AFC Notes: Bengals, Browns, Ravens

Bengals

Bengals CB William Jackson is hoping to get a big payday as he heads into a contract year this season.

“I’m going into a contract year. I want to have a big year,” Jackson told Tyler Dragon of The Cincinnati Enquirer.

The team is looking for more consistency from Jackson, as he and S Jessie Bates are the only returning starters from last season. Bengals DC Lou Anarumo hopes the changes in the secondary inspire Jackson.

“A guy like William Jackson has flashed at times both good and bad. He’s got to play more consistently. Hopefully adding these other guys around him will help,” Anarumo said. “But I’m excited about that group for sure.”

Browns

Browns QB Baker Mayfield said he is in much better shape both physically and mentally after being “lost in the chaos in Cleveland” last season.

“Having success all through high school and college and having that standard so high, and the past couple of years have just been a roller coaster of emotions and not nearly as much success as I’m used to,” said Mayfield, via Jake Trotter of ESPN. “So I would say I lost myself, not having that success, not finding out what was working. I think I tried different ways of trying to have that success, and I didn’t find it. So I lost myself in that, and I wasn’t able to be who I [need to be] for these guys on the team.”

Mayfield had a lot to overcome physically last season after hurting his throwing hand and wrist in two separate injuries.

“I think there were a lot of plays — looking back on last year — physically, I wasn’t able to work out as much, being beaten up. So I was heavier than I was ever playing before,” said Mayfield. “… I needed to be able to have the scrambling ability to move in the pocket. It’s my job to be in prime physical shape, to show up and do my job on Sundays. I’m in a much better state. I put in the work. … [I’m] just ready to roll, attack, get back to where I need to be to be the leader for this team, for this franchise. The reason I’ve gotten here is that I’ve been myself, being able to attack each and every day with 100 percent effort.”

• Browns HC Kevin Stefanski said of S Grant Delpit: “He’s gotta earn a role, but we have high hopes for him.” (Scott Petrak)
• Starting QB Baker Mayfield said he was the heaviest he has ever been last year and couldn’t work out as much because of the punishment he’d taken during the season. Mayfield added that he needed to get in better shape to improve his scrambling ability and run Stefanski’s offense. (Petrak)
• Stefanski also added that he is not “not overly concerned” with DE Myles Garrett tweaking his hamstring and that Wyatt Teller is first up to start at right guard. (Mary Kay Cabot)
• Stefanski also mentioned the injury of WR Jarvis Landry: “We have a really good plan for Jarvis Landry coming back from hip surgery, some guys maybe a little limited today and full go tomorrow, we’ve got to be aware of reps, Jarvis is doing well and we’ll be smart about how we bring him along.” (Nate Ulrich)

Ravens

• Ravens DT Brandon Williams said Friday that he feels like he’s “back in his natural habitat” moving back to nose tackle full time. (Jeff Zrebiec)