AFC North Notes: Ravens, Ben, Bengals
Sidelined with a Lisfranc injury that kept him from performing at the Combine, Marquise Brown has resumed running, Jeff Zreibec of the Baltimore Sun tweets. Although Zreibec adds (on Twitter) Brown will miss Ravens OTAs, he is still believed to be in good shape for an on-time debut. A minicamp return was once thought to be a target of Brown’s, the first wide receiver taken in this year’s draft is believed to be ahead of schedule. The Ravens seem to be expecting Brown to be ready by the time their rookies report for training camp. Lisfranc injuries can be quite tricky, so the Ravens showing caution with Brown certainly makes sense. It will be interesting how the Ravens will use the deep threat, considering how their previous long-range target, John Brown, saw his production hit a wall after Lamar Jackson took the reins last season.
Here is the latest from the AFC North:
- Ben Roethlisberger did not opt to gather Steelers skill-position players together for private workouts in recent years, but that changed recently. The 16th-year quarterback brought several Steelers weapons, including JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Conner, to his lake house in Georgia for some on-field work, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com notes. This figures to be an interesting offseason for Roethlisberger, who will be working with a younger (and less proven) receiver cast after Antonio Brown‘s ugly departure.
- The Bengals likely will again turn to Giovani Bernard as Joe Mixon‘s top backup, but the team did add two running backs in the sixth round — Trayveon Williams and a former college backfield stablemate of Mixon’s in Rodney Anderson. The Oklahoma product is coming off an ACL tear that marred his final Sooners season. Anderson, who tore the ligament in September of last year, will not participate in Cincinnati’s offseason program but is expected to be ready by the start of training camp, Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer notes. Anderson left Oklahoma early despite the injury and comes to western Ohio after a litany of maladies. Prior to the ACL tear, he suffered a broken leg, a neck injury that nullified his 2016 season and ankle tendon damage. But Anderson led the Sooners with 1,161 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns in 2017.
- On the subject of reserve running backs, Kenneth Dixon‘s Ravens role may be in jeopardy. The team added Mark Ingram in free agency and drafted Oklahoma State’s Justice Hill in the fourth round. The Baltimore backfield houses holdovers in Dixon and Gus Edwards, but Zreibec writes (subscription required) the older player is the more likely player to be the odd man out. Injuries and suspensions have marred the 2016 fourth-round pick’s career. Dixon did average 5.6 yards per carry on 60 totes last season.
Bengals Sign Jonah Williams, Drew Sample
The Bengals signed first-round offensive tackle Jonah Williams and second-round tight end Drew Sample, according to a team announcement. Williams was selected No. 11 overall while Sample was taken 41 picks later with the No. 52 choice. 
Williams entered draft weekend as a strong candidate for the top 10. But, after the Giants shocked the world by taking Duke quarterback Daniel Jones at No. 6 overall, things changed radially for the Alabama product and other top prospects. The early shakeup led to the Jaguars taking Kentucky edge rusher Josh Allen at No. 7, which allowed the Lions to opt for Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson at No. 8 instead of Williams. That worked out just fine for the Bengals, who were able to stand pat and land the best tackle in this year’s class.
Sample, meanwhile, used his 6’5″ frame to block effectively at Washington. He didn’t light up the stat sheet with just 25 catches for 252 yards in 2018, but he could develop into more of an offensive playmaker with time.
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/15/19
Today’s draft pick signings:
- The Titans have agreed to terms with fourth-round safety Amani Hooker, the club announced. Hooker was projected to come off the board much earlier than Round 4, leading Mike Renner of Pro Football Focus to label his selection as one of the steals of the draft. The 2019 Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year, Hooker was also named first-team All-Big Ten and second-team All-American. Additionally, Hooker posted elite athletic testing and is a versatile scheme fit, per Lance Zierlein of NFL.com, making his draft day fall all the more confusing. The Iowa product is likely to play in three-safety looks alongside fellow Tennessee defensive backs Kevin Byard and Kenny Vaccaro, and could be viewed as the long-term starter opposite Byard.
