AFC North Notes: Browns, Bengals, Smith
The Browns‘ quarterback room has been under a microscope for years, but this offseason drew added scrutiny with the pure volume of Cleveland’s transactions at the position.
The Browns first traded for Kenny Pickett before reuniting with Joe Flacco in free agency. They then double-dipped on quarterbacks in the draft, taking Dillon Gabriel in the third round and Shedeur Sanders in the fifth.
Gabriel was expected to be a Day 3 pick, making his selection in the third round a “mild surprise,” according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, though Cleveland wasn’t a shocking destination. They hosted the left-handed passer for a visit on the same day as Sanders and Cam Ward, who both received more media attention for their links with the Browns. But the team was planning to take Gabriel at pick No. 94 all along, even if Jalen Milroe – who went one pick earlier to the Seahawks – was still available.
The Browns’ acquisition of four quarterbacks this offseason has raised questions about their plans for the position moving forward. At least one will likely be surplus to roster requirements in Cleveland, but as Fowler notes, injuries around the league could draw trade interest in Pickett or Flacco, both of whom have moveable one-year contracts.
Here is the latest from the AFC North:
- Browns defensive end Alex Wright has been fully cleared to return to the field after season-ending triceps surgery in 2024, per Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal. The 2022 third-rounder showed promise in 2023 with five sacks, but his injury robbed him of the chance to show further progression last year.
- Bengals cornerback DJ Turner also received medical clearance to participate in the team’s offseason program, according to Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Turner’s 2024 season ended after 11 games due to a broken clavicle, and he will look to retake a starting role in Cincinnati this year.
- The Bengals shuffled their front office staff recently. They promoted football data analyst Sam Francis to director of football research, per Inside The League’s Neil Stratton, and hired former Bills intern Trey LaBounty as a scouting research analyst, according to SI.com’s James Rapien. Bengals scout Christian Sarkisian is also departing the staff, being set to take over as the general manager of the Northwestern athletic department, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
- University of North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham was originally looking to hire Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith as the Tar Heels next head coach, according to David Hale, Andrea Adelson, and Chris Low of ESPN. Smith has never coached at the college level, but he played guard at UNC from 2001 to 2005. Heading into his second season as Steelers OC, Smith turned down the chance to interview for his alma mater’s HC post. Cunningham ultimately went with Bill Belichick, a decision that has drawn significant scrutiny over the last few months.
- The Browns reunited with Shaun Herock in a personnel role, per KRPC2’s Aaron Wilson. Herock was previously a national scout in Cleveland before joining the Raiders as a senior personnel advisor.
AFC North Notes: Browns, Bengals, Sutton
Several new defensive backs will see action for the Browns this season. Denzel Ward, Damarious Randall, T.J. Carrie and E.J. Gaines are now in the mix in Cleveland. But the team with the top bidding spots in the upcoming supplemental draft is doing its homework on the available DBs. John Dorsey attended Western Michigan safety Sam Beal‘s pro day, and Zac Jackson of The Athletic notes the Browns are studying up on supplemental cornerbacks Adonis Alexander (Virginia Tech) and Mississippi State safety Brandon Bryant. The Browns’ 0-16 finish last season guarantees them the first bid position in this non-televised event, so if Cleveland is willing to sacrifice a third-round pick in the 2019 draft, its move would beat any other team that’s willing to part with a third-rounder to the punch. Jackson adds that only Ward and Randall’s jobs look certain this season, with competition set to commence for the other three primary roles in the secondary.
Here’s the latest from the AFC North:
- On the subject of unsettled secondary situations, the Steelers look to feature training camp battles for the spots that Joe Haden and Morgan Burnett do not hold. The main uncertainty here going into camp looks to be 2017 third-rounder Cameron Sutton, whom Joe Rutter of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review notes could settle in at outside corner, in the slot, or as Burnett’s running mate on the back end. While the 5-foot-11, 188-pound Sutton would make for a diminutive safety, he did receive reps there during the Steelers’ offseason program, per Rutter. Sutton started at cornerback for four seasons at Tennessee and is the Volunteers’ all-time leader in passes defensed. Artie Burns‘ job isn’t certain, per Rutter. Neither is Sean Davis‘. And with Terrell Edmunds set to factor into the mix, the Steelers could sport some interesting sub-packages this season.
- The Bengals made a late-offseason personnel change. Christian Sarkisian will join the scouting staff as a scouting assistant, per Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Formerly the assistant director of player personnel at Northwestern for a year, Sarkisian will join an eight-person Bengals scouting staff.
- The tight end who serves as the Bengals’ Tyler Eifert injury insurance, Tyler Kroft is hoping for a long-term extension to stay in Cincinnati.
- UDFA Janarion Grant may have the inside track to succeed Michael Campanaro as the Ravens’ return man.