AFC North Notes: Bengals, Browns, Ravens, Steelers

Bengals

Bengals HC Zac Taylor said he is “very confident” that they will be able to re-sign A.J. Green this offseason. 

“Very confident. We want him to be a part of Cincinnati,” Taylor said, via Tyler Dragon of the Cincinnati Enquirer. “He’s got a great history with the organization. He’s been a great member of the community, a great leader on our team. Even facing the adversity, he faced the last year-and-a-half, he’s been around in all the meetings. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know A.J. I look forward to coaching A.J. really for the first time going into next season.”

Though Bengals GM Duke Tobin added that he doesn’t have “any updates” regarding a possible extension for Green, he reiterated that the veteran is still viewed as a valuable piece of their offense.  

“I don’t have any updates there. He’s a guy we’ve said everything we can say. We want A.J. back, we value him. He’s been a great member of our team and hopefully something can come together. We’ll see where it goes. He’s an important guy and he’s done it the right way,” Tobin said. “We view him as a Bengal and want him around and want him to be part of the future.”

• According to the Athletic’s Lindsay Jones, an NFL GM thinks Bengals QB Andy Dalton could fetch a second or third-round pick in compensation given he’s only scheduled to make a little more than $17 million. 
• The Cincinnati Enquirer’s Tyler Dragon reports contract talks between the Bengals and RB Joe Mixon have stalled. Mixon is entering the final year of his deal in 2020.
• Per Geoff Hobson of the team website, the Bengals are expected to release OL Cordy Glenn after a contentious 2019 season. 
• Bengals OL coach Brian Callahan said former first-round C Billy Price will compete for playing time at guard after losing his starting job to C Trey Hopkins last year: “Billy had moments that were good, bad. Billy is competing at the guard spots. We have guards we feel good about. Billy is part of the mix in the competition. What that means for him between now and Opening Day, I can’t tell you specifically. He has to come in and compete. We expect him to get better, too, because he has to.”
• Bengals DC Lou Anarumo would like to add more depth on the interior defensive line so DT Geno Atkins doesn’t have to play 3/4 of the snaps again: “I’ve been around guys getting older and by the end of the year they’re just worn down. We have to be smarter with Geno’s rotation.”
• Sources within the Bengals, reports that Wednesday’s meeting with LSU QB Joe Burrow “went well” and they expect he “will be ready” for the NFL. (Dragon)
• LSU LB Patrick Queen had a formal interview at the Combine with the Bengals. (Jordan Reid)

Browns

• Mike Garafolo reports that the Browns are hiring Shaun Huls as director of high performance.
• Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller writes that while new Browns GM Andrew Berry could look at trading down, if the Browns stand pat they’re expected to take an offensive tackle, like Georgia OT Andrew Thomas.

Ravens

• The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec says a tag-and-trade scenario with the Ravens and LB Matt Judon has some complications. A team would likely need to give up at least a second-round pick to make it worthwhile for Baltimore.
• Judon also effectively has a no-trade clause to veto any deal he doesn’t like as long as he doesn’t sign the tender. That’s what DE Jadeveon Clowney did to veto a potential trade from the Texans to the Dolphins last year. 
• Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller writes Oklahoma LB Kenneth Murray is one of Baltimore’s targets in the first round. Finding a pass rusher to replace Judon is also on the table. 

Steelers

• Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller says a team source told him the Steelers are looking at running back and edge rusher in the draft, with their first pick coming in the second round.