AFC Notes: Bills, Dolphins, Patriots

Bills

• The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia writes that although the Bills now have a crowded room at defensive end after spending their first two picks on Gregory Rousseau and Carlos Basham, he doesn’t see them releasing Mario Addison. 
• Addison is 34 and his production declined last season after signing with Buffalo. However, cutting him results in only minimal cap savings per Buscaglia because the team restructured his deal earlier this offseason, and there likely wouldn’t be much of a trade market for him. 
• Bills GM Brandon Beane also highlighted how they see Addison as a valuable mentor to their young pass rushers: “Oh, Mario’s great. He’s already texted Sean and I. He’s a big time leader. One of the first things he said was, ‘I can’t wait to meet these young guys. I’m going to show them the ropes.’ That’s why you love him. You have to have guys on your roster that can teach the young guys. This is a big transition.”
• Beane added they see Addison having an impact on the field as well: “One of the things I thought, Mario played a higher snap count last year than he did in Carolina, even in the years he got a higher sack production. He had to play more of the first and second downs, versus just the third and obvious pass downs. So, the goal would be to cut his reps back and have him be fresher on the money downs so to speak.”
• That does leave a crowded defensive line room, though. Buscaglia thinks DE Mike Love, DT Brandin Bryant, and DE Bryan Cox Jr. face uphill climbs for a roster spot. That leaves DT Harrison Phillips, DE Efe Obada, DT Justin Zimmer, and DE Darryl Johnson fighting for one or two spots if Addison is safe. 
• Buscaglia points out the Bills might already have a long-term option at center with OL Ryan Bates, who is a five-tool offensive lineman and played pretty well at center during the preseason in 2019. 
• With both Cole Beasley and Emmanuel Sanders getting up there in age and Sanders and Isaiah McKenzie in contract years, Buscaglia lists receiver as a big need for the Bills in 2022. 
• Both Bills RB Devin Singletary and TE Dawson Knox are entering make-or-break seasons in 2021, according to Buscaglia. 

Dolphins

Now joining the Dolphins as a veteran, DB Jason McCourty is looking forward to mentoring young players like CB Noah Igbinoghene.

“As an older player now, I really look forward and love being able to mentor the younger guys, and be able to kind of help them grow, as well as going out there competing and trying to win games,” McCourty said, via Josh Tolentino of The Athletic. “So wherever that may be, I’m going to be excited. This will be Year 13, so each year, you’re closer to the end. This could be it. I’m just excited to get somewhere and play football.”

Dolphins’ HC Brian Flores spoke about another addition to the defensive backfield in S Jevon Holland.

“There are a lot of things to like,” Flores said. “I’m not into comparisons, but I feel like he’ll be a good fit for what we do. I think he’s got leadership qualities. I think he’s got the ability to communicate and really quarterback a defense because he’s smart. I’m excited to have him. We’ll see. He’ll get an opportunity to earn a role on this team, and I’m hopeful that he can fill multiple roles.”

Holland said that he models his game after Chiefs’ S Tyrann Mathieu.

“I grew up watching Tyrann Mathieu, so I try to model my game as much after Tyrann Mathieu as possible,” Holland said. “He’s a phenomenal player and an even better man, so I’m trying to replicate his play. … I played receiver in high school a lot, and that’s where I developed a lot of my ball skills. I feel like I have a good sense of how the ball trajectory is going to be in the sky and things like that, and I definitely think that added to my ball skills and ball-hawking ability.”

• Barry Jackson reports that McCourty could serve as a backup to cornerbacks Xavien Howard and Byron Jones, as well as compete with Holland to replace recently released S Bobby McCain and second-year S Brandon Jones at free safety.

Patriots

Patriots’ DE Deatrich Wise gave some insight on why he decided to re-sign with New England, despite the team no longer holding the same status it did when he arrived.

“One of the things that brought me back here was I just love the atmosphere here, the culture here that Bill Belichick and [owner Robert] Kraft and all the coaches and players have created,” Wise said, via Andrew Callahan of The Boston Herald. “I feel like this place is second to none when it comes to the mindset and culture of success. Both of my parents have made a lot of sacrifices to put my brothers and I in the places that we are now. And I just wanted to give back to them as they have given to me. … Now everything’s there.”