AFC North Notes: Browns, Ravens, Steelers

Browns

Browns WR Odell Beckham has been unable to shake his status as a lightning rod for trade rumors this offseason, as he was connected to the Vikings in a potential trade. After a delay, the Browns came out and refuted those rumors, but it’s a story that Cleveland has been unable to kill. New Browns GM Andrew Berry took another stab at it after being asked about Beckham in an interview on NFL Network. 

“With all due respect to the question, I think this is actually a topic, at least from our perspective, there really hasn’t been a ton of ambiguity,” Berry said via NFL Media’s Nick Shook. “We’ve been clear from the beginning that we view Odell as a fantastic player. We’re a better team with him on the field. We see him as a long-term member of the organization. We really like how he’s acclimated and adjusted with the new staff. So the rumors, that’s not something that we can control, but we’re happy to have him as a part of our organization.”

• The Browns also submitted a waiver claim for LB Austin Calitro after he was cut by the Jaguars. Calitro was awarded to the Bengals. (Field Yates)

Ravens

The Ravens have said one of their goals this offseason is to build on their massive success on offense last season and become “undefendable.” So when QB Lamar Jackson was spotted working out with free-agent WR Antonio Brown, it naturally sparked speculation. Brown is also cousins with 2019 first-round WR Marquise Brown. However, Ravens GM Eric DeCosta didn’t make it sound like Brown would be coming to Baltimore anytime soon. 

“We’re always assessing the players out there on the streets,” DeCosta said in an interview with Adam Schein of Mad Dog Sports Radio. “We’re looking at guys, we’re making decisions that we think are best for the clubs. If we think there’s a guy out there who fits us, who’s got the skill set to provide value, we’ll certainly pounce on that kind of guy. As Ozzie always used to tell me, we don’t play games until September. So, we’ve got a lot of time to build the best team we can build and we’ll continue to do that. I look at this time period right here after the draft as a great opportunity to get better as a football team and we will look to do that.”

Steelers

Pressed into action after an injury to starting QB Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers QB Mason Rudolph had an extended run as Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback last year. Drafted in the third round in 2018 as a potential heir to Roethlisberger, Rudolph underwhelmed with his chance at playing time. Pittsburgh’s offense stagnated and Rudolph had just 13 touchdown passes to nine interceptions in 10 games. He was knocked out of the lineup multiple times by benching and injury, but Steelers GM Kevin Colbert said the organization still has confidence in him. 

“What we really liked about how he handled his benching was he was positive, he worked harder, he stayed the course and when he was called upon in the Jets game, he played his best quarter and a half and unfortunately he got hurt,” Colbert said in a radio interview on Pittsburgh’s 93.7 The Fan. “A lot of times we find out a lot about ourselves when we’re put in tough situations and Mason was last year and he responded both times in my opinion and we’re very comfortable in where he’ll be in year three but quite honestly we hope that Ben is out there the whole season.”

• Per the Athletic’s Greg Auman, Colbert said the team didn’t pursue any veteran quarterbacks this offseason, presumably including new Saints QB Jameis Winston: “I can honestly say that we absolutely made no negotiation or any offer to any veteran quarterback.”
• ESPN’s Brooke Pryor confirms that she’s heard the Steelers weren’t interested in Winston or other available veterans, instead preferring to hire QB coach Matt Canada to help develop their younger options.
• The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly points out Steelers LB Vince Williams is the most likely cap casualty in 2021. He also says not to count out LT Alejandro Villanueva if he struggles again in 2020. 
• Kaboly gets the sense Matt Feiler will stay at right tackle and Steelers free-agent signing Stefen Wisniewski will fill the starting vacancy at left guard.