AFC Notes: Bills, Dolphins, Jets, Patriots

Bills

• Per ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques, Bills HC Sean McDermott broke from tradition and confirmed the team has interest in former Jets RB Le’Veon Bell: “We always look into every situation, this being one of them. Trying to improve our football team — that’s all I can say right now.”
• Bell has since agreed to sign with the Chiefs. (NFLTR)
• McDermott mentioned Bills CB Tre’Davious White, WR John Brown and LB Matt Milano would all participate in the team’s “jog-through” on Thursday. (Joe Buscaglia)
• Bills TE Dawson Knox, however, did not participate in practice. (Sal Capaccio)
• Bills CB Levi Wallace did strength and conditioning work to the side which appears to bode well for his return from injured reserve in two weeks when he’s eligible. (Buscaglia)

Dolphins

• ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the Jets had late trade talks with the Dolphins, Patriots, and Raiders regarding a potential deal for RB Le’Veon Bell. However, no team was willing to take on Bell’s contract, considering that it included injury protections in 2021. 
• Per ESPN’s Cameron Wolfe, Dolphins HC Brian Flores said any questions about their pursuit of Bell would be best directed to GM Chris Grier: “I’ve said this before, ‘he’s a very good player. As a personnel staff and organization, we look at anyone who is available who could help our team.”
• Bell has since agreed to sign with the Chiefs. (NFLTR)
• Flores noted second-round DL Raekwon Davis is still trying to find his footing but should have more opportunities in the rotation with the injury to DL Davon Godchaux. (Armando Salguero)

Jets

• ESPN’s Bill Barnwell outlines a potential trade between the Colts and Jets, with Indianapolis sending a 2021 second and conditional 2022 third-round pick to New York for QB Sam Darnold. 
• Barnwell notes the Jets are looking likelier and likelier to get the No. 1 overall pick, which comes with Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence who even as a prospect looks like more of a sure thing than Darnold. Indianapolis won’t be in range of the top quarterbacks and could roll the dice that Darnold could thrive as a potential long-term option in a better situation. 
• Barnwell adds the Jets could also explore a trade of S Bradley McDougald to the Eagles for WR JJ Arcega-Whiteside and a seventh-round pick. 
• The Eagles need starting help at safety and Jets GM Joe Douglas was a part of the team when they drafted Arcega-Whiteside in the second-round in 2019. He’s struggled but a fresh start in a shallow New York receiving corps could be good for him. 
• Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline says he’s heard Jets HC Adam Gase is starting to lose the locker room and could be fired sooner rather than later. 
• Pauline mentions early November as the point where it will be untenable for New York to keep Gase if the team keeps losing. He adds there’s a sense, including by some players, that the only reason Gase is still around is so CEO Christopher Johnson can save face. 
• ESPN’s Rich Cimini writes there’s definitely a danger of the locker room rebelling after the Jets cut RB Le’Veon Bell, as he was well-liked by his teammates. 
• However, he adds that with Bell gone, the Jets will be able to get a deeper look at fourth-round RB La’Mical Perine, as well as RB Ty Johnson who was claimed off waivers from Detroit after the Lions cut the former sixth-round pick. 
• As for other players the Jets could look to trade, SNY’s Ralph Vacchiano lists McDougald, S Marcus Maye, DL Quinnen Williams, CB Brian Poole, TE Chris Herndon, RB Frank Gore and QB Joe Flacco as some potential options. 
• The Jets have received calls from other teams regarding Williams, though it’s unclear how far talks have progressed. Douglas has notably claimed he’ll listen to calls for any player on his roster. (Connor Rogers)
• While the Jets had offsets in Bell’s deal, he could claim termination pay and double dip with both the guaranteed money the Jets still owe him and whatever new salary he can get from his next team. (Mike Garafolo)

Patriots

• ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the Jets had late trade talks with the Dolphins, Patriots, and Raiders regarding a potential deal for RB Le’Veon Bell. However, no team was willing to take on Bell’s contract, considering that it included injury protections in 2021. 
• ESPN’s Bill Barnwell outlines a potential trade between the Bengals and Patriots. Cincinnati would trade WR John Ross to the Patriots for a 2021 sixth-round pick to get something back for him. New England would add some speed to its offense in a low-risk move. 
• The Patriots are hosting WR Mason Kinsey for a visit this week. (Aaron Wilson)