AFC Notes: Bills, Jets, Patriots

Bills

• Per WGR 550’s Sal Capaccio, Bills GM Brandon Beane mentioned Spencer Long, Daryl Williams, Evan Boehm and Ike Boettger as potential replacements for starting RG Jon Feliciano. 
• Beane also hasn’t ruled out sliding Cody Ford inside from right tackle depending on how things shake out. 
• Beane said the Bills will use the $175 million salary cap floor in 2021 as their number in planning going forward, then adjust later if it’s higher: “Obviously that throws a wrench in every team’s planning.” (Matthew Fairburn)

Jets

ESPN’s Rich Cimini does not see the Jets trading for Jaguars DE Yannick Ngakoue, as he doesn’t see GM Joe Douglas giving a first-round pick for a possible one-year rental of a player the team sees as a one-dimensional player. 

Now that Jets LB C.J. Mosley has opted out of the 2020 season, Cimini projects New York’s depth chart at middle and inside linebacker roles:

• MLB: Avery Williamson, Neville Hewitt, B.J. Bello.
• ILB: Patrick Onwuasor, James Burgess, Blake Cashman.

Patriots

• ESPN’s Mike Reiss says that while the Patriots have a sudden influx of cap space following several opt-outs, he doesn’t expect New England to make any flashy moves with it like adding DE Jadeveon Clowney. 
• Reiss points out players who opted out still count against the cap in 2021 when it’s expected to drop, so rolling over that space to next year is the prudent move. 
• Reiss mentions Patriots assistant RB coach Troy Brown also has a title of kick returners coach. 
• Patriots FB Danny Vitale was not New England’s top free-agent target at fullback this offseason, per Reiss, and might not have been a lock for the final roster before he opted out.
• Despite taking a year off at the age of 32, Patriots S Patrick Chung said he’s not anticipating retiring: “It’s not over, it’s just postponed a bit.” (CBS) 
• Former Patriots OL coach Dante Scarnecchia sees Patriots QB Cam Newton as having the edge in New England’s quarterback competition: “I think he has a huge edge, because of what he’s done in the league. The guy was an MVP. We played against him a number of times, have a huge respect for him as a player and leader, and the things he’s done. This guy, from a skill set, a lot different from guys we’ve had in there at quarterback over the years.” (SiriusXM NFL Radio)
• Scarnecchia added Patriots QB Jarrett Stidham also has some mobility in his skillset, even if not to the degree of Newton, and could hold his own if pressed into a game this year: “I don’t think he’s to Cam’s skill set, but this guy is a pretty good player. He also has a tremendous work ethic and he’s a smart guy. I know this, you have to be a smart guy to play quarterback in that system. Having said all that, the cupboard is not half empty by any means. I think there is a lot of enthusiasm. The situation looks a lot different than it did two months ago.”