AFC Notes: Dolphins, Jets, Patriots

Dolphins

Rookie seventh-round pick Malcolm Perry says that he was pleased when the Dolphins told him he would be used at the slot receiver position.

“I was extremely excited,” Perry said, via Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. “Any opportunity to touch the field at any position, I’m all for it. Just getting out there, I’m learning from the guys on the team that play the same position — mirroring them, seeing what they’re doing, asking them questions and trying to learn everything from them, their mistakes, what they do right, stuff like that and try to use it to my advantage.”

Fellow rookie Brandon Jones is also temporarily positionless and said that the Dolphins are using him at both safety and nickel cornerback.

“I’m open to whatever gets me on the field as fast as possible and whatever I can do to help the team, whether it’s lining up in the slot at nickel, lining at high safety, strong safety. I have been working kind of everywhere,” said Jones about playing corner and safety. “Strength-wise, as soon I know in my head — as soon they get me locked on — I’m done for. So I’m going to try to do as much wiggle room, use my speed, get down because I’m shorter — a lot shorter — than a lot of them, so I’m going to get down as low as I can and try to make them bend.”

Dolphins OC Chan Gailey says that WR DeVante Parker has looked good in practice and that everyone is hoping he can have another strong season in 2020.

“He’s got excellent hand-eye coordination; he’s got route-running skills,” Gailey said of Parker. “He’s got the speed and the size to make a difference on the football field, especially when he’s one-on-one. He can be physical with guys. I’m really looking forward to working with him and seeing what he develops into, and hopefully, we can build on how he finished the year last year.”

• Barry Jackson reports that the Dolphins do not currently have a deal in place to re-sign QB Jake Rudock, who visited with the team Thursday. 

Jets

Jets HC Adam Gase said he’s hopeful that second-round WR Denzel Mims (hamstring) will return “sooner than later” and may be able to begin individual drills soon. 

“Hopefully sooner than later. I don’t want to jinx it,” said Gase, via Rich Cimini.

New Jets CB Quincy Wilson said he enjoys their defensive system and expects to “make plays.”

“They coach you to make plays, not cover grass,” said Wilson, via Cimini.

• Wilson called getting traded from the Colts to New York “one of the best days of my life.” (Cimini)

Patriots

• Doug Kyed believes that QB Cam Newton is still the firm leader for the starting quarterback job for the Patriots.
• Kyed also guesses that former Ravens G Jermaine Eluemunor will be the starter for Patriots at right tackle next season.
• Other linemen who could get a shot at right tackle include Yodny Cajuste and Korey Cunningham, but Kyed mentions that time is running out for them prove themselves.
• Kyed proposes another option would be to move Joe Thuney to right tackle and start Hjalte Froholdt at left guard.
• At wide receiver, Kyed believes that Gunner Olszewski, Jakobi Meyers, and Damiere Byrd will make the Patriots roster. Devin Ross is the next highest possibility to make the team followed by undrafted rookies Isaiah Zuber, Will Hastings, and Jeff Thomas.
• Kyed says it is a high possibility that RB Damien Harris is the Week 1 starter in New England, but adds that RB Sony Michel would likely have to lose the starting job after returning from injury for Harris to retain the spot for an entire season.
• Karen Guregian reports that CB Stephon Gilmore‘s absence is due to a personal matter and not due to any type of injury.
• Ali Bhanpuri of NFL.com says that the Patriots would be a good fit for top free agent DE Jadeveon Clowney.