AFC Notes: Bills, Jets, Patriots

Bills

• The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia notes that Bills 2020 fourth-round WR Gabriel Davis‘ 68 percent share of the snaps played as a rookie might be a bit of a misnomer, as he filled in quite a bit for veteran WR John Brown when the latter was hurt. 
• Buscaglia expects WR Emmanuel Sanders to be Buffalo’s No. 2 receiver, pointing out they gave him a significant financial commitment relative to their available cap space and were one of the teams that tried to trade for him in 2019. 
• If Bills TE Dawson Knox doesn’t start out the season strong, Buscaglia thinks the Bills could turn to TE Jacob Hollister as the starter. 

Jets

Jets ST Coordinator Brant Boyer was “ecstatic” when the Jets signed WR/ST Justin Hardee this past offseason. 

“I was ecstatic on that one, I have to be honest with you,” Boyer said in a news conference Thursday, via JetsWire. “We played 13 different gunners last year, so it was a real struggle. He’s been fantastic, and what he’s done is he’s taken over a leadership role in the room, and that’s what the biggest thing we needed in our room especially losing a bunch of our core guys and things like that… He’s done a great job. I expect big things out of him. Now we just need somebody to emerge at that other gunner, so they can’t double him every time and things like that, and we’ll see what happens, which I fully expect someone will do.”

While the Jets had one of the worst special teams units last season, they hope Hardee can change that after signing him to a three-year deal worth $5.25 million and $1,000,000 guaranteed.

• In the team’s draft documentary, area scout Andrew Dollak gave his scouting report on No. 2 overall QB Zach Wilson: “It’s easy to say the Mahomes stuff because of the loose arm, but he’s also a very good athlete and he’s able to create with his feet. … There’s not a lot he can’t do on a football field. … Nothing is off the table. He can make any throw on the field, whatever presents itself — tight windows on all three levels. He’s an exciting player to watch, for sure.” (Rich Cimini)
• Area scout Alonzo Dotson revealed Jets second-round WR Elijah Moore‘s pro day was a major part of their evaluation, as it confirmed the speed they saw on tape: “One of the best pro days I’ve ever been to in my years in the business. … The burst and acceleration — I got a chance to see the kid against South Carolina, and it is real. You can feel his speed. You can feel the intensity when he plants his foot and drives upfield.”
• The Jets’ documentary also revealed Moore was the No. 16 prospect in the entire draft based on their analytical model. 
• Jets director of player personnel Chad Alexander said fourth-round RB Michael Carter was his favorite player in the draft. 

Patriots

When speaking about Patriots’ rookie QB Mac Jones, Eagles QB Jalen Hurts explained that Jones showed the ability to stay patient and learn while backing up Tua Tagovailoa and himself while at the University of Alabama.

“Mac Jones, he had the opportunity — I think the best way you can learn is to watch,” Hurts, via Rick Karle of WVTM 13. “Watch, take note of those around you, kind of learn the lay of the land, if you will, and learn that way. Mac had a very unique college career where he had to stay patient, and it worked out for him. And I’m happy it did. He was able to watch me, (and) Tua go through that, get him some burn here and there, and ultimately when it was his time, he took off with it. And now he has a great opportunity for his future.”

• Jones’ personal QB coach David Morris said Jones’s competitiveness is a strong attribute: “With great competitors and people that are really successful, there’s a sense of productive paranoia. … I think that’s what Mac has.” (Henry McKenna)