AFC North Notes: Bengals, Browns, Ravens, Steelers

Bengals

• According to Ian Rapoport, the Bengals have spent three hours per week since “mid-March” with presumptive No. 1 overall pick Joe Burrow going over “various evaluations, talking football, and some hardcore Xs and Os” in order to get acquainted with each other. 
• Rapoport adds that their meetings have “not been an installation session” but the Bengals are using “every second possible to get to know” their likely No. 1 overall pick. 
• The Athletic’s Jay Morrison says cornerback is a sneaky need for the Bengals, as the tea leaves point to the team letting CB William Jackson leave in free agency next year. 
• However, Morrison doesn’t see the Bengals using a pick on a corner after blitzing the position in free agency unless a player they like falls to the third day. 

Browns

• Yahoo Sports Charles Robinson said the Vikings have not had any talks with the Browns about a trade for WR Odell Beckham and the receiver isn’t on the block. 
• ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirmed his reporting was similar to Robinson’s. 
• Brown’s chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta put the final bow on the rumors: “It’s completely false.” (Mary Kay Cabot)
• DePodesta wouldn’t rule out the Browns moving down from No. 10: “We’re very open-minded, so I wouldn’t put anything past us, but we do have the philosophy that more picks is better in general.” (Nate Ulrich)
• DePodesta added he’s not worried about his expiring contract, saying it will get done after the draft: “Jimmy (Haslam) and I have discussed it. We’re in a great place on it. It just hasn’t seemed to be front-burner material.”  (Scott Petrak)

Ravens

• The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec says there’s a decent chance the Ravens take a wide receiver in the first two rounds.
• He listed Baylor WR Denzel Mims, Clemson WR Tee Higgins, Arizona State WR Brandon Aiyuk and LSU WR Justin Jefferson as some options late in the first round.  
• TCU’s Jalen Reagor and Colorado’s Laviska Shenault Jr. are two other receivers Zrebiec doesn’t rule out. 
• Zrebiec mentions Lousiana-Lafayette OL Robert Hunt, Michigan C Cesar Ruiz, Fresno State’s Netane Muti, LSU G Damien Lewis and Kentucky G Logan Stenberg. 
• Zrebiec wouldn’t be shocked if the franchise tag eventually comes into play for LT Ronnie Stanley. 
• Zrebiec says the Ravens will likely think hard about either Oklahoma LB Kenneth Murray or LSU LB Patrick Queen if either is available in the first round. He expects Baltimore to add an inside linebacker at some point in the first three rounds. 

Steelers

• Per ESPN’s Brooke Pryor, Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger said his elbow injury has given him more motivation than ever for 2020: “I think it really put a little fire into me, like, ‘This is not the end for me.’ This is now how I’m going out.  I’m going to go bust my butt, and I’m going to give it everything I have to just give myself a chance to just come back and try and be better than ever.” 
• The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly writes that defensive line is a sneaky need for the Steelers given the departure of DT Javon Hargrave. He expects Pittsburgh to consider using a mid-round pick on the position.