AFC Notes: Dolphins, Jets, Patriots

Dolphins

• Ben Volin of the Boston Globe wouldn’t be surprised to see Dolphins HC Brian Flores bench QB Tua Tagovailoa again if he struggles in 2021, going to backup QB Jacoby Brissett who does have starting experience. 
• If the Dolphins decide to trade CB Xavien Howard, the Athletic’s Jeff Duncan expects the Saints to be one of the teams to make a run at him. 

Jets

Although Jets DE Carl Lawson believes edge rushers can’t be measured independently by sacks, he points out that “elite status” defenders are expected to convert pressure into sacks. 

“You can’t judge somebody based off of sacks as far as how productive they are, but if you want to get to that elite status, where you’re considered an elite defender, then you need to convert those pressures into sacks, if you get what I’m saying,” Lawson said, via the Jim Rome Show. “And I’m confident that I’ll be able to do that, because I feel like I’ve been very … I’ve had tons of limiting factors to just go against me and still be highly productive. So I’m excited, and I’m still improving, so I’m extremely optimistic.”

Patriots

• ESPN’s Mike Reiss writes that if Patriots CB Stephon Gilmore isn’t content with adding incentives to his deal to reach a compromise and better compensate him in 2021, he could point to former Patriots DL Richard Seymour as precedent, as Seymour pushed hard for a new deal in the final year of his six-year rookie deal in 2006 and got a market-level contract extension. 
• However, Reiss also says a similar situation took place with Patriots WR Deion Branch that year and New England ended up trading Branch. 
• Reiss notes the Patriots already have more than $201 million committed to a 2022 cap that will be no more than $208.2 million, so that could be part of their hesitancy to make a major long-term financial commitment to Gilmore right now. 
• As for a potential trade involving WR N’Keal Harry, Reiss thinks the Patriots could look to swap Harry for another underperforming previous high draft pick later in the preseason.