AFC Notes: Browns, Ravens, Steelers

Browns

• Former NFL GM and analyst for the Athletic Michael Lombardi writes the most obvious question for the Browns in 2020 is whether QB Baker Mayfield will be able to recapture his rookie form after regressing in 2019. 
• Lombardi adds fixing the run defense will also be a major question mark for Cleveland entering the year. 
• Per BrownsZone.com’s Scott Petrak, Browns RB Kareem Hunt says his traffic stop earlier this offseason was a slip-up and not indicative of his character: “I would say that was out of character. I learned from it and I’m working to become a better person each and every day. Definitely not looking for something like that to happen ever again.”
• Hunt said he’s blessed the Browns gave him another chance, though the new regime told him he couldn’t afford any more incidents. (Petrak)
• Hunt has been cross-training with the receiver group during virtual OTAs and says that has been going well: “Whatever they ask me to do, I’m willing to go out there and make it happen.” (Nate Ulrich)
• He added he feels healthy compared to last year when he needed core muscle surgery in training camp: “Body feels great. That’s something that slowed me down last year in training camp. I’m feeling good. I want to see how I do fully healthy.” (Petrak)
• As he enters the final year of his deal, Hunt says there’s “no question” he would be open to signing a long-term deal in Cleveland. (Ulrich)

Ravens

• Per the Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec, Ravens HC John Harbaugh says C Matt Skura passed the team’s conditioning test, calling his recovery from a severe knee injury late last year “remarkable.” 
• Harbaugh declined to say if he’d talked with Ravens QB Lamar Jackson about a video showing him playing beach football and falling over a parked jet ski: “That’s between me and him.” (Jamison Hensley)
• Harbaugh also has not talked to Ravens S Earl Thomas about the incident between Thomas and his wife. (Zrebiec)
• Regarding the team’s cap situation going forward, Harbaugh is optimistic after the past several years have been tight: “Every year, we’ve been behind the eight ball with the cap. This year was a little better. Next year will be a lot better.” (Hensley)
• He’s confident the Ravens will be able to re-sign most of a group of key players that includes LT Ronnie Stanley, CB Marlon Humphrey, LB Matt Judon and eventually Jackson: “I’m really confident that a lot of these players want to be back and we’ll get a high number of them back.” (Hensley)
• Ravens national scout Lonnie Young has retired to enter the private sector. Young was credited with playing a major role in Baltimore’s selection of Jackson in the first round in 2018. (Neil Stratton)

Steelers

• Former NFL GM and analyst for the Athletic Michael Lombardi writes the most obvious question for the Steelers in 2020 is how QB Ben Roethlisberger will play coming off a season-ending elbow injury in 2019.