AFC North Notes: Bengals, Browns, Ravens, Steelers

Bengals

• NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reports Bengals owner Mike Brown took part in the team’s combine meeting with LSU QB Joe Burrow, which allowed Burrow to ask Brown any questions he may have had about the city and the team.
• The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. reports there was a push by some in the Bengals organization to keep CB Dre Kirkpatrick but the numbers didn’t end up working out particularly if they were going to keep team captain and S Shawn Williams. 
• Texas A&M DT Justin Madubuike had a pre-draft video meeting with the Bengals. (Justin Melo)
• Michigan S Josh Metellus had a private workout scheduled with the Bengals before it was canceled due to the pandemic shutdown. (Justin Melo)
• Auburn CB Javaris Davis had a private workout with the Bengals before the shutdown. (Justin Melo)
• Texas S Brandon Jones had a formal interview with the Bengals at the Combine. (Justin Melo)
• Baylor DL James Lynch had a formal interview with the Bengals at the Combine. (Justin Melo)
• Louisiana Lafayette OL Robert Hunt had a formal Combine interview with the Bengals. (Justin Melo)

Browns

• Dan Labbe of Cleveland.com takes a look at some questions surrounding the Browns’ upcoming season. The most important question on his mind is whether or not LB Mack Wilson is the answer to replace Joe Schobert at inside linebacker.
• With S Damarious Randall unlikely to return next season, Labbe wonders if the team’s safety group is complete following the signings of S Andrew Sendejo and S Karl Joseph.
• Labbe is also curious if RB Kareem Hunt will act as Cleveland’s third receiver, and if guards Wyatt Teller or Drew Forbes are the answer at the right guard spot.
• Browns DT Andrew Billings‘ new deal is a one-year, $3.5 million guaranteed deal, including a $2 million signing bonus. (Aaron Wilson)
• Iowa OT Tristan Wirfs has a pre-draft video meeting scheduled with the Browns. (Justin Melo)
• Boise State DE Curtis Weaver had a pre-draft visit scheduled with the Browns. (Justin Melo)
• Louisiana Lafayette OL Robert Hunt had a formal Combine interview with the Browns. (Justin Melo)

Ravens

NFL teams tend to value players less and less as they age past 30. In the view of the NFL world, Ravens DL Calais Campbell will turn an ancient 34 in September before the season starts. However, Campbell says his physical ability has not diminished that much even as he’s grown older, while his mental and technical skills have grown far past where they were when he was a young player. 

“I can still do everything I want to do, and I can come away or do something in a game situation that nobody does,” Campbell said via ESPN’s Jamison Hensley. “That’s when I’ll start worrying, when I can’t do what I want to do. But as of now, I did trim my body up to make sure that I can have control over my body and do what I want to do. I just felt like mentally though, I’m so much more advanced than I have been in the past, and I think your prime is when you have the athleticism to take over a game, and the mentality to take over a game and the understanding of how to do it both at a high level. So, for me, my mindset has never been better; my understanding of the game and my matchup and how to win is at an all-time high, and my body can still do it.”

Campbell had interest from a handful of other teams before the Jaguars ultimately traded him to the Ravens. Baltimore told him the deal was contingent upon him agreeing to an extension that would have paid him less than what other teams offered. But the tradeoff — joining a team with a clear opportunity to win the Super Bowl — was well worth it for Campbell. 

“At the end of the day, I was more confident going to Baltimore even if I have to take less than going to another place,” Campbell said. “There are not many teams better. Baltimore went 14-2 last year and is a very talented, young team [with] a core nucleus of guys. This team could be very special for a good while here.”

“I told [my agent] at this point in time in my career the main goal for me is winning,” Campbell continued. “… I’m going to be 34 when the season starts, and that motivation when you’re training, starting to put the work in to be the best you can be, it gets harder and harder each year. And when you believe you can win, when you believe you have a chance to win a Super Bowl, it makes it just a little bit easier.”

• Baltimore GM Eric DeCosta spoke about new DE Derek Wolfe: “Derek is the type of veteran player who fits our defense perfectly. He’s been on great teams, he’s versatile, smart, talented and a tough guy. We are so happy that he’s joining our organization.” (Jeff Zrebiec)
• Aaron Wilson reports that the contract of S Anthony Levine is worth $1.812 million with $350,000 guaranteed. It includes a $137,500 signing bonus.
• Wilson also reports that WR Chris Moore‘s re-signed contract with Baltimore is for one-year, worth $1.672 million. It includes $275,000 guaranteed with a $137,500 signing bonus.

Steelers

• The Athletic’s Ed Bouchette says that based on how negotiations went last year, the Steelers and WR JuJu Smith-Schuster may be too far apart to come to an agreement on an extension.
• Because he doesn’t think Pittsburgh will use the franchise tag on Smith-Schuster, Bouchette predicts the receiver leaves in free agency in 2021, especially because the Steelers have a history of letting receivers leave. 
• Tennessee DE Darrell Taylor had a formal interview with the Steelers at the Combine. (Justin Melo)
• Boise State DE Curtis Weaver had a pre-draft visit scheduled with the Steelers. (Justin Melo)
• Texas A&M WR Quartney Davis had a meeting with the Steelers. (Justin Melo)
• Texas S Brandon Jones had a formal interview with the Steelers at the Combine. (Justin Melo)