The first waves of free agency have come and gone and now it’s time to look at what teams have gained and lost since March 13th and where they stand as they prepare for the upcoming draft. Let’s continue with the AFC North.
Baltimore Ravens
Key acquisitions: FS Earl Thomas, RB Mark Ingram, WR Seth Roberts, CB Justin Bethel
Re-signed: TE Nick Boyle, QB Robert Griffin III
Departures: ILB C.J. Mosley (Jets), OLB Terrell Suggs (Cardinals), OLB Za’Darius Smith (Packers), FS Eric Weddle (Rams), WR John Brown (Bills), RB Ty Montgomery (Jets), WR Michael Crabtree
Remaining free agents: RB Buck Allen, TE Maxx Williams, DE Brent Urban
Analysis: The Joe Flacco era in Baltimore is over, and the Lamar Jackson era is upon is. When the reins were handed over the Jackson mid-season, the dynamic of the Ravens offense shifted to the run game behind undrafted rookie Gus Edwards and the unpredictability of Jackson and his legs. The wide receivers were soon fazed out, allowing Michael Crabtree to be released and John Brown to walk. With this new old school style of offense, the Ravens needed a difference maker in the backfield, signing longtime Saint Mark Ingram to a three-year deal. The Ravens also went out and signed former Raider Seth Roberts, a productive slot receiver to pair alongside Willie Snead, another slot receiver. Even with the run-first offense, the Ravens still need receivers, and picking at 22, Baltimore should find a capable wide receiver.
The real story of the Ravens offseason has been on the defensive side of the ball. After seeing C.J. Mosley sign with the Jets for a ridiculous amount of money, 16-year veteran Terrell Suggs head home to Arizona, and Za’Darius Smith sign in Green Bay, the Ravens defense looks a whole lot different up front. It was a bit shocking that the Ravens didn’t franchise tag Mosley, allowing him to test the market, and ultimately losing one of the best young linebackers in the league. Replacing him won’t be easy as the only capable inside linebackers on the roster is Patrick Onwuasor and second-year man Kenny Young, and finding one in the draft should be one of their many priorities come draft day. Suggs is 36 but still playing at a high level, and Smith led the team in sacks in 2018, however the Ravens have some young capable pass rushers ready to be put to the test in Matt Judon, Tim Williams, and Tyus Bowser.
The Ravens also cut ties with FS Eric Weddle, who has found a new home in Los Angeles. However, Baltimore went out and signed a perennial All-Pro in former Seahawk Earl Thomas. He immediately brings his ball-hawking, hard-hitting instincts to a secondary alongside SS Tony Jefferson and a cornerbacks group that may be the best in the league with Brandon Carr, Marlon Humphrey, Jimmy Smith, and Tavon Young.
Conclusion: The Ravens have lost some key members of their defense, but are in a minor rebuild and have to draft well. Ozzie Newsome is no longer the general manager after over 16 seasons and new GM Eric DeCosta has his hands full with an important draft to move this team in the right direction. There are so many areas that could use upgrading, particularly at wide receiver, pass rusher, and linebacker. The offensive line is solid, highlighted by Pro Bowl guard Marshal Yanda and young tackles Ronnie Stanley and Orlando Brown Jr. The running back group is among the best with Ingram, Edwards, and Kenneth Dixon, but the wide receivers need a major upgrade. The tight ends are great, with last years third rounder Mark Andrews leading the pack ahead of last years first rounder Hayden Hurst and the newly re-signed blocker Nick Boyle. The Ravens are in a minor rebuild right now, even after making the playoffs last year. With Lamar Jackson now at the helm, the Ravens have work to do and should be ready to contend.
Cincinnati Bengals
Key acquisitions: G John Miller, CB B.W. Webb, DE Kerry Wynn
Re-signed: OT Bobby Hart, TE Tyler Eifert, CB Darqueze Dennard, LB Preston Brown, TE C.J. Uzomah
Departures: TE Tyler Kroft (Bills), OT Cedric Ogbuehi (Jaguars), OT/TE Jake Fisher (Bills)
Remaining free agents: OT Andre Smith, LB Vincent Rey, DE Michael Johnson
Analysis: The Bengals strategy for free agency for years now has been retaining their own guys they’ve drafted and developed and signing them to extensions. This year, they did the same by bringing by former first rounders Tyler Eifert and Darqueze Dennard and former fifth-rounder C.J. Uzomah. This is the second consecutive one-year deal for Eifert, who is once again coming off injury and has failed to play a full 16-game season in his six-year career. Uzomah returns after a career year as their starting tight end after Eifert went down with injury in Week 4. Dennard returns to a secondary filled with veteran and young homegrown talent, with former first-rounders Dre Kirkpatrick and William Jackson alongside veteran SS Shawn Williams and 2018 PFWA All-Rookie FS Jessie Bates. Joining the secondary on his ninth team is former Giants cornerback B.W. Webb, who has bounced around the league and had a career year in 2018 with Big Blue. Cincy also brought back tackling machine Preston Brown on a three-year deal to lead an otherwise weak linebacker group.
