense who fit their scheme. They are going to be right in it. If you are Miami, who are you scared of in the division?”

Jets

• SNY’s Ralph Vacchiano lists four potential receivers who could be possible trade acquisitions for the Jets including Browns WR Odell Beckham, Rams WR Brandin Cooks, Chiefs WR Sammy Watkins, and Bengals WR A.J. Green.
• According to Vacchiano, it is possible David Fales won’t be the last quarterback signing for the Jets this offseason. However, he says New York won’t be pursuing Cam Newton or Andy Dalton.
• Vacchiano notes Fales’ return “makes sense” given he understands HC Adam Gase‘s system.
• Per the Athletic’s Mike Sando, one NFL executive was not a fan of the way the Jets went about rebooting their offensive line, signing C Connor McGovern and OT George Fant: “What is worse, tying yourself to Le’Veon Bell for $27 million guaranteed, or tying yourself to Fant and McGovern for $31 million guaranteed?” 
• Per the Athletic’s Connor Hughes, Jets GM Joe Douglas confirmed the team has been in contact with free-agent DE Jadeveon Clowney: “We’re going to do our due diligence on everyone who’s out there, especially at edge rusher.”
• He did add the team was “excited” to bring back LB Jordan Jenkins. 
• Douglas confirmed the Jets did their “due diligence” on potential trades with the Texans and Vikings for WRs DeAndre Hopkins and Stefon Diggs, respectively. (Hughes)
• The Jets ended up signing WR Breshad Perriman to a one-year, $6 million deal. Douglas told reporters he’s spent a lot of time scouting Perriman going back to his time in Baltimore and is confident in his ability: “You’ve seen in the back half of two years ago in Cleveland, end of this year, you’d be hard-pressed to find a WR with better numbers than Breshad.” (Hughes)
• Douglas seems to expect Jets G Brian Winters to be on the roster and competing for a starting job in 2020: “We love his competitiveness and toughness. We should have a really good competition for our offensive line.” (Vacchiano)
• Jets LB C.J. Mosley is progressing well in his recovery from a 2019 groin injury, per Douglas. He admitted WR Quincy Enunwa (neck) is a “big question mark for us moving forward.” (Hughes)

Patriots

NESN’s Doug Kyed lists a number of players who would be ideal fits for the Patriots and should be available at their picks, including: 

• Wisconsin LB Zack Baun
• Baylor WR Denzel Mims
• Boise State OT Ezra Cleveland
• Michigan C Cesar Ruiz
• Dayton TE Adam Trautman
• Ohio State LB Malik Harrison
• Ohio State DT Davon Hamilton
• Oklahoma QB Jalen Hurts
• Kentucky WR Lynn Bowden
• Boston College RB A.J. Dillon
• North Dakota State DE Derrek Tuszka
• Penn State CB John Reid
• Michigan S Josh Metellus
• Michigan G Jon Runyan
• Georgia K Rodrigo Blankenship