- Sixth-round linebacker Deshaun Davis has signed his rookie deal with the Bengals, Cincinnati announced today. Davis posted 112 tackles (15 for loss) during his final season at Auburn, but tested as a very poor athlete at the combine, per Kent Lee Platte of SB Nation (Twitter link). He’ll have to shine on special teams duty in order to land a roster spot in Cincinnati. Davis is the sixth Bengals draft choice under contract, but the club still has its top four picks unsigned: offensive tackle Jonah Williams, tight end Drew Sample, linebacker Germaine Pratt, and quarterback Ryan Finley.
Tyler Eifert Nearly Full-Go For Bengals
- Darqueze Dennard will not participate in near-future Bengals workouts due to having undergone knee surgery earlier this offseason. The operation occurred between the time Dennard re-signed with the Bengals and their offseason program, and Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com notes the team was aware the cornerback needed this arthroscopic procedure done upon re-signing him. The current hope is the slot corner returns for Cincinnati’s minicamp next month.
- Conversely, Tyler Eifert has been participating in the Bengals’ offseason activities thus far. The injury-prone (perhaps putting it mildly) tight end said he’s “doing pretty much everything” during Bengals workouts, Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer writes. Eifert’s latest injury interruption came when he suffered an ugly broken ankle early last season. He underwent surgery in October. Despite the spree of setbacks, the former first-round pick stands to be (if healthy) the Bengals’ top receiving tight end.
- Third-year Bengals defensive tackle Ryan Glasgow expects to be cleared to return by training camp, Dehner adds. The 2017 fourth-round pick tore his ACL in Week 3 of last season. Pro Football Focus offered a strong endorsement of Glasgow’s brief 2018 work sample, though it was cut short after just 92 snaps.
Bengals Waive LB Brandon Bell
Brandon Bell‘s tenure with the Bengals has come to an end. ESPN’s Katherine Terrell reports (via Twitter) that the organization has waived the linebacker. Cincy also cut wideout Charles Holland, and they’ve added a trio of undrafted tryout players: wideout Ventell Bryant (Temple), linebacker Noah Dawkins (The Citadel), and linebacker Sterling Sheffield (Maine).
Bell joined the Bengals as an undrafted free agent out of Penn State back in 2017, and he proceeded to appear in nine games for Cincy over his two years with the organization. He appeared in a career-high six games this past season, compiling four tackles. The 24-year-old was waived last offseason before landing on the team’s practice squad, so there could still be some hope that Bell will rejoin the organization.
Holland was one of three undrafted wideouts to join the Bengals earlier this week. The Tiffin product had another productive season in 2018, hauling in 77 receptions for 976 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Bryant will seemingly be taking Holland’s spot on the roster. The Temple product had another standout season in 2018, compiling 51 receptions for 690 yards and three scores. Meanwhile, the Bengals brought in a pair of linebackers to replace Bell. Dawkins set a school record with 23 sacks in 2018, while Sheffield completed his senior season with 8.5 sacks.
AFC Draft Pick Signings: 5/10/19
The latest 2019 draft pick signings from around the AFC:
- The Jets agreed to terms with two more rookies, signing fifth round linebacker Blake Cashman and sixth round cornerback Blessaun Austin. Cashman had 104 tackles at Minnesota last year, including 15 for a loss. He earned a second-team All-Big Ten selection for his work last year. Only third overall pick Quinnen Williams and third-rounders Jachai Polite and Chuma Edoga remain unsigned for New York.
- The Chargers inked two more players to their rookie deals, signing fifth round quarterback Easton Stick and fourth round linebacker Drue Tranquill. Stick, a North Dakota State product, was highly productive as a runner in college and many analysts projected a potential position change in the pros. That being said, the Chargers have said they plan on keeping Stick at quarterback. Tranquill is now wrapped up, and the Chargers can hopefully get his Notre Dame teammate, Jerry Tillery, signed soon. Most of the Chargers’ draft class remains unsigned as they just inked their first player earlier today.
