AFC East Notes: Dolphins, Jets, Patriots

Dolphins

After playing his rookie season at around 215 pounds, Dolphins LB Jerome Baker has bulked up to 227 to be able to handle a larger role on the defense this season. 

“I feel like a new player, honestly,” Baker said via Hal Habib of the Palm Beach Post. “I feel stronger. I feel faster. . . . I got in the weight room a lot. That was my main thing, just working out as much as I can and hopefully improve so it pays off in the season.”

• ESPN’s Cameron Wolfe listed Dolphins OT Jordan Mills as a potential veteran cut. Miami signed Mills to start at right tackle, but he reportedly struggled during the spring. The Dolphins could save $2 million by releasing him. 
• Former agent and CBS analyst Joel Corry writes that Dolphins WR DeVante Parker is probably on his last chance after renegotiating his $9.387 million fifth-year option into a two-year, $10 million deal.

Jets

Jets WR Robby Anderson didn’t quite have the breakout third season he was expecting, as his 50 catches for 752 yards and six touchdowns in 2018 were all lower than his 2017 totals. He’s focused on correcting course as he enters a contract year in 2019. 

“That was a down year for me,” Anderson said via Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. “I know my capabilities. I know what I want to become . . . and that’s the best receiver in the NFL.”

Anderson has earned a reputation as a deep specialist with his speed and ball-tracking ability. However, he felt last year he was confined too much to that role. New Jets HC Adam Gase says the goal is to increase the variety of ways they utilize Anderson to maximize his effectiveness. 

“We’re just going to keep trying to think of ways to get him the ball, ways to create variety in his routes,” Gase said. “Instead of just doing one or two things, maybe we can open that thing up to five, six, seven things to where he’s a threat on multiple levels whether it be underneath, intermediate or down the field.”

Patriots

• Per Ben Volin, former Patriots executive Michael Lombardi said Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio wanted to leave New England to take the Texans GM job: “At the end of the day, Nick obviously knew he had that clause in his contract, he knew he had another year, but he wanted to leave. And I think that will still end up being the case. The Texans aren’t hiring anybody. They want Nick.”