The 2024-2025 NFL season is about to ramp up and teams will be reporting to training camp in the coming weeks. But before we see all 32 teams get back on the gridiron. Check out my last article where I previewed the AFC East. (NFL Division Preview: The AFC East). The next preview will be on the AFC North. The teams in the AFC North consists of the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers.
In 2023, the AFC North was considered one of the top divisions in the NFL. All teams except the Cincinnati Bengals made it to the playoffs, with the Bengals facing setbacks due to quarterback Joe Burrow’s injuries. Now that Burrow is back in good health, the Bengals are seen as strong competitors who could potentially overthrow the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC.
The Steelers made significant changes to their quarterback group, more than any other team in the NFL. Even though some may not be impressed by the signings of Wilson and Fields, bringing them in to take over from Rudolph and Pickett is a big deal. In the draft, GM Omar Khan focused on strengthening the offensive line by choosing Fautanu in the first round, followed by picking up Zach Frazier as a second-round center and Mason McCormick as a fourth-round guard. On the defensive side, the Steelers bolstered their talent alongside edge rushers T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith by adding Queen and Elliott, as well as making a trade for Jackson. Despite Pittsburgh’s quarterback issues, Coach Mike Tomlin has managed to avoid a losing season in his 17 years as head coach. The Steelers are aiming for their fourth playoff appearance in five years, which should be achievable given their current roster.
After Boyd and Mixon played in Cincinnati for years, they are now playing for other teams (Tennessee and Houston). To fill their positions, the Bengals selected Jermaine Burton from Alabama in the third round of the draft. Trenton Irwin and Andrei losivas will also play important roles on the team. When it comes to running back, Zach Moss will be the main ball carrier for the Bengals, while Chase Brown, in his second year, will also see playing time. On the defensive line, Cincinnati lost Williams and Reader to free agency. To replace them, Bengals GM Duke Tobin brought in Brown and Rankins, and drafted tackle Amarius Mims, along with defensive tackles Kris Jenkins and McKinley Jackson in the early rounds. If Burrow remains injury-free and both edge rusher Trey Hendrickson and receiver Tee Higgins stay with the team, Cincinnati has the potential to make another successful playoff run.
Baltimore observed as ex-defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald accepted the head coaching position with the Seattle Seahawks, prompting the Ravens to replace him with Zach Orr, who previously served as the team’s inside linebackers coach. Orr faces the challenge of working with a less talented defensive lineup after the Ravens lost Clowney, Stone, and Queen. Nevertheless, Baltimore still boasts a roster of defensive stars, such as All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith, defensive tackle Justin Madubuike, veteran edge rusher Kyle Van Noy, and cornerback Marlon Humphrey, among others. The Ravens added a potential Hall of Fame running back in Henry and will have Keaton Mitchell back from a torn ACL. The offense looks promising with Lamar Jackson coming off an MVP season and Zay Flowers expected to shine in his second year.
Last year, the Browns tried out many different quarterbacks after Deshaun Watson got injured before ultimately deciding on Joe Flacco. The team had some hope until they suffered a big loss in the first playoff game. Watson will return next season, but his performance before getting hurt wasn’t very impressive. Since Flacco is no longer with Cleveland, he can’t step in to help the team if Watson gets injured. The interception-prone Jameis Winston is now the backup, so it’s crucial for Watson to remain healthy and play at a high level like he did four years ago. There’s a possibility that Watson may never reach that level again, but the Browns have added another weapon to support him. Cleveland already has skilled players like Amari Cooper and David Njoku. They acquired Jerry Jeudy through a trade to provide Watson with another dynamic target downfield. Jeudy, while talented, has a tendency to make mistakes and occasionally gives up. It is likely that he will be a challenging option for Cleveland, particularly if Watson does not return to his 2020 performance level.
In conclusion, the AFC North is considered league wide to be the best division in football. Based on talent in the division, the uncertainty of who can win the division. The North will be a 4-team race and possibly comes down to December for a top seed in the AFC
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