AFC East Notes: Bills, Dolphins, Patriots

Bills

• Mike Rodak notes that $2.5 million of Bills DE Trent Murphy‘s salary is now fully guaranteed for the 2019 season now that that fifth day of the league year has passed. Murphy also received a $500,000 roster bonus.
• Rodak says this “virtually ensures” Murphy will be back for the 2019 season, unless Buffalo wants to eat $6.5 million in dead money.
• Bills DE Jerry Hughes was also paid a $1 million roster bonus on the fifth day of the league year, per Rodak.

Dolphins

• New Dolphins QB Ryan Fitzpatrick told reporters on Tuesday that other teams were interested in signing him and the financial terms “were similar.” (Armando Salguero)
• However, all of the other teams had starters “penciled in” so the Dolphins were his only chance to start.

Patriots

• According to Greg Bedard, the Browns are not and won’t be an option for Patriots free agent K Stephen Gostkowski, which leaves New England with the only other kicker vacancy. 
• Mike Reiss reports that DT Mike Pennel‘s contract with the Patriots is a two-year deal that carries a base value of $5 million and includes playing-time incentives that increase the maximum value of the agreement to $8 million.
• Reiss says Pennel projects as a starter next to Lawrence Guy for the Patriots.