Bills
Bills GM Brandon Beane said thereโs a chance they donโt get a deal done with QB Josh Allen this year, which is the first year heโs eligible to get one. One of the factors there is that Beane isnโt sure the cap in 2022 is going to fully recover from the effects of the pandemic even if others are bullish on that point.
โIf youโre on the same page on that, it helps you get it done quicker,โ Beane said via the Athleticโs Matthew Fairburn. โSometimes youโre feeling like the cap is going to go up eight percent and theyโre hearing itโs going to go up 15 percent. Well thatโs a big difference. Theyโre pressing for more dollars and youโre worried, โWell if I do that, Iโm not going to be able to sign any other players. I may even have to cut players.โ That will all be part of the negotiation.โ
Beane acknowledged thatโs going to affect their draft plans as well, as theyโre already looking ahead to next year at players they could potentially have to let go to save money.
โWe do have to look at whatโs coming down the pipe as far as guys that are going to be free agents next year or are their players that are going to have a high cap number that we may have to make a tough decision on depending on where the cap goes,โ Beane said. โWeโve got to be smart with these picks. Finding as many guys โ cheap labor, if you want to call it, I use that term loosely because player salaries arenโt cheap โ but in comparison to what you would be paying a franchise quarterback or what weโre paying TreโDavious [White] and Stef [Diggs] and all those guys, weโve got to find some guys on the lower end, because youโve still got to fill the team and youโve got to find enough guys to line up and start for you.โ
- The Bills have explored the idea of adding a โbig nickelโ as a safety-linebacker hybrid in recent years but Beane notes theyโve cooled somewhat on the idea: โItโs one of those if you have the player on there the coaches will use it, but itโs not something weโve gotta have for this defense, I guess is the best way to say it.โ
Dolphins
- According to Barry Jackson, the Dolphins have had virtual meetings with Alabama RB Najee Harris, Clemson RB Travis Etienne, and North Caroline RB Javonte Williams. He also said it would be surprising if Miami didnโt take a running back win the first two rounds.
- Jackson also mentioned that the Dolphins spent time with Harris at the Senior Bowl along with the virtual meetings.
- The Dolphins are interested in drafting a young center to develop behind free-agent addition Matt Skura and to compete with converted G Michael Deiter, per Jackson.
- Jackson highlights Georgiaโs Trey Hill as someone the Dolphins like and could take on Day 3.
- According to Tony Pauline, the Dolphins might take Florida TE Kyle Pitts if heโs available at pick No. 6: โIโm told the Dolphins are very confident in where they are right now because theyโll get Kyle Pitts, or one of the talented WRs. If they stand pat, itโs looking like the pick will be Pitts.โ
- Pauline also said he thinks the Dolphins will take a pass rusher with the No. 18 pick: โMy sense from talking to people is that itโs probably not going to be Najee Harris at #18 โ look for the Dolphins to take a pass-rusher at 18: (Michigan DE) Kwity Paye, (Georgia OLB) Azeez Ojulari.โ
- If the Dolphins take a pass rusher at No. 18, Pauline doesnโt think it will be Miami DE Gregory Rousseau.
- Pauline mentioned he doesnโt think the Dolphins will consider taking Alabama WR DeVonta Smith: โSomeone close to the organization said to me โwhen push comes to shove, we donโt know if (Dolphins GM) Chris Grier is going to draft a WR thatโs under 170 lbs.โ
Jets
- The Athleticโs Connor Hughes believes the Jets โhave toโ address guard with either their second first-round pick or their first pick in the second round, as if theyโre serious about giving presumed No. 2 overall QB Zach Wilson a better supporting cast than his predecessor, they canโt go into 2021 with Alex Lewis and Greg Van Roten starting again.
- Hughes thinks the Jets wouldnโt consider Virginia Tech CB Caleb Farley until the second round and would prefer Northwestern CB Greg Newsome over him at No. 23 due to medical concerns over Farleyโs back.
- Hughes mentions some coaches last year thought fourth-round OL Cameron Clark was a bust after he struggled mightily in training camp. But he improved after he returned from injury on the scout team and Hughes says heโll have the opportunity to compete for a starting role.
- Former Jets CB Brian Poole is a candidate to re-sign with the team after the draft if they donโt add a slot corner, per Hughes. He adds LB Neville Hewitt is less likely as heโs not as good of a scheme fit.
- Hughes lists other cornerbacks available in free agency that the Jets could target including Richard Sherman, Steven Nelson, and Bashaud Breeland.
- Hughes expects the Jets to start contract talks with QB Brian Hoyer after the draft to come in as a mentor and backup.
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