AFC Links: Bills, Jets, Colts, Jaguars
Earlier, we took a look at what ESPN’s NFC writers had to say on this Memorial Day. Now, let’s focus on ESPN’s AFC writers…
- While he could envision the Bills adding a veteran defensive end to play alongside Mario Williams, ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak is very intrigued by former first-rounders Jerry Hughes and Manny Lawson.
- The Jets will likely only keep four of their six runnings backs, writes ESPNNewYork.com’s Rich Cimini. Even then, the writer believes that the backfield, which includes Chris Johnson, Chris Ivory, Bilal Powell, Daryl Richardson, Alex Green and Mike Goodson, will still have “a lot of mouths to feed.”
- Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne is making good progress in his recovery from a torn ACL, says ESPN.com’s Mike Wells. Still, the wideout will likely miss the team’s mandatory minicamp in June.
- The Jaguars have four receivers that are locks to make the roster, according to Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com: Cecil Shorts, Ace Sanders, Marqise Lee and Allen Robinson. That leaves Mike Brown, Kerry Taylor, Tandon Doss, Lamaar Thomas, Chad Bumphis, Damian Copeland and Allen Hurns to compete over the final two spots.
Jaguars Notes: Shorts, Rackley, UDFAs
The Jaguars held their State of the Franchise event today at EverBank Field, and while owner Shad Khan and team officials didn’t offer many noteworthy comments on the roster during that address, GM Dave Caldwell spoke to Hays Carlyon of the Florida Times-Union at the event and offered up a few interesting nuggets. Let’s dive in….
- The team has spoken to the reps for wide receiver Cecil Shorts, who is entering the final year of his contract. “Obviously, we want him here for the long haul,” Caldwell said. “He’s a valuable part of our organization and we’d love to at some point in time take care of Cecil.”
- Explaining the Jags’ decision to release 2013’s starting left guard, Will Rackley, Caldwell suggested that the veteran didn’t really fit the team’s scheme. The club wanted to give him an opportunity to catch on in a better situation elsewhere, per Caldwell.
- Caldwell said Jacksonville is “not done adding talent to the roster” and will be watching closely to see how its young players develop, so it’s too early to tell which positions the club may be focusing on upgrading a year from now.
- Caldwell is “really pleased” with the work his staff did to add the 17 undrafted free agents the team signed: “We got size on the d-line. We got some athletic offensive linemen. We got two really good receivers. We got a good safety [Craig Loston], a physical guy that played in the SEC. A good nickel cornerback in Rashaad Reynolds.”
- The Jaguars are hoping to sign their draft picks earlier this year than they did last year.
- Connecticut edge defender Tim Wellman is among the players invited to Jacksonville’s rookie minicamp, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.