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Bengals Podcast: Catching up with the AFC North

July 4, 2025 by Cincy Jungle

Miami Dolphins v Cleveland Browns
Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images

Looking at Cleveland, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh is actually making me feel better about Cincinnati.

There has been a lot of negativity in this fan base recently, and I get it. Why can’t they just sign Trey Hendrickson already? What is going on with their first-round pick? Why haven’t they signed a top-end guard?

I get it! Believe me, I get it.

Let me tell you a little something: The grass isn’t always greener, and if you take a look around the AFC North, that is what you’ll find.

So, the Cincinnati Bengals haven’t been as active. Neither have the Ravens nor the Browns. In his 2000 classic On the Grind, Nelly said, “All money ain’t good money, but no money ain’t good.” While the aforementioned teams may be making “no acquisitions,” not all acquisitions are good acquisitions. *cough, Aaron Rodgers

The Steelers are usually very consistent. They have a consistent approach to team building, but it seems they have lost their way.

They just recently made a “Blockbuster trade.” I capitalized “Blockbuster,” because I assume the reason they gave the trade that title is that it would have been much more relevant years ago. They may have acquired Jalen Ramsey, but Minkah Fitzpatrick was the best player in that trade, and he’s out the door. They brought in DK Metcalf, who is an upgrade on George Pickens for obvious reasons, but it would have been a much better idea to pair him with Pickens.

Oh yeah, and their best pass-rusher didn’t show up to minicamp either.

The Ravens haven’t done much this offseason and have a mix of aging vets and big projections in key places. Jaire Alexander is a name, but he has not been able to stay healthy. DeAndre Hopkins is not the man he was in Houston. Did they really move the needle at all?

The Browns are frankly confusing. Seriously, what are they trying to do? They drafted two quarterbacks in the mid-rounds. They spent a bunch of money on a guard they probably don’t need. They made some good picks, but it almost seems like they are building depth for the future and not trying to win games now.

I don’t know about you, but I’m starting to feel a little better.


Be sure to subscribe to Bleav in Cincy to hear the latest from the whole crew on everything Cincinnati Bengals! In addition to Matt and Willie Know Ball, you’ll hear from the Orange and Black Insider, Bengal Jim and Friends, and Three-and-Out.

Who Dey!

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