AFC East Notes: Bills, Jets, Patriots

Bills

• Albert Breer writes that the first order of business will be to find a legit No. 1 receiver with the draft being the most obvious avenue for Buffalo to go.
• Beyond that, Breer says the Bills will need to figure out how far they’re willing to go in order to re-sign free agent DE Shaq Lawson and DT Jordan Phillips.
• Per the Maven’s Rick Gosselin, the Bills’ special teams unit finished 2019 ranked 12th in the league. 

Jets

• ESPN’s Rich Cimini says it’s unfair to blame Jets HC Adam Gase for holding Titans QB Ryan Tannehill back when the two were together in Miami, as Tannehill missed the entire 2017 season with a knee injury along with five games in 2018 due to a shoulder injury after the duo made the playoffs in 2016.
• Per the Maven’s Rick Gosselin, the Jets’ special teams unit finished 2019 ranked 8th in the league. 

Patriots

Patriots QB Tom Brady will be a free agent for the first time in his NFL career this offseason and per a report on Sunday he intends to explore his options, even if it’s not in New England. In a radio interview, Brady reiterated he will be keeping an open mind to whatever the opportunities for playing next year look like. 

“I’m open-minded about the process,” Brady said via NESN’s Zack Cox. “At the same time, I love playing football and I want to continue to play and do a great job. So I’m looking forward to what’s ahead. Whatever the future may bring, I’ll embrace it with open arms. In the meantime, I’m going to watch these two games today as a fan and enjoy them from my couch.”

• According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, the Patriots’ two-year deal with CB Jason McCourty actually includes an option for New England to exercise this offseason if they want to bring him back. 
• Per the Maven’s Rick Gosselin, the Patriots’ special teams unit finished 2019 ranked 3rd in the league.