Bengals News (7/15): No more sleeping

Bengals: Joe Mixon says he won’t wear new helmet mouth shield
The NFL continues to work on ways to make training camp this summer and the regular season itself safe for players and personnel amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Bengals: Tyler Boyd wants everyone to stop sleeping on Joe Mixon
Mixon has popped up all over the place in various running back rankings this offseason, usually in the top 10. Sometimes he’s not — ESPN thinks he’ll finish outside the top-10 scorers at his position in the fantasy football realm.

Cincinnati Bengals: Fans' loss could be Joe Burrow's small gain
While football with very few or zero fans is certainly better than the nightmare scenario of no NFL season at all, the Bengals not being able to play in front of a packed house is unfortunate, to say the least. It has been a long time since Cincinnati was so excited about a Bengals season.

Rookie linebacker Logan Wilson's possible for for Cincinnati Bengals
Last season, the Bengals tried several middle linebackers who frequently missed tackles and struggled to execute on game day. Aaron Bohl, who was Wilson’s linebackers coach at Wyoming, told The Enquirer that Wilson can plug the hole in the middle of the Bengals’ defense.

All quiet on the A.J. Green front as other franchise tag dominoes fall
Instead, an unexpected development happened between the Kansas City Chiefs and star defensive lineman Chris Jones, with the Chiefs locking him down on a four-year extension. Over in Baltimore, the Ravens at least upped the tag value for Matt Judon to avoid a dispute over whether he should be designated as a linebacker or defensive end.

Bengals missed out on huge opportunity by not signing Jason Peters
On Tuesday morning it was announced that the Philidelphia Eagles re-signed their longtime tackle, Jason Peters. The deal is reportedly for a single season and it’s maximum value tops out around $6M. For a two-time first-team All-Pro and nine-time Pro Bowler, that’s an extremely reasonable agreement. It’s a contract the Cincinnati Bengals certainly should have offered to shore up their trenches.

Around the league

Myles Garrett, Browns closing in on five-year, $125M extension
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported the Cleveland Browns and Garrett are closing in on a five-year extension worth $125 million, per sources informed of the situation. Rapoport added Garrett's deal includes $50 million fully guaranteed at signing and $100 million in total guarantees.

Chris Jones, Chiefs agree on four-year, $85 million contract
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday that the Chiefs and star defensive tackle Chris Jones agreed to a four-year contract worth $85 million, per the player's agents. The deal includes $60 million in total guarantees upon signing.

Top 101 NFL free agents of 2020: Who will sign Jadeveon Clowney?
One of the league's premier route runners and boundary specialists, Cooper's presence in Dallas is one of the primary reasons for the placement of QB Dak Prescott -- who was hit with the franchise tag -- atop the original version of this list. Dak has played the best ball of his career since the former No. 4 overall pick arrived to fill the No. 1 receiver void left by Dez Bryant's decline and departure.

Predicting one future first-time Pro Bowler for each NFC team
Brian Burns, edge rusher, second NFL season: Burns came out firing as a rookie, tallying at least a half sack in five straight games beginning in Week 2. Stuck in a ridiculously grim Panthers defense, the first-rounder underwent wrist surgery during the club's Week 7 bye, yet recovered to notch another three QB takedowns before the end of the season. The tangled wrist coupled with the presence of veteran players like Bruce Irvin limited his snaps, but the healthy version of Burns piled up 16 pressures in his first four NFL games. In a massively revamped defense stripped of older players that ate into his opportunities, Burns will be counted on from wire to wire in Year 2.

Trade interest remains for Jaguars DE Yannick Ngakoue
Sides have until 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday to strike a long-term deal. If Ngakoue doesn't get a multi-year contract, the most he can play on is a one-year deal. The defensive end franchise tag is worth $17.8 million in 2020. The 25-year-old has yet to sign the tender. Until he does, he's not under contract and cannot be fined for skipping training camp practices, which are scheduled to begin later this month.