AFC East Notes: Dolphins, Jets, Patriots

Dolphins

• According to Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald, the Dolphins envision DeVante Parker and Preston Williams as their two starting outside receivers for now, with veteran Albert Wilson in the slot. 
• Williams, who is recovering from a torn ACL in November after a strong start as an undrafted free agent, is on schedule in his rehab and is now jogging. Miami hopes to have him back for Week 1. 
• Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer mentions Dolphins first-round QB Tua Tagovailoa‘s rookie deal includes offset language. Offset language lets teams deduct cash owed to players based on salary they receive if signed by other teams and is one of the few negotiable aspects of rookie deals. 

Jets

Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, who earlier this year reported the Jets were dealing with cash flow problems that restricted them during free agency, also reports the Jets spent just $74,000 in signing bonuses for their undrafted rookies — or about 60 percent out of the NFL’s maximum $123,000 pool. 

• Former Memphis OLB Bryce Huff received a $15,000 signing bonus and was guaranteed $75,000 of his base salary. 
• Former Alabama CB Shyheim Carter received a $12,000 signing bonus and was guaranteed $60,000 of his base salary. 
• Former Washington OT Jared Hilbers received a $12,000 signing bonus and was guaranteed $50,000 of his base salary. 
• Former Coastal Carolina DL Sterling Johnson received a $10,000 signing bonus and was guaranteed $50,000 of his base salary. 
• Former Georgia WR Lawrence Cager received a $7,500 signing bonus and was guaranteed $50,000 of his base salary. 
• Former Utah CB Javelin Guidry received a $7,000 signing bonus and was guaranteed $40,000 of his base salary. 
• Former Nebraska CB Lamar Jackson received a $7,500 signing bonus and was guaranteed $20,000 of his base salary. 
• Former West Virginia WR George Campbell received a $2,500 signing bonus. 
• Former UNC-Pembroke DL Domenique Davis received just $650 in guarantees. 

Patriots

With the work restrictions impacting the NFL, continuity looks like it will be more important than ever in 2020 for teams. And while the Patriots are dealing with major changes elsewhere, their secondary returns all of the key contributors from what was an elite unit. However, Patriots CB Jonathan Jones says they’re not taking that for granted and are placing the same emphasis on communication during virtual OTAs. 

“It’s to have everyone on the same mental plane as far as communication, [and] refreshing that,” Jones said via Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald. “I mean, even for the veteran guys, just hearing some of those terminologies over and over again, and starting from scratch. I think that’s something we kind of do every year. We don’t assume that everyone knows anything, so we start on the playbook from page one.”

In this case, Jones is right that not everyone is on the same page, as the Patriots have to bring second-round S Kyle Dugger and free-agent addition S Adrian Phillips up to speed. But this is also where the wealth of experience should help ease the transition. 

“In the [secondary], just having those guys who have seen the same thing over and over, there’s subtle communication between each other that we’ve grown into an understanding. So, getting back to that once we get on the field, I think we’ll be a step ahead,” Jones added. “But, like I said, we have to continue with that with these meetings to just kind of refresh that.”

• According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, the Patriots’ two-year extension for S Patrick Chung created $925,000 in salary cap space. 
• It’s not a large sum, but it should be enough for the cap-strapped Patriots to sign Dugger and wrap up their rookie class. 
• NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo says Chung will receive an additional $1.6 million in 2020 to push his total compensation to $5 million. 
• He adds there’s no update on a potential suspension for Chung’s arrest for drug charges last year. 
• ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler mentions Chung considered retirement this offseason but instead re-signed with New England on a deal that runs through 2023.