AFC North Notes: Bengals, Browns, Steelers

Bengals

• The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. expects the coaching staff to try to expand TE Drew Sample‘s role in 2020 after an injury derailed most of his rookie season after being taken in the second round. 
• While it’s still early in the process, Dehner said he hasn’t heard anything about the Bengals considering Oregon QB Justin Herbert over LSU QB Joe Burrow.
• Dehner doesn’t think the coaching staff would see Rams LB Cory Littleton as a free-agent fit despite several working with him in Los Angeles. Dehner identifies Patriots G Joe Thuney as a more likely target. 
• Dehner lists Browns LB Joe Schobert, Packers LB Blake Martinez and Bears LB Nick Kwiatkoski as potential free-agent LB targets for Cincinnati.
• He also expects the Bengals to listen to trade offers for C Billy Price. 
• Dehner writes that cornerback is a bigger concern, as current starters Dre Kirkpatrick and William Jackson could be gone after 2020 or sooner. 
• Dehner mentions a lot of the rumors about teams being willing to give a first-round pick for WR A.J. Green were drummed up by Green’s agent, but the Bengals could still likely get a second-round pick. 

Browns

• Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports that new Browns GM Andrew Berry “will have final say over roster decisions.”
• The Browns signed FB Johnny Stanton to a futures deal. (NFLTR)

Steelers

• Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says if the Steelers cut LB Anthony Chickillo and G Ramon Foster along with extending DE Cameron Heyward, that should create enough cap space to franchise tag LB Bud Dupree.
• Fittipaldo notes the Steelers could consider moving OT Matt Feiler inside to guard and let Chukwuma Okorafor, Zach Banner and another addition compete for right tackle.