AFC North Roster Moves: Hudson Stays, Moore Gets Paid, and Najee Eyes a New Chapter
As the offseason takes shape, three AFC North teams are already making moves that hint at bigger shifts ahead-some focused on continuity, others on fresh starts. Let’s break it down.
Bengals Keep a Reliable Target in Tanner Hudson
The Bengals are bringing back tight end Tanner Hudson on a one-year deal structured as a veteran salary benefit contract. It’s a savvy cap move-Hudson will earn a base salary of $1.3 million with a $50,000 signing bonus, but only count $1.125 million against the cap.
Hudson carved out a valuable role in Cincinnati’s offense last season, stepping up as a dependable option in the passing game. While not a headline-grabbing name, he’s the kind of player who quietly moves the chains and earns trust from quarterbacks. For a Bengals team looking to keep offensive continuity around their franchise QB, this is a low-risk, high-value signing that helps maintain depth at a position that’s often overlooked until injuries hit.
Ravens Lock Down Long Snapper Nick Moore
Baltimore is taking care of one of its most underappreciated specialists, inking long snapper Nick Moore to a four-year extension. The deal includes a $1.2 million signing bonus and guarantees the first two years, with an additional $300,000 becoming guaranteed if Moore is on the roster come March 17, 2027.
Moore’s base salaries are set at the veteran minimum for each year of the deal: $1.215 million, $1.26 million, $1.305 million, and $1.435 million. It’s a commitment that speaks volumes about the Ravens’ emphasis on special teams consistency-a hallmark of John Harbaugh’s tenure.
Long snappers don’t often make headlines, but when they’re doing their job right, they don’t need to. Moore has been a steady presence, and this extension ensures that Baltimore’s kicking operation remains one of the league’s most reliable.
Najee Harris Reflects on Exit Interview with Mike Tomlin
In a revealing moment, Steelers running back Najee Harris shared details from his final exit interview with longtime head coach Mike Tomlin-and it sounds like it may have marked the end of Harris’ time in Pittsburgh.
According to Harris, Tomlin didn’t mince words. “He said, ‘Najee, I always talk to you, not as if you are a player, but as if you are my son’… He was like, ‘If you was my son, I would tell you not to come back here.’ I was like, ‘Alright, bet,’” Harris recalled.
That kind of honesty is rare-and telling. Harris, a former first-round pick, has shouldered a heavy workload since entering the league, and while his production has been steady, the Steelers appear to be heading in a new direction offensively. Tomlin’s comments suggest a mutual understanding that it might be time for Harris to seek a fresh start elsewhere.
For Harris, the next chapter could be an opportunity to reset and thrive in a system better tailored to his strengths. For the Steelers, it signals a potential shift in philosophy at the running back position-perhaps leaning toward a committee approach or a younger, more explosive option.
What It All Means
These moves may not dominate headlines, but they each tell a story about where these AFC North teams are headed.
- The Bengals are quietly reinforcing their offensive depth.
- The Ravens continue to value stability in the often-overlooked third phase of the game.
- And the Steelers may be preparing for a significant change in the backfield.
It’s only January, but the groundwork for 2026 is already being laid-and these decisions could have ripple effects well into the season.