The NFL has been buzzing around free agency news, trade transactions and Kyler Murray’s pro day all week, leaving just about every franchise headed in one direction or another.
Before the free-agency period officially begins, we’ve put together a list of hypothetical AFC North standings for the 2019 season. Of course, the remaining available free agents and the NFL Draft will change the course of these projections throughout the coming months — but here is where we are at as of today.
4. Cincinnati Bengals
Unfortunately, a new coaching staff is not bringing the energy to Cincinnati that we originally thought it would and the Bengals have done very little if anything to upgrade their roster this offseason. Though Cincinnati will likely have a healthy A.J. Green and Joe Mixon next season, it’s hard to see the Bengals taking a division in which their rivals upgraded.
At 6-10 last season, Cincinnati started off strong but faltered its way through the finish line, letting Baltimore win a surprisingly weak division. The Bengals did not lose anyone to drastically fall off their win total from last season but lack the necessary pieces to contain the Browns and Ravens.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers knew they were likely going to lose Le’Veon Bell to free agency this season but losing Antonio Brown was unexpected, to say the least. With two of the three ‘killer bee’s’ now out of Pittsburgh, the team finds itself in a bit of trouble. Factor in that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is starting to age and you have some problems in the Steel City.
However, the rise of wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and running back James Conner keeps the Steelers in the hunt as a dark horse for the AFC North. The two young playmakers will have to step up, even more, this season if they have any hopes of reclaiming the division crown though.
2. Baltimore Ravens
Before the day started, the Cleveland Browns seemed like a total lock for the top spot in the division but the additions of Earl Thomas and Mark Ingram make the Ravens a serious threat. Earlier, Baltimore looked as if it was headed in the wrong direction with the departures of C.J. Mosley, Eric Weddle, Terrell Suggs and Za’Darius Smith . Now, the Ravens have enough pieces to give Cleveland a run for its money at the top of the AFC North.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson will take full control of the team next season with Joe Flacco headed to Denver but he must look more like his late-season self than anything to keep Baltimore’s playoff hopes yet again.
1. Cleveland Browns
The Browns’ Super Bowl odds skyrocketed last night after trading for highly touted wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. Cleveland has one of the most lethal offenses in the league with Baker Mayfield, Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, Jarvis Landry and now Odell Beckham Jr.
However, the biggest question for the Browns is their defense and trading away Jabrill Peppers only increases doubts. Cleveland looks to be the favorite in the AFC North at the moment, given it has so much offensive firepower and no longer has to deal with Hue Jackson but the NFL Draft will be a major telling point. Expect the Browns to look for a handful of defensive starters in the draft and what’s left of free agency.
