AFC Notes: Bengals, Ravens, Steelers

Bengals

• Georgia OL Jamaree Salyer has a workout upcoming with the Bengals. (Justin M)
• SMU TE Grant Calcaterra says one of the teams he’s heard the most consistently from during the pre-draft process is the Bengals. (Justin Melo)

Ravens

Years ago, the Ravens faced a dilemma with a home-grown quarterback in need of a contract extension. After Joe Flacco went on one of the most impressive hot streaks in postseason history to win a Super Bowl, Baltimore had little choice but to hand over a large extension. The Ravens never reached that level of success again and Flacco’s contract became an albatross.

Quarterback salaries have grown even higher now and the Ravens once again have a quarterback coming up on the time for a new deal. But Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti says they’re not worried about an extension for Lamar Jackson impacting their ability to build a contending team around him. 

“I don’t really look at Lamar becoming more expensive because of the route that he’s chosen to go. Though the numbers don’t bear out my theory, I just don’t view that as a negative,” he said via the Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec. “…You’re constantly in the rebuilding mode, so I don’t look at it so much up and down, because we’re always rebuilding. We lose so many people and Eric can structure contracts any way he wants. … I don’t think that you guys can look back on Joe becoming the highest-paid quarterback and go, ‘Oh, that’s when their roster fell apart.’ That’s the implication that when Lamar gets the money, you can’t afford all of these people. And yet, I don’t think we have this memory of Joe becoming the highest-paid guy and then our roster fell apart. I don’t really remember that.”

• Per Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, there are no official details on new Rams LB Bobby Wagner‘s contract yet. But several sources have said the deal pays out $6.5 million in the first year. Another said it’s $17 million over two years with some small guarantees in the second year. 
• Florio adds the Ravens reportedly offered $18 million over two years but it’s not clear how that deal was structured. 
• Wagner was initially seeking one year and $11 million when released by the Seahawks, per Florio. 

Steelers

• The Packers have an extra first-round pick from the Davante Adams trade, which Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes could be traded to the Steelers for WR Chase Claypool.