- The Bengals signed a crop of five players, representing half of their class. They wrapped up fourth-rounders Renell Wren and Michael Jordan, sixth round running backs Trayveon Williams and Rodney Anderson, and seventh round cornerback Jordan Brown. Jordan, a Miami product, has some potential upside and could help replenish Cincinnati’s secondary. Williams, from Texas A&M, and Anderson, from Oklahoma, will be battling it out for a role behind Joe Mixon in the Bengals’ backfield. Anderson used to be seen as one of the nation’s top running backs, but injuries have derailed his career. This draft class will always be a monumental one for the Bengals, as it represents the first year of the post-Marvin Lewis era.
Bengals Sign 10 Undrafted Free Agents
The Bengals are the latest NFL team to announce their crop of undrafted college free agents. Cincinnati has agreed to sign the following 10 players:
- Curtis Akins, LB (Memphis)
- Anthony Chesley, CB (Coastal Carolina)
- Jake Dolegala, QB (Central Connecticut State)
- O’Shea Dugas, OL (Louisiana Tech)
- Jordan Ellis, RB (Virginia)
- Charles Holland, WR (Tiffin)
- Tyree Kinnel, S (Michigan)
- Stanley Morgan, WR (Nebraska)
- Keaton Sutherland, OL (Texas A&M)
- Damion Willis, WR (Troy)
Morgan is probably the most interesting name on the list, as many prognosticators believed he could come off the board at some point on Day 3. Over his final two seasons at Nebraska, Morgan averaged 995 yards receiving and eight touchdowns. The Bengals didn’t add a wide receiver with any of their 10 draft picks, so Morgan has a good shot to compete with the likes of Cody Core and Auden Tate for the fifth receiver role on Cincinnati’s roster.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/7/19
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves, with the list being updated throughout the night:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Claimed off waivers from Browns: RB Darrin Hall
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: CB Ashton Lampkin, LB Xavier Woodson-Luster
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: WR Rashard Davis, RB Marcus Marshall, DB Herb Miller, DB Andrew Soroh
- Waived: WR Andre Lindsey, S Leon McQuay, DB Dakari Monroe
- Waived/injured: WR Jamire Jordan
Minnesota Vikings
- Waived: S Jordan Martin
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: WR Deonta Harris
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived: DB Mercy Maston
Tennessee Titans
- Waived: WR Roger Lewis
Bengals Attempted To Trade Up For OL
With their first pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Bengals addressed the offensive line by taking Alabama product Jonah Williams at No. 11. They attempted to do the same by trading up in the second round when a handful of projected first-round offensive linemen slipped, but nothing came to fruition, Bengals.com writer Geoff Hobson writes.
According to Hobson, the team couldn’t make a deal to draft Jawaan Taylor, Cody Ford or Greg Little, all of whom went in the first six picks of the second round, because it coveted its fourth-round picks.
“They tried trading up in the second round for one of those first-round offensive lineman that slid. But they were also adamant. They coveted one of those guys, but they were holding on to their fourth-rounder. And later their fifth. They came into the draft believing the fourth round was where they could make some hay,” Hobson writes.
Cincinnati ended up with three picks in the fourth round, and used those selections on NC State quarterback Ryan Finley, Arizona State defensive tackle Renell Wren and Ohio State guard Michael Jordan.
Without making that move, the Bengals offensive line projects to feature Williams at right tackle, with Cordy Glenn on the opposite side, Clint Boling and John Miller at guard, and 2018 first-round pick Billy Price at center.
Cowboys Trade No. 136 To Bengals
The Bengals have acquired No. 136 from the Cowboys, reports Marisa Contipelli of Bengals.com (via Twitter). Cincinnati will send Dallas No. 149 and No. 213.
The Bengals have used their pick on Ohio State center Michael Jordan. Not to be confused with the NBA legend nor the dude who was in Black Panther, this Jordan started 14 games for the Buckeyes this past season. In 2016, Jordan was the first Ohio State freshman to start on the offensive line since Orlando Pace.
Bengals 2018 first-rounder Billy Price earned All-Rookie honors this past season, so it’s unlikely that Jordan sees much time at center. The rookie could move to one of the guard spots, a position he played early on during his Ohio State tenure.