One of the biggest surprises of the offseason was the re-signing of RT Bobby Hart to a three-year, $16.15 million contract, which was largely criticized. Hart was among the worst offensive tackles in football last year, but the market was so slim that Cincy had to re-sign Hart to that type of contract. That wasn’t the only headline the Bengals made regarding their offensive line in 2018. 2015 first-rounder Cedric Ogbuehi was a massive bust and his future with the team was clear in 2018 when he only played in two games and was a healthy scratch for most of the season. Offensive line has, and still is, a problem for the Bengals, but they are attempting to improve, signing former Giants G John Miller. He should slide right in at right guard and join a line with LT Cordy Glenn, LG Clint Boling, C Billy Price, and RT Hart.
Conclusion: After 16 seasons, Marvin Lewis is finally out in Cincinnati without a single playoff win. With a young offensive-minded head coach in Zac Taylor, the Bengals should be looking to bounce back, and they have the talent around them. Andy Dalton is a fine quarterback, but with a new head coach, it’d be interesting to see if the Bengals go a different route at quarterback, and there could be one sitting at 11th overall in this year’s draft that the Bengals front office falls in love with. A.J. Green is an elite receiver who is on pace for a hall of fame career. Tyler Boyd is a great No. 2 after 1,028 yards and seven touchdowns a year ago, and John Ross has potential, but needs to prove himself as the speedy receiver the Bengals were hoping for when they drafted him ninth overall in 2017. Joe Mixon is a top running back in this league that no one’s talking about, even after his breakout year last year when he finished fourth in the league in rushing yards.
The defense is littered with homegrown talent, but is severely lacking at the linebacker position. Without Vontaze Burfict and Vincent Rey, the group is led by Preston Brown, Jordan Evans, and Nick Vigil – not ideal. This needs to be a position of need in this year’s draft, and they could get a good one at No. 11 with either LSU’s Devin White or Michigan’s Devin Bush. Lets not forget they’ve still got Carlos Dunlap and seven-time Pro Bowler Geno Atkins, with young up and comers in Carl Lawson and Sam Hubbard on a strong defensive line. The Bengals have a fresh new face at head coach, and with the AFC North wide open, the Bengals should be ready to contend.
Cleveland Browns
Key acquisitions: WR Odell Beckham Jr. (acquired from Giants), DT Sheldon Richardson, DE Olivier Vernon (acquired from Giants), RB Kareem Hunt, SS Eric Murray (acquired from Chiefs), TE Demetrius Harris, SS Morgan Burnett, G Eric Kush, LB Adarius Taylor, G Bryan Witzmann
Re-signed: OT Greg Robinson, CB Phillip Gaines, LB Ray-Ray Armstrong, DE Carl Davis
Departures: G Kevin Zeitler (traded to Giants), SS Jabrill Peppers (traded to Giants), DE Emmanuel Ogbah (traded to Chiefs), CB E.J. Gaines (Bills), WR Breshad Perriman (Buccaneers), QB Tyrod Taylor (Chargers), CB Briean Boddy-Calhoun (Texans)
Analysis: Move over Cowboys, the Browns are America’s team. After going a combined 1-31 the previous two seasons, the Browns broke out in 2018 with a 7-8-1 record and had the whole world rooting for them. This year, they’re writing the next chapter and are legitimate playoff contenders with a good quarterback, great weapons, a solid offensive line, and an elite defense on all levels.
The talk of the offseason with one of the biggest trades in NFL history was the acquisition of star WR Odell Beckham Jr. from the Giants. OBJ joins his best friend Jarvis Landry to lead a receivers group with youngsters Antonio Callaway and Rashard Higgins with up and coming tight end David Njoku, all catching passes from one of the most exciting quarterbacks in the game, Baker Mayfield. Adding Kareem Hunt when the Browns already have Nick Chubb, who shined as a rookie with 994 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, was questionable after his assault charge and eventual eight-game suspension. However he’s being paid very little money and can be an impact player alongside Chubb when he returns. The offensive line is in a minor transition phase, as it seems they view former Rams No. 2 overall pick/bust Greg Robinson as their starting left tackle after re-signing him this offseason over last year’s undrafted rookie Desmond Harrison, who opened the season as the starter. They also have some changeover at right guard after trading former Bengal Kevin Zeitler to the Giants, opening the door for last year’s second round pick Austin Corbett. They also brought in some veteran competition in journeymen guards Eric Kush and Bryan Witzmann.
