AFC Notes: Bills, Dolphins, Jets

Bills

Bills HC Sean McDermott spoke highly of CB Josh Norman and defended the team’s decision to sign him despite a lackluster run in Washington last season. Norman will certainly have competition at cornerback with Levi Wallace also looking to earn the starting job.

“There’s been a lot of talk of how he played and how his chapter in Washington maybe didn’t unfold the way that a lot of people had hoped,” McDermott said, via Matthew Fairburn of The Athletic. “But here’s what I would tell you about Josh: He is a highly competitive individual, and sometimes the grass isn’t always greener from a system or scheme standpoint, and culture as well. And so that’s another potential example of people coming to Buffalo and regaining, in this case, a better version of oneself. With Josh, he certainly had experienced great success in Carolina with our culture there and the system. Now with a similar culture and the same system really, hopefully, he’ll be able to regain his form, and I know he’s working extremely hard at it and we’re happy to have him.”

Dolphins

• According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the Dolphins are still determining whether second-round pick Robert Hunt is better suited to play guard or tackle as a rookie. While there are currently “mixed reviews” on Hunt, Jackson says Miami believes he can ultimately be a quality right tackle.
• Jackson says there’s a “good chance” Jesse Davis remains at right tackle in 2020, but he admits this could change if Hunt shows he can do a good job there.
• As for second-year OL Michael Deiter, Jackson mentions that one player thinks he’ll get a shot to compete at center besides seeing time at guard.
• The Dolphins will likely have Julien Davenport and Austin Jackson battle it out for the starting left tackle job with Ted Karras starting at center and Ereck Flowers working at left guard.
• Per Jackson, the Dolphins are having second-year receiver Gary Jennings learn the slot and boundary receiver positions. The idea here is to create mismatches with Jennings.
• Jackson expects Jennings to compete with Allen Hurns and Isaiah Ford, among others, for a fifth and sixth receiver job.

Jets

• Jets OL coach Frank Pollack expects first-round OT Mekhi Becton to take a “jump” in his rookie season, but he wouldn’t classify him as “raw” talent. (Connor Hughes)
• Pollack referred to Becton a “nasty” offensive lineman who has an “innate” ability to be aggressive, yet avoid penalties: “You want nasty guys on the field and gentlemen off. He’s a guy that fits that mold.”
• Pollack said he likes veteran OT George Fant experience at both left and right tackle, but he would not say where Fant will initially line up. (Connor Hughes)
• As for the Jets’ five starting offensive linemen, Pollack said the team intends on playing the “best five” players and there is “competition at every spot.” (Rich Cimini)