AFC East Notes: Bills, Dolphins, Jets, Patriots

Bills

• Football Outsiders via ESPN lists offensive line as the biggest hole left on the Bills’ roster, but acknowledges that’s nitpicking as the Bills have one of the most solid rosters in the NFL with no clear weaknesses. 
• The only question marks are regarding if young players like QB Josh Allen and RG/RT Cody Ford can develop and improve. 
• Bills signed sixth-round K Tyler Bass, sixth-round WR Isaiah Hodgins and seventh-round CB Dane Jackson. (NFLTR)
• Bills signed five undrafted free agents. (NFLTR)

Dolphins

• Football Outsiders via ESPN lists edge rusher as the biggest hole left on the Dolphins’ roster.
• Miami signed DEs Shaq Lawson and Emmanuel Ogbah, as well as LB Kyle Van Noy, and drafted DL Jason Strowbridge and DE Curtis Weaver.
• While Dolphins HC Brian Flores comes from a Patriots-style scheme that de-emphasizes sinking huge resources into premium edge rushers, FO writes there’s still room for improvement for a defense that finished last in the NFL with 23 sacks in 2019. 

Jets

Panthers HC Matt Rhule‘s affinity for former players is no secret. Former Jets WR Robby Anderson is just one of several guys Rhule brought to Carolina that he used to coach. To replace Anderson, the Jets got another of Rhule’s former players in ex-Baylor WR Denzel Mims. The first-year head coach says the Jets will love Mims just as much as he does. 

“He’s a guy that Jets fans are going to love,” Rhule said via Newsday’s Al Iannazzone. “He’s blue-collar, tough guy, but yet he still runs 4.38 (40-yard dash). He’s going to be a deep ball threat. He’s got great hands, really, really smart, really tough and competitive.”

Rhule touted Mims’ work ethic and his potential as the receiver’s best attributes. While the rookie fell to the end of the second round, Rhule thinks the Jets got a steal. 

“His best football is still ahead of him and the greatest thing about him is he’s a guy that wants to learn,” Rhule said. “He’s not one of those guys who thinks he has it all figured out. He wants to get better. He wants to improve. He’s driven to be good. Learning how to play receiver, learning all the intricacies of route running, getting off bump-and-run, working the top of routes, he’s developed in those areas. When you get to the NFL and you face the best of the best you make a really big jump. That’s what all of the players I’ve had have done. I think Denzel will make yet another big jump this year.”

• Football Outsiders via ESPN lists edge rusher as the biggest hole left on the Jets’ roster, as Jordan Jenkins and Tarell Basham are the two projected starters, with third-round DE Jabari Zuniga the only notable addition this offseason. 
• Brian Costello of the New York Post thinks LB Markus Golden, who was given the unrestricted free agent tender by the Giants for a little over $4 million, would be a good fit for the Jets at that price. 
• While Costello doesn’t think signing CB Logan Ryan makes sense for the Jets, he could see them bringing back WR Demaryius Thomas as a mentor for Mims. 
• Costello adds not to count on a big move like signing DE Jadeveon Clowney or trading for DE Yannick Ngakoue for the Jets. 
• Costello also points out both Jets GM Joe Douglas and HC Adam Gase are equals in the organizational structure and report to CEO Christopher Johnson, so Douglas would not be able to fire Gase. 
• Per ESPN’s Rich Cimini, Jets LB C.J. Mosley says he feels like he’s making great progress in his recovery from a groin injury that tanked his first season in New York: “I wouldn’t say it’s 100 percent. I haven’t made those (cutting) movements, but I feel good. Mentally and physically, I feel great. It’s just a matter of getting on the field and doing it.”
• New Jets OT George Fant says he prefers to play on the left side but he’s open to either and is excited for the opportunity in New York. (Costello)

Patriots

• Football Outsiders via ESPN lists wide receiver as the biggest hole left on the Patriots’ roster, as the only big additions New England made to that group this offseason were Damiere Byrd and Marqise Lee. 
• The Patriots will be counting on a 34-year-old WR Julian Edelman to stay healthy, as well as 2019 additions N’Keal Harry, Jakobi Meyers and Mohamed Sanu to take a step forward. 
• Lee’s deal includes a $910,000 base salary, $162,500 of which is guaranteed, and a $137,500 signing bonus. The deal counts for $887,500 against the cap under the minimum salary benefit. (Mike Reiss)
• Patriots LB Chase Winovich had hernia surgery in February. (Ben Volin)