AFC East Notes: Dolphins, Landry, Jets

Jarvis Landry is entering his contract year, but he says he wants to stay with the Dolphins for the long haul. At the same time, he confirmed that he is setting a deadline for the two sides to agree to an extension.

“I want to focus,” Landry said Monday (via Omar Kelly of the Sun Sentinel). “I believe that Miami is where I want to be. Miami is the place I call home. I want to be able to give my all mentally, physically and emotionally this season. “Once the season starts I just want to put all that behind me and win the Super Bowl.”

Right now, Landry is slated to play out the 2017 season for less than $894K. There has been some speculation about his agent seeking an average annual salary of $11MM or more, but it’s hard to gauge next year’s wide receivers market from this far out. On one hand, this offseason’s top available receivers – including Kenny Stills – did not get as much cash as expected. On the other hand, the projected cap increase for 2018 coupled with the insane amounts of rollover money out there could result in a lucrative market for Landry and others. A deal bringing Landry into the top 10-12 at the position might not be such an outlandish ask.

Here’s more from the AFC East:

• According to the Jets‘ website, Brian Heimerdinger has been promoted to Vice President of Player Personnel (h/t Matt Miller of Bleacher Report, on Twitter). The 31-year-old is viewed as a rising star in football circles and could be a future GM to watch.
• It cannot be debated that Patriots wide receiver Brandin Cooks is the best player to join the AFC East this offseason, Mike Rodak of ESPN.com writes. It’s hard to argue – Cooks cost the Pats a first-round pick, but he is among the league’s very best wide receivers and gives Tom Brady the kind of threat at WR that he has not had since Randy Moss. Cooks won’t turn 24 until September and he also has a sweetheart of a contract. This year, he’ll make just $1.56MM. In 2018, the Pats have him on his one-year, $8.459MM fifth-year option.