Sylvester Williams

AFC Notes: Geno, Raiders, Browns, Chiefs, Broncos

Geno Smith‘s prospects when it comes to turning into a viable starting quarterback in the NFL ostensibly aren’t good, but one of his Jets teammates – receiver Brandon Marshall – thinks the 24-year-old has a bright future.

“But like I said from the beginning — and I’ll stand by this — Geno is going to have a monster year, but unfortunately he’s not in it right now,” Marshall said Friday on SiriusXM Radio, according to Newsday’s Kimberley A. Martin. “But he’ll get his shot. He’s still young and he has a long career ahead of him.”

Smith was supposed to be the Jets’ starter this year, but ex-teammate IK Enemkpali broke Smith’s jaw with a punch in August. Since then, Ryan Fitzpatrick has taken the reins and helped lead the Jets to a 2-0 start. As a result, Fitzpatrick has earned a vote of confidence from head coach Todd Bowles. Even without Fitzpatrick to take into consideration, the fact is that Smith hasn’t played well during his career. The 2013 second-round pick’s completion percentage sits in the high-50s and he’s thrown 25 touchdowns against 34 interceptions in 30 games.

Other news and notes from the AFC:

  • Oakland city and stadium officials have restarted exploratory talks on a new stadium with the Raiders, ESPN’s Bill Williamson reports. The Raiders have set a deadline for Oakland to figure out a new stadium plan by year’s end. If no progress is made, the Raiders – whose lease expires at the end of the season – could relocate to Carson, Calif.
  • The Browns had two first-round picks in the 2014 draft. They came out of the round with cornerback Justin Gilbert and quarterback Johnny Manziel. Gilbert’s career has been an abject disaster thus far, and Manziel’s hasn’t been a whole lot better. The Browns’ Sunday opponent is the Raiders, whose first two picks in 2014 were star linebacker Khalil Mack and blossoming QB Derek Carr. With that in mind, Tom Reed of Cleveland.com took a look at what could have been for the Browns.
  • In other Browns news, they tried out free agent receiver Jerry Rice Jr. this week, tweets Pro Football Talk. The son of the greatest wideout ever went undrafted out of UNLV in 2014 and has spent time with Washington and Baltimore.
  • Chiefs safety Eric Berry, who won an offseason battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, has regained his spot as a starter in the team’s base defense, coordinator Bob Sutton said (link via Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star). This comes on the heels of the three-time Pro Bowler playing 71 of 73 snaps in the Chiefs’ Week 2 loss to Denver. Berry’s increase in playing time means a decrease for Hussein Abdullah, who played 37 percent of snaps in Week 2 compared to 86 in Week 1.
  • The Broncos’ defense has allowed the fewest yards per game and the seventh-fewest points per game this year. Their players and coaches believe third-year tackle Sylvester Williams has played a key role in their success. “It’s exciting to start to see him develop into the type of player that we all know that he can be,” linebacker Von Miller said, according to Cameron Wolfe of The Denver Post. “He’ll have a heck of a year. He’s truly a hard worker,” added defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. “He’s got talent, but a lot of guys have talent and they don’t work how he does.”

AFC Notes: Nicks, Holliman, Trevathan

Veteran receivers will likely remain on the Dolphins‘ radar until at least the draft and probably after, considering the team lost two veteran wideouts this spring.

Miami is targeting a veteran to supplement what is now the youngest wide receiver corps in the league, writes Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Michael Crabtree, Wes Welker and Greg Jennings remain in play for the Dolphins. An earlier report circulated that Crabtree and the Dolphins discussed specifics on contract parameters, while a subsequent account disputed numbers were brought up between the parties on Crabtree’s Miami sojourn.

Hakeem Nicks would welcome interest, according to Jackson, but has lined up other visits as the Fins are apparently looking at the aforementioned trio first. Of the four veterans mentioned here, Jennings was the only one to avoid a negative review from Pro Football Focus, grading as the 48th-best receiver last season (subscription required).

In other news from Miami and other AFC squads …

  • Former rugby standout Paul Lasike has warranted multiple calls of interest from the Dolphins, reports Jackson. The BYU running back averaged 4.6 yards per carry last year.
  • Louisville safety Gerod Holliman visited Miami recently, doing so after teammate Charles Gaines went to the Fins’ facilities, reports Jackson.
  • Since they hired a new coach, the Broncos will begin their offseason program Monday — a week earlier than last year. Among the notable news from Denver Post reporter Mike Klis’ preview are Sylvester Williams‘ strong offseason and Danny Trevathan being in leaner shape at 242 pounds. Trevathan, Denver’s leading tackler in 2013 before missing most of ’14 with knee maladies, played at a slightly lighter weight as a 4-3 outside linebacker. He’ll work inside in the 3-4. Williams did not fare well last season but is expected to start at nose in Wade Phillips‘ defense after Terrance Knighton departed.
  • Breshad Perriman would make a good second-round pick for the Ravens, but not in the first, Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller notes on Twitter. Earlier today, PFR took a look at a now-depleted Ravens’ receiving corps.