AFC East Notes: Bills, Jets, Patriots

April 1, 2018

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.

“If the Bills don’t think Jackson is worth the 12th pick, the other glaring need on the roster is at linebacker,” Skurski writes. “If Georgia’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.”

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, they’re still projected to have $90 million of available cap space for the 2019 season and that figure could increase up to $100 million.

“That’s kind of a nice problem to have, isn’t it?” Jets CEO/chairman Christopher Johnson said. “I’m really happy that we have a lot of flexibility.”

Watkins lists RB Todd Gurley, RB Le’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 year’s free agent class look “impressive” as of now: “The list is impressive. What you tend to do is you go through and try and look at teams and who they anticipate they’re franchising and, of course, if they have that ability. A lot of things can happen between now and then.”

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 year’s draft.
Ben Volin writes that while Bret Bielema and Todd Graham have been seen with the Patriots this offseason, they’re more likely to be consultants than full-time coaches for New England, given that they’re both expected to go after college head-coaching vacancies in 2019.