AFC East Notes: Bills, Jets, Patriots

Bills

Bills OL coach Bobby Johnson said he is not worried about the team having 17 offensive linemen on their 90-man roster right now and is focused on getting the five best players who worked together. 

“It’s not like we have zero idea of who we have,” said Johnson, via John Murphy of the team’s official site. “A lot of these guys have a body of work. They have something that you can go back and look at say this is how this guy plays. Now, how they fit together is what we’re trying to figure out. And what is the best combination. Sometimes the five most talented guys might not be your best line, it’s the best five that work together, that work as one.”

Jets

• According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, morale with the Jets is high after the addition of GM Joe Douglas and HC Adam Gase seems happier and more relaxed than he did with former GM Mike Maccagnan.
• Cimini mentions that the Jets are exploring the trade market for cornerback help. 
• Cimini adds the Jets are concerned about their depth at wide receiver and offensive line, as they’re less able to absorb injuries at those positions. 
• Cimini lists TE Daniel Brown, DE Bronson Kaufusi, LB Jordan Jenkins and RB Ty Montgomery as standing out during the spring. 
• As for players who underwhelmed during OTAs, Cimini mentions QB Trevor Siemian, RB Trenton Cannon, DT Nathan Shepherd and CB Parry Nickerson.
• Jets new DC Gregg Williams believes he can help CB Trumaine Johnson rebound: “He’s really motivated. He understands me, I understand him. It’s my job to help him be the best he can be. He and I, we had some really good moments together [with the Rams].”
• Jets LB C.J. Mosley is set to join Adams as one of the key leaders on the defense, per Gregg Williams: “He’s excited about the flexibility now with, all of a sudden, being even more of a quarterback on the defense and having the checks and audible systems and things that we teach. He’s been very good. It’s been fun.”

Patriots

• ESPN’s Mike Reiss reports the Texans backed off their pursuit of Patriots executive Nick Caserio for their open general manager position once CEO Cal McNair was “made aware of certain terms in Nick’s contract with the Patriots.”
• Reiss theorizes Caserio agreed not to pursue any other openings in his last extension with the Patriots.
• According to Reiss, this situation could influence Caserio to leave the Patriots once his contract expires following the 2020 draft. 
• Reiss mentions the Patriots’ attempted trade for Lions TE Michael Roberts would have been the seventh trade between New England and Detroit since 2016 when former Patriots director of pro scouting Bob Quinn became the Lions GM. 
• The Boston Globe’s Ben Volin says the Patriots are doing everything they can to get WR N’Keal Harry ready for the season, including reps with the first, second and third teams and lots of one-on-one time with QB Tom Brady, OC Josh McDaniels and WR coaches Troy Brown, Joe Judge and Deion Branch.
• Volin says the Patriots should look at signing either OT Donald Penn or Jeremy Parnell to shore up their depth at the position. 
• Volin said former Patriots team chaplain Jack Easterby‘s role grew in New England to be more involved on the football side. Easterby helped HC Bill Belichick evaluate players’ character, especially following the Aaron Hernandez situation, as well as sitting in on personnel meetings and helping coach on the field. 
• Volin writes that Easterby got his start in the Jaguars’ salary cap department and wants to run an NFL team one day.