Bengals Bytes (4/22): An easy schedule for Joe Mixon

Bengals schedule good for Joe Mixon
When taking a look at the Cincinnati Bengals regular season schedule, it appears that running back Joe Mixon has one of, if not the easiest, schedules among running backs based on last year’s stats. Outside of the Indianapolis Colts in week one, Cincinnati faces all top half of the league in run defenses from last year in their first six weeks. Three of those teams including the Pittsburgh Steelers, Carolina Panthers, and Atlanta Falcons ranked among the top 10 teams against the run in 2017.

Looking at the Bengals toughest obstacles in 2018
Last week we found out who the Cincinnati Bengals would play in the preseason. Thursday night we found out when the team will play each opponent in the regular season. With five team’s from last year’s playoffs on the schedule, it could be an interesting schedule, four of those teams will be played before the halfway mark.

Bengals mock draft has team taking wide receiver
The Cincinnati Bengals have multiple needs that most fans would agree on including offensive line, linebacker, defensive linemen, and maybe a versatile safety with how aggressive the team has been looking in free agency for safety help. One position that does not need to be addressed in early rounds is the wide receiver. Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com did a deep mock draft where there were multiple players that slid down the boards and had the Bengals drafting Alabama wide receiver Calvin Ridley.

2018 NFL Draft Facts & Figures
Wyoming’s Josh Allen, USC’s Sam Darnold, Louisville’s Lamar Jackson, Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield and UCLA’s Josh Rosen - are projected to be selected in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. If all five quarterbacks are selected in the first round, it would mark the third time that at least five quarterbacks have been selected in the Draft’s opening round since the inception of the common draft in 1967. The 1983 NFL Draft holds the record with six quarterbacks selected in the first round, including Pro Football Hall of Famers John Elway, Jim Kelly and Dan Marino.

AFC North Bytes

Joe Haden 'training like never before' in Year 2 with Steelers
After battling injuries over the past two offseasons, Joe Haden plans to make up for lost time. The Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback said he took one week off after the regular season ended, and after morning beach workouts in Southern California, Haden is with his teammates for Phase One of voluntary workouts.

Why the Cleveland Browns' 2018 schedule is brutal: Mary Kay Cabot
Future Hall of Famers Ben Roethlisberger and Drew Brees in the first two weeks of the season are just two of the reasons the Browns have one of the most brutal schedules in the NFL in 2018. The schedule-makers (see below) had no sympathy for the Browns trying to get off to a good start and put 0-16 in the rearview mirror. In the midst of a 17-game losing streak dating back to their victory over the Chargers on Christmas Eve 2016, the Browns open at home against the 13-3 Steelers and then visit the 11-5 Saints. That's a combined record of 24-8 in the first two weeks of the season, against two of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.

Random Bytes

Dallas Goedert Leaps from Small-Town Hero to the Top of the Tight End Class
Dallas Goedert's home town of Britton, South Dakota, is so small that the football teams only have nine players and the bicycles only have one wheel. "You can tour the whole city in about two minutes," says Goedert, arguably the top tight end in this year's draft class, as well as an avid unicyclist. "After that, you're on your own."

2018 NFL Draft Rumors: Lamar Jackson Expected to Be Among 5 QBs Picked in Top 20
With less than a week remaining before the 2018 NFL draft, former Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson has reportedly secured a spot in the first round. According to Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com, Jackson is expected to be one of five quarterbacks selected in the top 20, presumably along with Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, Baker Mayfield and Josh Allen.

Rob Gronkowski: Patriots Fans Will See 'Freak-A-Leak' When I 'Maybe' Return
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski addressed the media at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Saturday, and while he largely avoided questions regarding his playing status, he did offer some hints. According to NESN's Doug Kyed, Gronk said fans will see a "freak-a-leak" when he comes back. Then, in response to a follow-up question about whether he'll play in 2018, Gronkowski said, "Maybe."