AFC Notes: Browns, Ravens, Steelers

Browns

• Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer says his sense is the Browns would be willing to go in the $15 million range to sign DE Jadeveon Clowney on a one-year deal. 
• Breer thinks that means Clowney’s financial desires still could be an obstacle to getting a deal done and he might have a sliding scale based on which team is inquiring. 
• Breer notes Browns QB Baker Mayfield has been attending meetings for other positional groups to get a better sense of the offense’s big picture and to build relationships with other teammates. 
• Browns WR Odell Beckham was spotted running routes in a workout with free-agent QB Cam Newton in a video posted to Newton’s Instagram. Beckham is recovering from offseason core muscle surgery. 
• According to ClevelandBrowns.com, Dane Brugler notes that the Browns may receive first-round value out of third-round pick DT Jordan Elliott, who Brugler says has the talent of a player who would usually be selected in the first round of the draft.

Ravens

• Ben Volin of the Boston Globe writes the Ravens are one of 11 teams where QB Colin Kaepernick would be a fit. 
• NFL Media’s Jeffri Chadiha also believes Baltimore would be a strong fit, noting the Ravens’ commitment to quarterbacks as a part of the run game and the presence of Kaepernick’s former coordinator in San Francisco, Ravens OC Greg Roman.
• The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec points out the Ravens rank 28th, 18th, 28th, 18th and 32nd in the NFL when it comes to spending at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end and offensive line, respectively. 
• In total, the Ravens rank last in the NFL in cap space devoted to the offense at just $64.5 million. 
• Conversely, the Ravens rank 15th, 12th, 3rd and 5th in the NFL on spending for the defensive line, linebackers, cornerbacks and safeties. In total, Baltimore spends the second-most in the NFL on defense. 
• According to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley, Ravens QB Lamar Jackson is fine despite a video of him colliding with a jet ski while playing football on the beach. 
• Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer mentions Ravens HC John Harbaugh as a member of the $10 million a year in salary club among NFL head coaches.

Steelers

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger had the opportunity to return to the field following a season-ending elbow injury and by all accounts was impressive. The elbow injury is something that seems to have been nagging at Roethlisberger for a while. Now that it’s cleaned up, his teammates say his passes have a renewed velocity. 

“He looks great, the ball was whistling,” Steelers RB James Conner said in an ESPN interview via 247Sports.com’s Matt Howe. “He’s confident. He works so hard to get back to where he’s playing confident. We’re just excited for him. That’s our guy. We’re just so thankful that we’ve got our quarterback. He has Super Bowl rings and that’s what we all want to do. He leads by example going out and organizing things. It’s been awesome to be back there with him.”