AFC Notes: Bengals, Browns, Ravens

Bengals

• The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. notes some interesting size thresholds the Bengals seem to be prioritizing in the draft. Although HC Zac Taylor has only been in his role since 2019, the bulk of the front office under senior exec and de facto GM Duke Tobin has been together for far longer, which Dehner says makes it possible to identify trends. 
• First, Dehner points out the Bengals have used the least draft capital, by far, in terms of first or second-round picks on defensive linemen in the entire league, which is due in part to the success they’ve had in the middle rounds. He also notes they seem to prefer bigger edge rushers, with all their defensive ends coming in between 6-3 and 6-5 and in the neighborhood of 260-270 pounds. 
• He adds size seems to be a major variable for them at other positions too, including slot receiver and running back. Though current starting WR Tyler Boyd is entering the final year of his deal and is turning 29, Dehner mentions this might not be a good class to find his replacement, as it’s a particularly small and short group of receivers. 
• At running back, Dehner adds the sweet spot for the Bengals appears to be in the second or sixth rounds and the size cutoff is about 200 pounds. 
• If basing the Bengals’ first-round pick on what position they’ve drafted most over the past two decades, Dehner would pick a cornerback. 
• Ole Miss DE Tavius Robinson had a private meeting with the Bengals. (Justin Melo)
• Related to Dehner’s point, Robinson is 6-6 and has 34-inch arms. He weighed in at 257 pounds at the Combine but his playing weight will likely be higher. 

Browns

• Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot says that while the Browns wouldn’t rule anything out if the Cardinals cut WR DeAndre Hopkins and his asking price ends up dropping, Cleveland is otherwise pretty happy with its skill position group right now. 
• She adds the Browns are also optimistic LBs Jacob Phillips (torn pec), Sione Takitaki (torn ACL), Anthony Walker (torn quad) and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (midfoot sprain) will all be healthy for the season but she thinks some additional insurance would make sense. 
• Browns 2022 third-round DE Alex Wright will start out as the No. 3 defensive end and have a chance to push for playing time, though the team is also expected to bring in challengers, per Cabot. 
• Cabot mentions Browns RB Nick Chubb is still expected to remain a focal point of the offense even as they change the scheme to better feature QB Deshaun Watson.
• Cleveland.com’s Terry Pluto writes the Browns are happy with QB Joshua Dobbs as a backup and even if they wanted to add to the room, veteran QB Cam Newton wouldn’t be their first choice. 
• Cabot adds the only way that would change is if Watson lobbied the front office to sign Newton, as the two are good friends. 
• Pluto also says the Browns aren’t interested in bringing back RB Kareem Hunt even if his market has been tepid, as they think he’s lost a step. 

Ravens

The Ravens will be looking to replace former starting LG Ben Powers during training camp and once again will have a competition for the role. The first name Ravens HC John Harbaugh mentioned was versatile veteran Patrick Mekari but he’ll have a lot of challengers. Mekari can also play all five spots on the offensive line, so the Ravens sometimes prefer to keep him in a sixth-man role. 

“Pat Mekari’s going to be in the mix for sure. Pat can start at any time, anywhere,” Harbaugh said via the Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec. “Ben Cleveland is obviously a young guy that we’re bringing along. We got a veteran guy we brought in at the end of the year, John Simpson, who I think is going to surprise some people. He’s had a nice offseason so far. We can move Daniel Faalele in there, too, and take a look at him. Those are all possibilities. May be the player who plays the best who wins the job.”