NFL Notes: Bills, Chiefs, Lions, Redskins

Bills

• Although Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News does not think the Bills will open up the passing game under OC Rick Dennison, he believes QB Tyrod Taylor is a better fit for this scheme than Greg Roman’s system.
• Carucci expects Dennison to use Taylor’s mobility to have him throw more on the perimeter than as a pocket passer.
• Carucci writes that the team’s most obvious positions of need are at wide receiver and tight end.
• Regarding free agent WR Jeremy Maclin, Carucci believes he would only sign with the Bills if he is willing to accept a “modest contract that would be heavy incentive laden.”
• Carucci writes that the Bills “have no desire” to pay Maclin a large contract since he is aging, has had a number of injuries, and is only a one- or two-year option.
• As for quarterbacks that the Bills could target in the 2018 NFL Draft, Carucci mentions USC’s Sam Darnold, UCLA’s John Rosen, and Wyoming’s Josh Allen.
• Carucci could see Shaq Lawson performing better this season as a defensive end in the Bills’ new 4-3 defensive scheme than what he did as an outside linebacker in a 3-4.

Chiefs

Chiefs CB Steven Nelson said he is ready to take on a larger role this season.

“Of course we all want interceptions, that’s the name of the game,” Nelson said, via Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star. “I’m ready to take on a role a step higher than last year and just make more plays.”

Lions

Lions WR Golden Tate told reporters that he feels that he is underpaid after he sent out a tweet saying that he would like to get a new extension after news surfaced that the Patriots have signed Julian Edelman to a two-year extension.

When asked about the tweet, Tate explained that he wasn’t hinting at any demands for a new contract.

“Just saw my buddy get extended and that’s obviously the goal,” Tate said, via ESPN.com. “I have this season and next season until I can really think about it, but it wasn’t nothing malicious or mean hinting at it. I mean, I’m hinting at it in a few years, of course.”

Tate added that he would “definitely” like to play out the remainder of his career with the Lions.

“Yeah. Definitely. I would love to stay here as long as you guys want me here,” Tate said. “Like I said, I’m having fun. We’re starting to win games and that’s important. Bob Quinn and Rod Wood and Caldwell and Jim Bob want me around, I’ll stay around as long as they’ll have me.”

Redskins

• According to John Keim of ESPN, there has not been “a lot of movement” from the previous five-year offer the Redskins made to QB Kirk Cousins back in March.
• Although Keim says that negotiations have taken a “positive tone” after Redskins owner Dan Snyder told Cousins that he wants to re-sign him, he does not think enough has changed to get a deal done.
• Keim believes that “legitimate negotiations” could take place prior to the July 15 long-term deadline for franchised players to sign if the team makes him a “big-time” offer.
• Keim is curious to see if the arrival of Cousins’ first child will impact his decision to stay with the Redskins, in addition to his wife being close to several other player’s wives.