AFC North Notes: Bengals, Ravens, Steelers

Bengals

Bengals HC Zac Taylor explained the decision to hire Lou Anarumo as defensive coordinator was simply finding the right person for the job, as opposed to moving quickly.

“I just felt that, that was the right thing to do, not put together a staff until after the game was over,” Taylor said, via Bengals.com. “It was easy to hire some guys on offense because I knew them all along, but I just really wanted to start that process when the game ended. It feels like it’s gone on forever because we’re the last team to make these hires, but in reality, it’s taken the same amount of time that you would normally take with a new head coach and the hires we’ve made. Again, it’s just about the right people. There’s plenty of really good coaches out there, we just had to find the right one that fit what we wanted to do, and we found that with Lou.”

• Alex Marvez reports that the Bengals have placed a request to interview Saints defensive assistant Mike Hodges for their LBs coaching job.
• According to Marvez, the Bengals are also trying to hire Chargers assistant DL coach Eric Henderson.

Ravens

Ravens GM Eric DeCosta said Friday that they have other young players they would like to address this offseason.

“We have a plan and I think, hopefully, that will come to fruition over the next two, three, four, five weeks, whatever it is,” DeCosta said. “The big thing is this is a good first step for us. We signed a player that we really like a year early, a guy that really epitomizes what it’s like to play like a Raven and we’re really excited about that.”

• Field Yates reports that CB Tavon Young’s new contract with the Ravens includes a $10M signing bonus.
• He gets a $1M base salary ($1M guaranteed) in 2019, a $5.5M base salary ($2M guaranteed) in 2020, a $5.5M base salary in 2021 and a $5.845M base salary in 2022.

Steelers

• Jeremy Fowler confirms with sources that the Steelers will not trade WR Antonio Brown to the Patriots or an AFC North rival such as the Ravens, Browns or Bengals. 
• According to Fowler, some in NFL circles believe the Steelers are seeking a first-round pick for Brown.