AFC North Notes: Bengals, Ravens, Steelers

Bengals

• Paul Dehner Jr of the Enquirer considers defensive tackle to be the Bengals’ No. 2 positional priority entering this year’s draft.
• Some sleeper options at defensive tackle worth watching for the Bengals, according to Dehner Jr, include Sam Houston State’s P.J. Hall, Virginia Tech’s Tim Settle and Florida’s Taven Bryan.
• In round 1, Dehner Jr suggests Alabama’s Da’Ron Payne as someone worth keeping an eye on for Cincinnati. However, he believes it’s more likely they consider addressing the position in the second round.
• Dehner Jr’s prediction is that the Bengals will end up taking Stanford’s Harrison Phillips in round two.

Ravens

• While the Ravens hosted Louisville QB Lamar Jackson for a pre-draft visit this week, Jeff Zrebiec isn’t buying the possibility that Baltimore will take him at No. 16 overall.
• Zrebiec mentions that the Ravens made it clear during the offseason that they don’t think the team is far from contention, so using their top pick on a quarterback wouldn’t mesh with their earlier comments.
• While he doesn’t think they’ll grab a quarterback in round one, Zrebiec admits that the Ravens could address the position at some point during the draft.
• Zrebiec points out that the Ravens felt pretty good about signing free agent WR Brandon Marshall last year before he agreed to a deal with the Giants. Although, Zrebiec doesn’t know if the Ravens are even considering him at this time.
• As for Dez Bryant, Zrebiec reports that both the Ravens and Bryant and his agency have been mum about the situation and he’s been skeptical about how interested Bryant is in Baltimore.

Steelers

• Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes that the Steelers will need to find a replacement for ILB Ryan Shazier in this year’s draft.
• Bouchette believes Boise State’s Leighton Vander Esch would fit perfectly inside for the Steelers.
• Bouchette notes that the Steelers hosted South Carolina State’s Darius Leonard, who could be a mid-round pick, for a pre-draft visit.