AFC East Notes: Dolphins, Jets, Patriots

Dolphins

• Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports that the Dolphins are interested in several tight ends in the upcoming draft.
• The team had a video-conference with Dayton TE Adam Trautman and Dolphins TE Coach George Godsey also interviewed Washington TE Hunter Bryant.
• While they missed out on a visit with Florida Atlantic TE Harrison Bryant, Jackson says the team is also interested in Virginia Tech’s Dalton Keene, and Michigan’s Sean McKeon.
• An Auburn source tells Jackson that the Dolphins like OT Prince Tega Wanogho and have arranged an interview with him.
• According to Jackson, there is a possibility the Dolphins could select two offensive tackles in the first three rounds of the draft, which would allow Miami to move Jesse Davis to right guard.
• The Dolphins have also scheduled a call with Boise State T Ezra Cleveland.
• The team has also arranged a video-conference session with Mississippi State DE Chauncey Rivers.
• Although the Dolphins had a visit from Ohio State RB J.K. Dobbins, Georgia’s D’Andre Swift and UCLA’s Joshua Kelley were unable to attend due to restrictions.
• Among other running backs that have drawn Miami’s interest according to Jackson, include Washington’s Salvon Ahmed, who did a video-conference with Dolphins officials, and Vanderbilt’s Ke’Shawn Vaughn.

Jets

• Connor Hughes of The Athletic writes that offensive line is a priority for the Jets.
• New York could be in a position to come away with one of the top four offensive tackle prospects — Mekhi Becton (Louisville), Jedrick Wills (Alabama), Tristan Wirfs (Iowa) and Andrew Thomas (Georgia) — at No. 11 overall. Hughes believes the Jets need to address the position at that point unless they Becton, Wills or Wirfs are gone and they aren’t sold on Thomas.
• In that case, New York could turn around and take either Jerry Jeudy (Alabama) or CeeDee Lamb (Oklahoma) and address offensive tackle later on.
• While Everson Griffen is one the best available pass rushers, Hughes isn’t sure signing him would solve any of the Jets’ current issues, given that he’s 32 and probably better suited to play defensive end than outside linebacker.

Patriots

Former Patriots GM Scott Pioli spoke with Tom Curran about a little known figure within the Patriots organization named Ernie Adams, who holds the title of “Football Research Director.”

“(Jarret Stidham’s) spent time with Bill (Belichick), with Josh (McDaniels), with Ernie Adams, who has had a key role — he’s one of the people that’s not talked about a whole lot in terms of Tom Brady’s development,” Pioli told Curran. “He would identify a lot of things. I’m not going to get into — that’s part of the Patriots thing, you’ve got a cone of silence. I will say this: Ernie did a lot and does a lot, and he does it as well as anybody that I’ve ever been around.”

“He’s involved in game-planning, he’s involved in personnel,” Pioli continued. “He looks at things from a different perspective where he doesn’t sit in meeting rooms with individual players where he’ll end up getting distracted by certain emotional components and relationships with players. He looks at things with a very clean way.”

Pioli even mentioned that the 67-year-old Adams deserves a place in the Patriots Hall of Fame at some point in the future.

“Ernie has been a huge key to the (Patriots) success,” said Pioli. “He’s been a part of some great, great football teams. He’s a hidden figure that people know a little bit about. But he’s someone who’s had an enormous impact on that franchise and I hope and pray he ends up in the Patriots Hall of Fame someday.”