The Browns defense has been good the past few years, but last year, it was great, and has gotten even better this offseason. The had an obvious need at the defensive interior, and went out and signed former Jet, Seahawk, and Viking Sheldon Richardson to a three-year deal to pair with Larry Ogunjobi, in what may be my favorite signing of the offseason. They also acquired DE Olivier Vernon in the Giants trade to pair alongside Myles Garrett, which also led to the trade of DE Emmanuel Ogbah to the Chiefs for SS Eric Murray, which copes with the loss of trading SS Jabrill Peppers to the Giants.
Conclusion: The Browns are good. This is going to be one of the most exciting offenses in the league, and they’ve got a playmaking lockdown defense. A great defensive line to rush the passer and stop the run. Great linebackers in Christian Kirksey and one of my favorite players Joe Schobert, who can blitz, tackle, and cover. Cornerback Denzel Ward already established himself as a lockdown corner, earning a Pro Bowl nod as a rookie and they’ve got plenty of veterans throughout the secondary, including Murray, Damarious Randall, T.J. Carrie, Terrance Mitchell, and Morgan Burnett. There’s no glaring holes on the roster. The offense is good, the defense is good, what more can you ask for. This will be a fun team for years to come.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Key acquisitions: CB Steven Nelson, WR Donte Moncrief, ILB Mark Barron
Re-signed: G Ramon Foster, P Jordan Berry, WR Eli Rogers, LB Anthony Chickillo, DE Tyson Alualu, NT Daniel McCullers
Departures: WR Antonio Brown (traded to Raiders), RB Le’Veon Bell (Jets), OT Marcus Gilbert (traded to Cardinals), TE Jesse James (Lions), LB L.J. Fort (Eagles), SS Morgan Burnett (Browns)
Remaining free agents: CB Coty Sensabaugh, DE L.T. Walton, WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR Justin Hunter, RB Stevan Ridley
Analysis: The story of this offseason for the Steelers was the loss of their two offensive superstars. I’m not going to dive into the Antonio Brown saga as that has been covered everywhere else and dragged through the mud since the season finale in December. He got his wish, and got traded from a talented playoff contending team to a bad rebuilding Oakland Raider franchise. We all know the story of Le’Veon Bell too: got tagged for the second year in a row, didn’t sign the tag and sat out 2018, and eventually signed a multi-year contract with the Jets. Now enough of those guys, they’ve gotten enough publicity, let’s talk about the moves no one else is talking about.
The Steelers have one of the best offensive lines in the league, and they re-signed a key starter, left guard Ramon Foster and extended the contract of center Maurkice Pouncey. The big change is the trade of oft-injured longtime starting right tackle Marcus Gilbert to the Cardinals. That opens up competition at the position between Matt Feiler, who started 10 games there in place of Gilbert, 2016 fourth rounder Jerald Hawkins, and last year’s third rounder Chukwuma Okorafor. They lost tight end Jesse James to the Lions, however he was deemed expendable after a career year from former 49er Vance McDonald.
Now on to the new guys. Former Chiefs starting cornerback Steven Nelson joins the Steelers on a three-year deal, and is set to start alongside veteran Joe Haden with competition from young guys Artie Burns and Cameron Sutton with starting nickelback Mike Hilton. Donte Moncrief comes to Pittsburgh after a year in Jacksonville. The former Colts third rounder signed a two-year deal and is slated to be their second or third receiver alongside JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Washington. Finally, linebacker Mark Barron signs on a three-year deal after being released by the Rams. The former Buccaneers first rounder joins a linebackers group featuring Vince Williams and Jon Bostic, which has severely missed the play of Ryan Shazier, who continues to progress to make his return to the NFL after escaping paralysis in 2017. All of these were much needed signings. Burns has been underwhelming at corner as a former first rounder and needed an upgrade with Nelson. Moncrief adds veteran leadership with five years of experience, although he’s still only 25, onto a young receiving core led by Smith-Schuster, who’s ready to take over as Big Ben’s top target.
Conclusion: Even with the losses of Bell and Brown, the Steelers are still a threat in the AFC. James Conner proved to be among the league’s best running backs with 973 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, showing he can be a franchise player. Smith-Schuster is a top receiver in this league and is ready to prove himself as the top target. The offensive line, although is strong, could use another tackle in the draft to compete for the starting right tackle job. The defense needs some upgrades, and the draft philosophy in the first round should be draft the best available defensive player, whether it be a pass rusher, inside linebacker, or safety, they can use an upgrade everywhere. Not saying what they have is bad in any way, there’s just room for improvement.
The Steelers need a quick turnaround after just missing the playoffs last year. With the AFC looking to be very competitive this year, with the AFC North being the most competitive division, the Steelers need to re-establish themselves as the top dogs of the north.
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