AFC Notes: Bengals, Colts, Raiders

Bengals

According to director of player personnel Duke Tobin, Patriots HC Bill Belichick called them about trading up for the No. 78 overall pick, but Cincinnati ultimately decided to hold on to the pick and select Texas LB Malik Jefferson.

“We were getting ready to take [linebacker] Malik Jefferson, and I think it was [Bill] Belichick that called and I’ve got the card in my hand — I’m trying to call our guy down in — and Belichick calls and he wants that pick,” Tobin told Paul Dehner of the Cincinnati Enquirer, via WEEI. “And I’m like, ‘Well Bill, thanks; I appreciate it, you know, what do you want to give? I’ll listen. I’ll always listen.’ And he wants to give commensurate value for it, and the answer is no, I think we’re going to pick.”

Colts

• According to Peter King, the Bills attempted to trade up to No. 6 overall with the Colts.
• King says that the Colts did a great job disguising their intentions at No. 6 overall, seeing as many thought GM Chris Ballard wanted Roquan Smith there.
• However, King mentions that the Colts’ research showed their quarterbacks being hit more than any other quarterbacks in football since 2012, which explains why they drafted G Quenton Nelson.

Raiders

New Raiders WR Ryan Switzer mentioned during an interview with Patrik Walker of 247Sports that he believes the Cowboys miscast him as a change-of-pace running back.

“The more I think on it, I think that they had a different plan for me than what I was capable of doing,” Switzer said. “I don’t know. Looking back I had two or three rushes in the NFL before receptions and I was taking reps at running back at times. I don’t know if [they] were trying to use me as like a scat-back or what. There was a lot of talk about my high school days and being a RB and I don’t think I ever fit that mold as a change-of-pace back or someone with slide sweeps and carries. I don’t know if that’s the plan they had for me [because] it was never spoken, but when I try to piece these things together — that’s kind of what I’m thinking. …I think that had a little bit to do with it because I can’t really think of anything else. …I did, like coach (Jason) Garrett [told] me, I did everything [asked of me] and more. I felt like that, too. I’m not really sure. That’s about as good of a guess as I have.”

Switzer says he’s confident that things will be different with the Raiders.

“Yeah, I am confident and I’m confident because [the Raiders] came and got me. They wanted me,” Switzer said. “Coach Bisaccia and obviously coach [Jon] Gruden see something in me. I’m confident because I know what I bring to the table. I know how successful I can be in this league as the receiver and just being one week with these guys and the offense with [Derek Carr], I feel a lot more confident from an offensive standpoint going into this year with Oakland. I’m just excited about that. I’m excited about the opportunity to learn from coach Gruden. I’m excited about the opportunity to play with guys like [wide receiver] Jordy Nelson, Amari Cooper and Martavis [Bryant] coming over from Pittsburgh. I think it’s going to be a really deep receiving unit and, ultimately, I think we’re going to have a lot of success.”