AFC Notes: Jerod Mayo, Mike Vrabel, Zach Wilson, Dolphins, Jets, Patriots

Dolphins

• Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel wasn’t overly concerned about WR Tyreek Hill‘s recent quad injury: “Should I be concerned about Tyreek Hill this week? Probably not. I had no idea about any quad until there was an injury report,” via Barry Jackson. 
• Dolphins RB Raheem Mostert (ankle) said he’s still unsure if he’ll be available for their upcoming Wildcard game against the Chiefs: “Still a decision that needs to be made. It is a one-game season. We’ll see how it shakes out. It’s been very difficult. The mental restraints. It’s a struggle. You live to fight another day. I feel like I thrive in the playoffs,” via Joe Schad. 

Jets

Jets GM Joe Douglas said he’s spoken with QB Zach Wilson and will do what’s best for the team with QB Aaron Rodgers returning next season.

“Yeah, so obviously, Aaron’s going to be back, which is going to be positive, and it’s going to be huge,” Douglas said, via PFT. “I had a good conversation with Zach and I can assure you when it comes to Zach, and I’m not going to go into the specifics of our conversation, but we’re going to do what’s right for the team, so I had a good conversation with Zach and we’re going to get together after these player exit interviews and get with the staff and put our gameplan together for the offseason.”

• Jets WR Garrett Wilson called this season “the worst year of my life” despite having a productive 2023 with 95 receptions, 1,042 yards, and three touchdowns: “I hear I had a good year? It was the worst year of my life,” per Antwan V. Staley. 
• Wilson wants to avoid going 7-10 again and feels they need to make better adjustments during games: “What happened this season can’t happen again … it’s gotta be better… We’ve gotta make adjustments in the game … we’ve gotta figure out something to get it rolling no matter who is slinging it,” via Zack Rosenblatt. 
• When asked why New York didn’t sign a backup quarterback, GM Joe Douglas responded their plan was for Zach Wilson to learn behind Aaron Rodgers but things didn’t work out: “[We felt like] we had a good plan in place. Obviously things didn’t work. Hindsight is always 20/20.” (Rosenblatt)
• Douglas said there’s a “high probability” for them signing a veteran backup quarterback, via Rich Cimini. 
• Douglas is confident WR Allen Lazard will respond well next season after struggling in his first year with the Jets: “I don’t think Allen’s story is over by a longshot. He’s a top-tier competitor. Allen has a lot of pride. I expect him to come back raring to go.” (Rosenblatt)
• As for signing RB Dalvin Cook last offseason, Douglas expressed they were unsure how RB Breece Hall would respond after recovering from a torn ACL and adding Cook was a safe choice for them: “Hindsight is 20/20… We felt that was a safe decision.” (Rosenblatt)

Patriots

• ESPN’s Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler write that as far as potential replacements for Patriots HC Bill Belichick, former Titans HC Mike Vrabel, current LB coach Jerod Mayo and Vikings DC Brian Flores are the names to know. 
• NBC Sports’ Tom Curran says Patriots owner Robert Kraft and son Jonathan Kraft are methodical, and that it seemed likely their plan this past offseason was to turn things over to Mayo once Belichick was done.
• He does not think the sudden availability of Vrabel is a lock to change that plan and believes in the end the Patriots will still turn things over to Mayo. 
• Matt Zenitz reports Duke is expected to hire Patriots’ coaching fellow V’Angelo Bentley as its next cornerbacks coach.