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Bengals Bytes (4/10): Why Cincinnati could compete with Pittsburgh next season

The Bengals could easily back bounce this offseason and position themselves to be serious competition for the Steelers.

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NFL: Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Bengals mock draft 3.0: Mock trade adds options
The draft will take place April 26-28 in Dallas, Texas this year. The Bengals are slated to pick No. 21 after trading back with Buffalo for Cordy Glenn. Here's mock draft 3.0 which this time includes them making another first-round trade as they seek to fix the offensive line.

Bengals Mock Draft 18.0: A seven-round Mock after free agency, trade filled most needs
With the Bengals (and the rest of NFL teams) basically done signing free agents it's time for them to turn their attention to what they can do to help themselves in the draft later this month. The Bengals addressed a need at left tackle when they traded for Cordy Glenn, at middle linebacker when they signed free agent Preston Brown, signed backup quarterback Matt Barkley, and re-signed tight end Tyler Eifert and punter Kevin Huber.

Protester Eric Reid finally invited to make his first free agent visit of NFL offseason
After nearly four weeks as a free agent, Eric Reid is finally getting ready to make his first official visit of the offseason. According to NFL.com, Reid is scheduled to visit with the Bengals this week, which marks the first time that the free agent safety will get to meet with a team since free agency started on March 14. The fact that the 26-year-old former first-round pick is still a free agent has raised some eyebrows around the league.

Free agent Eric Reid scheduled to visit with Cincinnati Bengals
Reid's visit with Cincinnati is his first known visit of the free-agency period. He became an unrestricted free agent last month after spending the first five seasons of his career with the San Francisco 49ers.

NFL Network's Schrager: Don't sleep on Bengals
NFL Network's Peter Schrager gives his reasoning on how the Cincinnati Bengals can challenge the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Report: Reid to visit
Don’t look for a quick deal with 49ers safety Eric Reid. Or any other veteran, for that matter. At least not yet with indications the Bengals put on the brakes last month for the April 26-28 draft to focus on the prospects. According to NFL Network Reid is to visit the Bengals in what continues to be a safety search that at first seemed a bit mystifying but is now emerging as consistent with their off-season plans. When the Bengals unsuccessfully pursued Saints safety Kurt Coleman last month, they made it clear they’re looking to generate more turnovers after last’s year’s 14 were the fewest behind only Cleveland in the NFL.

TDBH: Stills, Bengals mourn Lauren Hill
Cincinnati is in mourning this morning when hometown heroine Lauren Hill passes away at age 19. Hill, Mount Saint Joseph’s freshman point guard whose courage and determination in the face of an inoperable brain tumor inspires a nation, has a special bond with the Bengals. Back in November when they are honoring defensive tackle Devon Still’s crusade against pediatric cancer as four-year-old daughter Leah fights the disease, Hill appears with Leah in a Paul Brown Stadium suite and the pair accepts a thunderous ovation during the Bengals’ Thursday night game against the Browns.

AFC North Bytes

Gene Collier: One year gone, Dan Rooney still widely appreciated as peacemaker
Only last month, the architect of the Steelers dynasty was the subject of a day-long symposium at Duquesne University, his alma mater, where honorary Rooney scholars from Franco Harris, the dynasty-birthing running back, to Gen. Michael V. Hayden, the former director of the CIA, to Ted Smyth, chairman of the Clinton Institute at University College Dublin, convened in the latest attempt to properly illuminate the full scope of Dan Rooney’s passions and impacts.

Among other issues, Ravens still have to figure out injury bug
The Baltimore Ravens are doing what they can to address the main concern this offseason: the offense. But truly the largest problem they’ve faced in recent years isn’t just about the potential on the roster or the lack of production but more on the inability for many key players to stay healthy.

Random Bytes

'What's Wrong with NFL Draft Prospect Marcus Davenport?' Is the Wrong Question
There just has to be something wrong with Marcus Davenport. He looks like a cross between elite pass-rushers Calais Campbell and Von Miller on game tape. His workout results put even highly touted draft prospect Bradley Chubb of N.C. State to shame. But there's always a catch with these small-conference marvels who stomp through the opposition like Pacific Rim monsters.

Cowboys Rumors: Jeremy Maclin Drew 'Preliminary' Interest from Dallas, Eagles
The Dallas Cowboys signed free agents Allen Hurns and Deonte Thompson at receiver this season, but they were reportedly also looking into Jeremy Maclin. According to Josina Anderson of ESPN, both the Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles had "preliminary inquiries" regarding the receiver, although he appears to no longer be an option after they each filled their need at the position elsewhere.

Report: Free-Agent CB Jalen Collins Suspended for 1st 10 Games of 2018 Season
Former Atlanta Falcons cornerback Jalen Collins, who is a free agent, has reportedly been suspended for the first 10 games of the 2018 season, according to Field Yates of ESPN. Collins was a second-round pick in the 2015 draft but only appeared in 24 games over the past three years. He was waived by the Falcons last November and hasn't found a new job since.