AFC East Notes: Dolphins, Jets, Patriots

Dolphins

Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill told reporters on Wednesday that he wasn’t worried about the possibility of the team drafting a quarterback and he understands that he needs to continue to prove himself each day.

“I wasn’t worried,” Tannehill said, via Pro Football Talk. “Every team has to evaluate positions and make the best decisions for the organization, but it never changed my course of action or my plan. I knew I have to go out and perform whether they drafted somebody or not. That’s the case this year, that’s the case every year. You have to go out and perform or you won’t be around.”

Jets

On Tuesday, the Jets agreed to trade QB Christian Hackenberg to the Raiders for a conditional 2019 seventh-round pick.

However, Jets HC Todd Bowles said they don’t consider the second-round pick they used on Hackenberg to be a waste.

“Anytime a pick doesn’t work out I guess you can look at it as a waste,” Bowles said, via Pro Football Talk. “When a pick does work out, it is not a waste. You learn lessons from everything you do in life. It isn’t just football and draft picks. If anyone has a four-leaf clover up their butt and it is going to work out every time please let me know that person because hey, it didn’t work out here.”

• Bowles said WR Terrelle Pryor missed the start of OTAs due to an ankle injury: “It’s an ankle. It’s an injury. It’s May, I’m not going to really talk about our injuries. But he’ll get out there as best he can when he’s ready.” (Daniel Popper)
• Bowles did say that they are to signing another quarterback. (Calvin Watkins)

Patriots

Patriots owner Robert Kraft told reporters at the NFL’s spring meeting in Atlanta that he’s spoken with Tom Brady and he expects Brady to be in attendance for the start of mandatory minicamp.

“I think he’s very excited about the upcoming season,” Kraft said, via ESPN.com. “These are voluntary workouts, and I think he’s in great shape. I think he’s at an age where — I was thinking back to when he joined us — he’s blessed to have three children now and built a number of businesses and has certain responsibilities. I think it’s very hard for him to fulfill those during the season and the commitment he has to football. I can only say this: I know he’s very excited about being at minicamp and having a very special season this year.”

• Kraft also mentioned that TE Rob Gronkowski will be there for minicamp. (Ian Rapoport)