New Steeler FS Mike Mitchell, new Bengals SS Danieal Manning, new Ravens WR Steve Smith
Here's an update on what the rest of the AFC North teams have been up to since the start of the free-agency signing period on March 11:
Baltimore Ravens
RETAINED:WR/KR Jacoby Jones, SS Jeromy Miles, LT Eugene Miles, TE Dennis Pitta, ILB Daryl Smith
ADDITIONS:TE Owen Daniels, RB Justin Forsett, WR Steve Smith, SS Darian Stewart
LOSSES:WR Tandon Doss, CB Corey Graham, SS James Ihedigbo, DE Arthur Jones, ILB Jameel McClain, RT Michael Oher
Comments: The addition of Daniels and Pitta's return arguably give the Ravens the best tight-end tandem in the NFL. Both are recovering from injuries, but when healthy, they can be highly effective. And Daniels should benefit from his understanding of the scheme of new Ravens offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, who was Daniels' coach in Houston. …Although Smith is 35 and entering his 13th NFL season, the former Carolina Panther still figures to have enough left to provide the Ravens significant help at a position of need. …The losses of Graham, Ihedigbo, Jones, and McClain will hurt the defense.
Cincinnati Bengals
RETAINED:FS Taylor Mays, MLB Vincent Rey, WR Brandon Tate
ADDITIONS:QB Jason Campbell, SS Danieal Manning, LB Dontay Moch, OT Marshall Newhouse, DB R.J. Stanford
LOSSES:OT Anthony Collins, DB Brandon Ghee, OLB, James Harrison, WR Andrew Hawkins, DE Michael Johnson
Comments:The Bengals lost some quality players on both sides of the ball with the departures of Collins, Hawkins (who joined the Cleveland Browns), and Johnson. …They tend to be fairly passive about shopping in the open market, but they did make a couple of additions to their secondary with Manning, who has made 91 starts in eight seasons with Chicago and Houston, and Stanford, who has been a backup the past four years. …Campbell, who spent last season with the Browns, gives the Bengals a veteran backup for Andy Dalton.
Pittsburgh Steelers
RETAINED:FS Will Allen, TE Michael Palmer, C/OG Cody Wallace, LS Greg Warren, OG/OT Guy Whimper, OLB Jason Worilds
ADDITIONS:RB LeGarrette Blount, WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, FS Mike Mitchell, OLB Arthur Moats, WR Lance Moore, NT/DE Cam Thomas, CB Brice McCain
LOSSES:CB Curtis Brown, OT Levi Brown, FS Ryan Clark, WR Jerricho Cotchery, RB Jonathan Dwyer, ILB Larry Foote, DE Ziggy Hood, TE David Johnson, WR Emanuel Sanders, OLB LaMarr Woodley, NT Al Woods
Comments:The Steelers have been a bit more active than usual in free agency. Mitchell, who spent last season with the Panthers, gives them a starter to replace Clark. Blount, Moats, Moore, and Thomas provide solid depth and can be effective as situational substitutions. McCain and Heyward-Bey have been inconsistent, but the Steelers are going to see whether a change of scenery might bring out the best in them. …One of their more important moves was keeping Worilds and hanging onto Wallace and Whimper for depth on the offensive line.
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