NFL Notes: Jets, Lions, Packers, Patriots, & Seahawks

Jets

The Jets made it clear that fourth-round pick QB Bryce Petty is a ways away fro seeing playing time.

“He’s got a lot to learn,”HC Todd Bowles said, via Dom Cosentino of the Newark Star-Ledger. “We’re not looking forward for him to be a starter right now.”

GM Mike Maccagnan added that “there’s going to be a learning curve” for Petty entering the NFL.

“Time will tell what kind of player he’ll become, but we do think he has all the physical attributes and parts to be a good quarterback in this league,” Maccagnan said. “It’s going to be a maturation process from where he is in college … but we thought he had all the raw potential and ability, that if you’re going to invest time in a quarterback, he had all those attributes that would be very good to work with.”

Lions

Lions offensive line coach Jeremiah Washburn was non-committal about Travis Swanson being their starting center next season.

“I don’t know,” Washburn said Saturday, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “And I’m not trying to be evasive, I just don’t know. What is it, May 2, 3^rd? The depth kind of develops itself, which is a nice thing. Going through OTAs, mini-camp, training camp, it always takes care of itself.”

Detroit acquired veteran OL Manny Ramirez in a trade with the Broncos on Thursday, so he could be in the mix for the job as well.

Packers

Packers fifth-round pick QB Brett Hundley said that ending up in Green Bay is a “blessing in disguise.”

“It’s a blessing in disguise,” Hundley said, via ESPN.com. “And you know, I have a chip on my shoulder, and I’m coming in to work and that’s what I’ve come down to. I’ve got my opportunity; that’s the way I look at it. It’s a blessing in disguise. I’m where I’m supposed to be, and I know when I get there I’m going to continue to work and do what I’ve always done.”

Packers director of player personnel Eliot Wolf explained why they liked Hundley as a prospect on Saturday.

“He’s got rare athletic ability,” Wolf said. “He’s a big guy. He’s got big hands. Strong arm. He was pretty productive at a big-time place. And he’s really smart. He was good at our interview at the combine. And he’s all football.”

Patriots

• Mike Reiss writes that the Patriots’ decision to not draft a receiver this year could be a good sign for third-year WR Aaron Dobson. Reiss mentions that the team really likes him, but this will still be a big offseason for him.
• Even though veteran LB Jerod Mayo restructured his contract so that he’s under team control through the 2017 season, Reiss mentions that this appears to be a “one-year Band-Aid” deal similar to contract the Patriots worked out with NT Vince Wilfork last year.

Seahawks

Despite a report from last week that the Seahawks would pass on picking up OLB Bruce Irvin‘s fifth-year option, HC Pete Carroll told reporters on Saturday that they “want him to be here for a long time.”

“If we pick up Bruce’s option it’s a great thing, if we don’t pick up Bruce’s option it only means we aren’t picking it up,” Carroll said, via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. “We want him to be here for a long time.”

“We met with Bruce yesterday before we got going, and it went very well. We discussed what our plan is and what we are planning on doing, still knowing that maybe something could happen that could change the decision. It has nothing to do with the statement of how we feel about him in our program. We expect him to be here for a long time and we will work to get that done.”