AFC North Notes: Browns, Ravens, Steelers

Browns

Browns HC Freddie Kitchens confirmed again the Browns have a use for RB Duke Johnson as long as he’s on the team and it doesn’t matter if Johnson is unhappy.

“He wants to be traded. I want to win the lottery. It doesn’t matter. He’s under contract,” Kitchens said via NFL Media’s Aditi Kinkhabwala. “He’s a Cleveland Brown he’s going to be used to the best of his ability in what benefits the team.”

• Kitchens said to his knowledge, the Browns didn’t try to trade Johnson. (Mary Kay Cabot)
• ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports the Browns didn’t want to come close to the potential $10.25 million DT Gerald McCoy could receive in his deal with the Panthers. 
• Former Raiders executive Shaun Herock is closing in on a deal to join the Browns’ scouting department. (Albert Breer)

Ravens

Ravens TE Hayden Hurst says he’s put on 20 pounds of muscle and is looking forward to contributing to a strong Ravens tight end corps. 

“Our tight end room is loaded,” Hurst said via Ryan Mink of the official team site. “I know we are a huge focal point of this offense, so it’s fun being a tight end here and playing for Baltimore. It’s very exciting.” 

• NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport says a team believed to be the Ravens offered DT Gerald McCoy almost twice as much guaranteed money as the $4 million he signed with the Panthers for. 
• Rapoport adds McCoy wanted to stay in the South, enjoyed the camaraderie with the Panthers, and of course the chance to play the Buccaneers twice in 2019. 

Steelers

Steelers S Terrell Edmunds is anticipating taking a leap forward in his second year in the league. 

“Everything slows up in your mind,” Edmunds said via Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “Last year you can say everything was moving faster. From the first day of OTAs last year to the first day of OTAs this year, you can just tell because everything was moving so fast, everybody was moving fast. And now that you have those snaps under your belt, that year under your belt, you’re one of those guys now, like you’re moving fast to the young guys now. The calls, the playbook, everything, you can say, is easier, you know what to expect. Now you can just go out there, get more comfortable and play your game.” 

• The Steelers hired former players William Gay and David Johnson as coaching interns. (Ray Fittipaldo)