AFC Notes: Browns, Dolphins, Jets

Browns

Browns VP of Player Personnel Glenn Cook admitted that their contract planning has changed somewhat due to the pandemic. 

“All of that goes into play when we’re talking about any of these moves that we’re looking to make, whether it’s extensions, signing free agents, possibly trades or even going into . . . 2021 and 2022,” Cook said, via Cleveland.com. “It does somewhat change what our overall plan is and we actually initially did have some conversations around that just in terms of team planning — not specific to Myles — and just what that looks like given what COVID was saying in February, March or going into the next year. Yes, you do think about that with all the moves we make and all the decisions that may come into play now and into the season.”

• Eric Edholm reports the Browns have hired former Senior Bowl scout Kathleen Wood as a pro and college scouting fellow.
• Browns have also hired Riley Hecklinski as a full-time female scouting assistant, per Mary Kay Cabot.
• The Browns hired Sam Schmall as a football research analyst. Schmall previously worked at Disney. (Seth Walder)

Dolphins

• Former NFL GM and analyst for the Athletic Michael Lombardi writes the most obvious question for the Dolphins in 2020 is if they can find a competent running game so QB Ryan Fitzpatrick isn’t their leading rusher again. 
• Miami also needs to improve its defense, particularly at the end of the first half and beginning of the second. 

Jets

• Brian Costello of the New York Post writes that 2019 sixth-round CB Blessuan Austin could earn a starting spot at outside corner, as he started six games as a rookie, but the coaches want to see him respond better from being benched late in the season. 
• The Athletic’s Connor Hughes points out the Jets could have around $46 million in cap space in 2021 if the salary cap stays relatively flat following the pandemic. 
• He adds New York could clear even more space by cutting RB Le’Veon Bell ($9.5 million), WRs Jamison Crowder ($10.5 million) and Quincy Enunwa ($6 million), OT George Fant ($7.4 million) and G Alex Lewis ($5.36 million). 
• NFL Media’s Jane Slater says the last time she checked on a trade for Jets S Jamal Adams she was told by the Cowboys there was “nothing on Jamal.”
• Slater adds there’s a trust issue between Adams and the Jets now. Adams believes he’s been a team-first player but New York hasn’t followed through on a promise to redo his contract. 
• The Cowboys would be Adams’ top destination as he grew up nearby. He’d also be willing to compromise some on his contract demands for Dallas, as he’s looked into how he could make up the difference through endorsements in the local market. 
• Adams was videoed saying, “I’m trying, bro,” when someone asked him if he was “trying to come to Dallas.” Adams has requested a trade from the Jets and the Cowboys are one of the preferred destinations on his list. (Mark Fischer)
• Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News considers Jets sixth-round P Braden Mann to be a major addition given New York led the NFL in punts in 2019 with 87.