NFL Notes: Bengals, Jets, Rams, Saints, & Texans

Bengals

• Coley Harvey can see the Bengals signing veteran OT Andrew Whitworth to a contract extension, even after they drafted two offensive tackles in rounds one and two of this year’s draft.
• According to Harvey, it sounds like the Bengals are “pretty committed to keeping him around.”
• Harvey can see rookie WR Mario Alford, CB Josh Shaw and DT Marcus Hardison all making the team, despite the increased level of competition.
• Harvey writes that A.J. McCarron has the best shot to win the Bengals’ backup job, but that doesn’t mean Terrelle Pryor can be discounted.

Jets

• Rich Cimini of ESPN New York writes that the $31.5 million paid to Rams DE Robert Quinn over the first three years of his extension could be what Jets DL Muhammad Wilkerson is looking for in his next contract.
• Cimini views TE Jace Amaro and S Calvin Pryor as two breakout candidates for the Jets in 2015.
• Although, WR Chris Owusu and CB Dexter McDougle could be two sleepers to keep an eye on, according to Cimini.
• Cimini writes that the new Jets’ regime has no allegiance to QB Geno Smith, and won’t hesitate to start Ryan Fitzpatrick in the event he struggles.

Rams

• Nick Wagoner of ESPN believes the Rams moving to Los Angeles is “more probable than not,” and suggests that they could join the Chargers in L.A. as the two teams relocating to the second largest U.S. market.
• Wagoner expects the Rams to play first-round pick RB Todd Gurley “as soon as he’s ready from a health perspective.”
• Wagoner writes that the Rams focus on a power running scheme makes it hard to see how former first-round pick WR Tavon Austin will fit in their offense.
• According to Wagoner, A reunion between the Rams and veteran C Scott Wells hasn’t been entirely ruled out, but he still thinks the Rams would prefer one of Barrett Jones, Tim Barnes or Demetrius Rhaney to claim the starting job.

Ravens

• Jamison Hensley believes Cal State-Sacramento WR/KR DeAndre Carter and Alabama S Nick Perry have the best opportunity of the undrafted free agents to make the Ravens’ 53-man roster this summer.
• According to Hensley, WR Marlon Brown‘s best opportunity at playing time this year could come in red-zone situations.

Saints

• Mike Triplett of ESPN writes that first-round pick Stephone Anthony and veteran David Hawthorne will compete for the opportunity to replace Curtis Lofton as the “Mike” inside linebacker and signal-caller for the Saints’ defense.

Texans

• According to Tania Ganguli, the Texans expectation is that rookie WR Jaelen Strong will play more than Damaris Johnson, Nate Washington and Keshawn Martin this season.
• Ganguli mentions that the Texans did have interest in Collins after the draft.
• Ganguli expects Jared Crick to hold off Jeoffrey Pagan for the starting job opposite of J.J. Watt.