AFC Notes: Bengals, Broncos, Chargers

Bengals

• Paul Dehner Jr. of Cincinnati.com mentions DE Jordan Willis, RB Joe Mixon and DT Andrew Billings as three players who could make a jump in performance this year for the Bengals.
• Dehner Jr. can’t see the Bengals keeping three quarterbacks on their 53-man roster and considering that the team committed a two-year contract to Matt Barkley, it’s likely he’ll be Andy Dalton‘s backup.
• Rookie QB Logan Woodside will likely end up on the Bengals’ practice squad, according to Dehner Jr.
• Dehner Jr. projects the Bengals starting offensive line to be LT Cordy Glenn, LG Clint Boling, C Billy Price, RG Christian Westerman, and RT Jake Fisher.
• As for a possible free agent addition, Dehner Jr. seems to think the Bengals are likely done in free agency.
• As for the idea of signing WR Dez Bryant, Dehner Jr. said it would be a mistake for Cincinnati, unless they can get him under contract at the same $4 million figure as Brandon LaFell.

Broncos

Broncos HC Vance Joseph thinks OLB Shane Ray has responded well to the team’s decision to not pick up his fifth-year option

“I’ve been really proud of Shane and how he’s responded,” Joseph told the Denver Post. “He is really motivated. He understands it’s business. And he’s ready for a challenge. He wants to be a great player and, in my opinion, before he got hurt last year [early in training camp] he was on his way to having a great year. I am not surprised that he is motivated and engaged. The ball is in his court. He can earn a lot more than what the option offered him if he goes out there and does what we think he can do.”

Chargers

• Eric Williams of ESPN believes Chargers QB Philip Rivers can play another five years in the NFL, even though he’s currently 36.
• Williams mentions that the Chargers have actually done a good job of protecting Rivers, allowing a league-low 18 sacks last season.
• As of now, the Chargers don’t have an obvious replacement for him on their roster and the team is built to compete now.
• Once Rivers is ready to call it a career, Williams mentions that the veteran quarterback would like to coach high school football.