AFC East Notes: Bills, Jets, Patriots

Bills

Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News writes that if the Bills are unable to trade up in the draft for a quarterback, Louisville QB Lamar Jackson could be a consideration for them at No. 12 overall, depending on whether they feel he can be a franchise quarterback for them.

โ€œIf the Bills donโ€™t think Jackson is worth the 12th pick, the other glaring need on the roster is at linebacker,โ€ Skurski writes. โ€œIf Georgiaโ€™s Roquan Smith is still available, and there is a chance he could be with four quarterbacks going in your scenario in the first 11 picks, he would become an immediate starter.โ€

Jets

Calvin Watkins of Newsday points out that even though the Jets signed some notable free agents this offseason in CB Trumaine Johnson and LB Avery Williamson, theyโ€™re still projected to have $90 million of available cap space for the 2019 season and that figure could increase up to $100 million.

โ€œThatโ€™s kind of a nice problem to have, isnโ€™t it?โ€ Jets CEO/chairman Christopher Johnson said. โ€œIโ€™m really happy that we have a lot of flexibility.โ€

  • Watkins lists RB Todd Gurley, RB Leโ€™Veon Bell, DE Demarcus Lawrence, DT Aaron Donald, OLB Jadeveon Clowney and WR Jarvis Landry as potential targets for the Jets in free agency next year.
  • New York will, however, need to address the contracts of DE Leonard Williams and G James Carpenter, according to Watkins.
  • Jets GM Mike Maccagnan admitted that next yearโ€™s free agent class look โ€œimpressiveโ€ as of now: โ€œThe list is impressive. What you tend to do is you go through and try and look at teams and who they anticipate theyโ€™re franchising and, of course, if they have that ability. A lot of things can happen between now and then.โ€

Patriots

  • Mike Reiss says that the Patriots are expected to have LaAdrian Waddle, Cole Croston or Matt Tobin complete for the starting left tackle job this summer.
  • Although, Reiss admits that New England could come away with another offensive tackle in this yearโ€™s draft.
  • Ben Volin writes that while Bret Bielema and Todd Graham have been seen with the Patriots this offseason, theyโ€™re more likely to be consultants than full-time coaches for New England, given that theyโ€™re both expected to go after college head-coaching vacancies in 2019.

Looking for the latest NFL Insider News & Rumors?

Be sure to follow NFL Trade Rumors on X.com and FACEBOOK for breaking NFL News and Rumors for all 32 teams!