AFC East Notes: Bills, Jets, Patriots

Bills

• Ben Volin of the Boston Globe mentions Bills RB LeSean McCoy as a candidate to be a surprise cut given Buffalo’s depth at running back and the $6.175 million in savings. 
• Ryan Talbot of NewYorkUpstate.com included McCoy his list of 10 starters from Buffalo’s 2018 squad who could be in danger of losing their roster spot this summer.
• It’s worth mentioning that Bills GM Brandon Beane said a few weeks ago that McCoy is still the starter, but he’s excited to see how free-agent signing RB Frank Gore will push him: “I see (Gore) competing to be the best. He’s been a starter. He’ll push LeSean and LeSean will have to be on his best or — he’ll compete. Right now, LeSean is our starter and that’s how we see it. But Frank is an accomplished back, he’s gonna be a Hall of Famer and he’s ready for whatever role we want him.” (Mike Rodak)

Jets

• According to Pro Football Talk, it’s more likely a team reaches out to the Jets in a trade for RB Le’Veon Bell than the other way around, especially if an established starter is lost to injury. 
• However, Florio says it’s unlikely the Jets would eat $12 million of Bell’s salary without him playing in a single game for them. 
• While the Jets could trade Bell in 2020 when his contract would only be $13 million guaranteed, Florio writes if Bell has a season good enough to prompt a team to take on that level of salary for a running back, it would also make the Jets more willing to keep him. 
• Per ESPN’s Rich Cimini, there’s talk in league circles the Jets could be looking to move on from DL Leonard Williams, who will be a free agent following this season. Williams’ salary this year is $14.2 million and the Jets have already committed significant resources to the defensive line. 
• Cimini writes the Jets could either let Williams walk and get a compensatory pick, use the franchise tag on him for $18 million or try to tag and trade him like the Chiefs and Seahawks did with Dee Ford and Frank Clark this year. 
• According to Cimini, if the Jets don’t trade Bell this year or in 2020, he’s an easy cut candidate in 2021 when his guaranteed money runs out.  
• Cimini mentions WR Robby Anderson essentially has a year to prove he merits a long-term extension, but notes that HC Adam Gase isn’t opposed to letting talented wide receivers leave in free agency. 
• The Chiefs offer of a 2020 sixth-round pick for LB Darron Lee had been on the table for a while, per Cimini. 

Patriots

Patriots assistant coach Jerod Mayo has already taken on a leadership role on the defensive coaching staff. 

“He was obviously a tremendous player, but he’s a tremendous leader as well. I can honestly say I’ve never seen a player lead a team like the way Mayo led us [when he played in 2008-15]. He did things where he could bring players along and help raise their level of play. As an older guy now, you can only imagine what he could do for that locker room based on his leadership,” Patriots S Duron Harmon said via ESPN’s Mike Reiss. “I’m excited to get back around him, to have his leadership and football mind. I believe he’ll do a lot for the linebackers and, with his leadership, the entire team.”