NFL Betting: AFC North Offseason Changes

After the NFL Draft, let’s take a fresh look at the NFL landscape. Get an overview of what each team has gone through in the offseason, specifically the changes made to personnel and the additions made through the draft and free agency. In the AFC North, the offseason has a very different feel. Instead of the Cleveland Browns coming off another miserable season, the Browns are actually an AFC contender after reaching the divisional round last season. This is now a division in which three teams, not merely two, are competitive and have a chance to do something special.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers were 11-0 last season before crashing down the stretch. The Steelers were hurt by the injury to pass rusher Bud Dupree, which left their defense at the mercy of good passing teams such as the Cleveland Browns, who torched them in the wild card round. The Steelers then lost Dupree to the Tennessee Titans. They could have drafted for defense, but they added offensive players with their first two picks in the NFL draft, taking running back Najee Harris from Alabama and then tight end Pat Freiermuth of Penn State. The Steelers are trying to give Ben Roethlisberger more weapons in the final seasons of his career. Yet, the quality of the defense will show how far Pittsburgh can go.

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens continue to labor under the burden of the reality that quarterback Lamar Jackson is not a polished passer. He is a gifted runner and a good leader, but until Jackson becomes a supremely accurate deep-ball passer who can stretch the field, the Ravens’ offense will remain limited enough that it can’t win big games against the Chiefs or the Bills. The Ravens were outclassed by both teams during the past season, falling to the Bills in the playoffs. Baltimore has a playoff-quality team, but the Ravens are trying to figure out how to return to the Super Bowl for the first time in nine years. To that end, they took receiver Tylan Wallace of Oklahoma State in the NFL draft, one of the steals of the three-day event in Cleveland. Baltimore also took Minnesota receiver Rashod Bateman, another clear attempt to give Lamar Jackson the resources he needs to take the next step… and carry the Ravens to the Super Bowl.

Cleveland Browns

The Browns’ offense thrived in the playoffs, even with Odell Beckham being injured. The Browns are set on offense. If they are going to make the Super Bowl for the first time ever, they need even more high-impact players on defense. They drafted Greg Newsome, a defensive back, in the first round of the NFL draft. In the second round, they took Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, who is a very athletic linebacker.

In free agency, the Browns grabbed pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney. If Clowney can stay healthy, this could be a great addition, but Clowney has had a hard time staying healthy. He was a non-factor for the Tennessee Titans last year. If he turns things around, though, Cleveland could take that final step to greatness, which has been elusive.

Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals need a lot of help in a brutally tough division. They gave Joe Burrow an elite receiver who is also a former teammate from LSU. Ja’Marr Chase will be a prime target for Burrow in the passing game. The Bengals drafted an offensive lineman, Jackson Carman, to provide pass protection for Burrow.

The Bengals didn’t make a lot of splashy free agent additions, but cornerback Eli Apple and Chidobe Awuzie provide depth in the secondary. Draft pick Tyler Shelvin is a run-stuffer in the middle.