Bengals Bytes (3/12): Tyler Eifert’s salary could become too rich for the Bengals’ blood

Should the Bengals move on from Brandon LaFell
The Cincinnati Bengals find themselves going into the 2018 season with a decision to make regarding their inventory of wide receivers. One of their biggest decisions to make is whether or not to keep wide receiver Brandon LaFell around for another year?

Tyler Eifert’s projected annual salary hints Bengals could lose TE in free agency
Needing to re-sign multiple players and work on extensions for others, Tyler Eifert’s future with the Cincinnati Bengals remains in question. Eifert, who hasn’t been able to stay on the field for most of his career, is set to hit free agency and can negotiate with any team now that the legal-tampering process is underway.

Recent mock draft has Bengals making interesting pick
The Cincinnati Bengals have multiple positions that need upgrading this offseason to help them get back in the playoff race for 2018. The most common positions are offensive linemen, linebacker, and tight end. The latest mock draft by Walter Football has the Bengals taking a different route in the first round of the draft. In fact, they have Cincinnati picking up a safety with the 12th overall pick.

Bengals should ship draft pick to Browns for WR Corey Coleman
The Cincinnati Bengals didn’t have much success trading with the Cleveland Browns during the AJ McCarron debacle, but it shouldn’t stop the front office from picking up the phone and asking about Corey Coleman. For those who haven’t noticed, the Browns have been holding a fire sale of sorts, shipping away assets and sometimes bringing on others. After an odd couple years, Coleman’s name has popped up on the market.

Eric Winston re-elected president of NFL players union
Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Eric Winston has been unanimously re-elected as president of the NFL players' union, earning his third straight three-year term. Winston, who is scheduled to become a free agent, ran unopposed for the position. The NFLPA Board of Player Representatives announced the result Sunday at the NFLPA's annual meetings.

Departure of Adam Jones gives Bengals more flexibility in free agency
The Cincinnati Bengals will have a little bit more spending room to play with during the 2018 free agency period when it opens up on Wednesday after informing cornerback Adam Jones that they won't be picking up the option on the final year of his contract. Jones will become an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday, which will free up $6.82 million against the cap, which is set at $177.2 million this year.

TBDH: Bengals announce rare uniform tweaks
For the first time since the watershed uniform change of 1981 introduces their cutting edge striped helmets, the Bengals announce more alterations today when wide receiver Jeff Hill and linebacker Tom Tumulty model the changes at Spinney Field. But as Chris Haft writes in tomorrow’s Cincinnati Enquirer, “Fans might have an easier time recognizing a blitz than noticing the differences in the new uniform the Bengals unveil.”

AFC North Bytes

Browns LT Joe Thomas compares Tyrod Taylor to Russell Wilson
Cleveland Browns star left tackle Joe Thomas is still mulling his playing future, but he endorsed the flurry of trades made by the team last week, including the acquisition of Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor. Brown, who has said he plans to make a decision by the March 14 deadline for the start of free agency, appeared on a podcast and offered no insight as to whether the four trades will affect his decision, per Cleveland.com.

Baltimore Ravens: Positional Overview - Linebacker
This group is chock-full of potential, especially when it comes to rushing the passer. It also was the biggest culprit in the Ravens’ uncharacteristic slippage defending the run last season. Inconsistencies setting the edge, size and experience issues at Will linebacker led to teams having a surprising amount of success running the football at times. This is a group I expect to remain largely intact but it will be interesting to see how roster spots 7 through say 9 or 10 turn out.

Random Bytes

Richard Sherman on Signing with 49ers to Play Seahawks: I'm Vengeful in That Way
Newly signed San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman said one thing led him to the team over anything else: the ability to play against the Seattle Seahawks twice every season. "I'm vengeful that way...vengeful," Sherman told Peter King of The MMQB. "I love the fanbase to death, and I loved playing there. It was such a great opportunity. I helped the organization get to a great place and stay there. But now it's like I abandoned them. People are out there burning my jersey. Come on. I'm not the one who let me go. They let me go. I didn't abandon anybody."

Adrian Peterson Rumors: RB to Be Released by Cardinals, but Could Return
The Arizona Cardinals are reportedly set to release running back Adrian Peterson on Monday rather than pay him a $750,000 roster bonus. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the news, noting it's possible the former league MVP returns after hitting free agency.

2018 NFL Draft Big Board: Matt Miller's Post-Combine Rankings
We have fewer than 50 days until the 2018 NFL draft, and post-combine there is starting to be clarity about who the best players in the class are. That makes this a great time to update my top 50 players overall and the top 10 at each position.