AFC Notes: Broncos, Jets, Ravens

Broncos

Broncos CB Ronald Darby mentioned that he has high hopes for the team’s secondary in 2021.

“Of course,” Darby said, via Broncos Wire. “With the experience and the vets we have and the front we have, we can definitely be the best if not top two or top three for sure …. that pass rush is getting back there [which will help]. We have guys that know what they’re doing.

“[The] communication is going well and it’s still early. We still have a lot of time to get to know each other a lot more. We can be really special.”

Jets

Jets’ undrafted CB Isaiah Dunn said he’s focused on not getting “too comfortable” after impressing coaches so far in their offseason program. 

“My philosophy is just don’t get too comfortable, don’t ever get comfortable,” Dunn said, via D.J. Bien-Aime II of the New York Daily News. “I gotta keep my foot on the pedal, keep on going. That’s what people want to see, they want to see you let up. People are paying attention to body language. They want to see how comfortable you get because somebody says something good about you. I’m not that type of dude that gets like that.”

Jets DC Jeff Ulbrich had high praise of Dunn, saying that the rookie has made “strides every day” and is pushing for a role in their defense. 

“That’s a guy that makes strides every day,” Ulbrich told reporters in June. “And he’s making a push to not just make this team, but potentially play and contribute.”

As for going undrafted out of Oregon State, Dunn doesn’t feel like he has something to prove because of not being selected but wants to show that he belongs in the NFL. 

“I don’t feel like the typical undrafted dude. I don’t look at it like ‘OK, I went undrafted and I need to prove something.’ I’m proving to myself that I belong here,” Dunn said. “I don’t sit around and talk about ‘Oh if I was drafted, this would have happened.’ I don’t do that because that’s neither here nor there. I’m just focusing on the task at hand and to make the team.”

Ravens

Ravens’ second-year RB J.K. Dobbins was recently asked about what he took away after his first season in the NFL and he highlighted the mental aspect of the NFL game.

“Yes, I think a lot of people overlook mental strength. Dobbins said, via RavensWire. The NFL season is a long season, especially for a rookie. It’s different than college; you play a lot of games. And mentally, you have to be ready. You have to be on point with your mental, because if you’re not, then your body, none of that’s going to work. You’re not going to be able to play good – none of that. So, that’s what I learned. I feel like I’ve been learning this offseason to have my mental ready, body ready, all of that. I feel like I’m locked and loaded. I’m ready to go.”

• ESPN’s Jamison Hensley writes that it would not be a shock at all if the Ravens added either DE Justin Houston or Melvin Ingram before or during training camp to bolster the pass rush.