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 18th and where they stand as they prepare for the upcoming draft. Let’s continue with the AFC North.
Baltimore Ravens
Key acquisitions: DE Calais Campbell, DE Derek Wolfe
Re-signed: OLB Matt Judon (franchise), CB Jimmy Smith, S Anthony Levine, WR Chris Moore, DT Justin Ellis, DE Jihad Ward, WR De’Anthony Thomas, OT Andre Smith, S Jordan Richards
Departures: G Marshal Yanda (retired), TE Hayden Hurst (Ravens), DT Michael Pierce (Vikings), S Tony Jefferson, LB Josh Bynes (Bengals), LB Patrick Onwuasor (Jets), DE Chris Wormley (Steelers), WR Seth Roberts (Panthers)
Remaining free agents: CB Brandon Carr, DT Domata Peko
Analysis: The Ravens are among the league’s most well-run organizations, and did solid work in free agency, retaining their own guys and bringing in two big players. Days before free agency began, Ravens pulled off a big trade, acquiring Calais Campbell from the Jaguars for just a fifth-round pick. The biggest hole on the Ravens roster has been on the defensive line, and they brought in a 6′-8″ beast who is still doing it at age 33. Also on the defensive line, after failing to sign Michael Brockers away from the Rams, they signed former Bronco Derek Wolfe to play opposite Campbell and Brandon Williams.
While they only brought in two new faces, they brought back some key members, not well known, but key to their team. Matt Judon received the franchise tag after another solid season. Veteran Jimmy Smith is back in their stacked secondary, and the rest of the re-signees were primarily depth players and special teamers.
The losses they faced are pretty substantial, but knowing Baltimore, they’ll find a way to respond. The biggest is none other than the retirement of All-Pro guard Marshal Yanda. There’s now a massive void there and they don’t have a clear replacement in house, so this might be a draft target early, which kind of stinks because this is a weak interior OL class. They also traded away former first-rounder Hayden Hurst to the Falcons for a second and a swap of mid-late rounders. Mark Andrews was the clear starter, and the Falcons lost Austin Hooper, so that was a smart move to net a second-rounder for a backup tight end. Other notable losses include starting DT Michael Pierce, and linebackers Josh Bynes and Patrick Onwuasor. They cut Tony Jefferson after he tore his ACL, however former sixth-rounder Chuck Clark stepped up and played well enough to earn a nice contract extension.
Conclusion: The Ravens are a team that you never really need to question the front office. Sure they’ve lost a ton of key players the past two seasons (C.J. Moseley, Terrell Suggs, Za’Darius Smith, Eric Weddle, Yanda, Pierce) but they’re so good at drafting and development that you just trust them. I am a bit worried about the defensive front seven after losing several starters, so that should be their main focus of the draft. They’d have to trade up from No. 28 to get the premier talent, but someone could fall to them. Linebackers Kenneth Murray and Patrick Queen will likely go mid-teens early twenties, and pass rushers like Yetur Gross-Matos, AJ. Epenesa, Marlon Davidson, or Terrell Lewis could be good targets. Not to mention the void at guard. The top interior OL in the draft are Lloyd Cushenberry and Cesar Ruiz, who may not even be first-rounders based on the talent at other positions ahead of them. Veteran guys like Ronald Leary and Michael Schofield are still available.
Other than front seven and guard, their roster is set and stacked. They got their franchise QB, a good running back group, some nice young and fast receivers, and a top 5 tight end. The secondary is among the best if not the best, led by mid-season acquisition Marcus Peters, All-Pro Marlon Humphrey, Smith, Tavon Young, Earl Thomas, and Chuck Clark. The d-line is improved with the new guys, but the edge rushers could use some juice. They must retain Judon long-term, he’s their best edge guy. They cannot rely on Jaylon Ferguson and Tyus Bowser to take that responsibility. Jadeveon Clowney is still out there, just saying. The linebackers are almost non-existent, so they have to fix that. There are still some good free agents on the street, like Wesley Woodyard, Mychal Kendricks, Deone Bucannon, and Nigel Bradham. Wouldn’t hurt to take a flier on them.
The Ravens were the most exciting team in 2019, and should continue to be that in 2020. They still have some roster reconstruction to do, both in the draft and free agency. Armed with five picks in the first three rounds, they should get their pick of the litter, and head back to the playoffs.
Cincinnati Bengals
Key acquisitions: DT D.J. Reader, CB Trae Waynes, S Vonn Bell, CB Mackensie Alexander, G Xavier Su’a-Filo, LB Josh Bynes, CB LeShaun Sims, WR Mike Thomas
Re-signed: WR A.J. Green (franchise)
Departures: OT Cordy Glenn, CB Dre Kirkpatrick, DT Andrew Billings (Browns), CB B.W. Webb, TE Tyler Eifert (Jaguars), G John Miller (Panthers), S Clayton Fejedelem (Dolphins), LB LaRoy Reynolds (Falcons)
Remaining free agents: CB Darqueze Dennard, G John Jerry
Analysis: In a surprising fashion, the Bengals were very active in free agency. They are usually under the mentality of retaining their own guys and rarely bringing anyone from the outside in. Well they have a new head coach, and maybe a new quarterback, and they may want to make their team more attractive to the new young signal caller. They primarily focused on the defensive side of the ball, signing some big names up front and in the secondary. Starting up front, nose tackle D.J. Reader had a great 2019 with Houston, earning a nice big contract in Cincinnati to play alongside Geno Atkins after parting with Andrew Billings. They made some wholesale changes in the secondary, parting with starters Dre Kirkpatrick, Darqueze Dennard, and B.W. Webb, and bringing in a pair of Vikings in Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander, former first and second round picks, respectively. They also brought in former second-round starting safety from the Saints Vonn Bell on a three-year deal, along with LeShaun Sims from the Titans. Waynes will be a starting corner opposite 2016 first-rounder William Jackson with Alexander starting in the slot with Sims in as a backup. Bell will likely supplant veteran Shawn Williams as the starting strong safety opposite Jessie Bates, moving Williams to more of a linebacker hybrid role. They also brought in veteran journeyman Josh Bynes to fill a longstanding void at linebacker. They’ve never truly had a great linebacker, maybe outside of the slowest linebacker alive in Vontaze Burfict. Bynes is a good linebacker who has plenty of experience and figures to be a starter opposite Germaine Pratt after losing Nick Vigil to the Chargers.
Really nothing has changed on offense…yet. They cut Cordy Glenn and John Miller, both starters, and signed Xavier Su’a-Filo, likely to fill Miller’s spot at guard. Last year’s first-rounder Jonah Williams was supposed to take Glenn’s place at the starting left tackle, but he suffered a torn labrum in camp and was lost for the year. He should be healthy enough to take the starting job.
Conclusion: The first year under Zac Taylor was a forgettable one, which is why they’re picking first. They’ll likely get this quarterback from LSU, replacing Andy Dalton, and starting anew in Cincinnati. Besides quarterback right now, they’ve got a nice looking roster. Joe Mixon is a star running back no one talks about, Tyler Boyd and John Ross are emerging wideouts alongside All-Pro A.J. Green. They finally parted with Tyler Eifert, leaving C.J. Uzomah and Drew Sample as the starters at tight end. The offensive line looks improved if all goes well health-wise. The defensive line has always been good, with All-Pro Geno Atkins in the middle whose quietly having a Hall of Fame career. I call him the Aaron Donald before Aaron Donald was Aaron Donald. With Reader next to him, they’ll be a force with Carlos Dunlap, Carl Lawson, and Sam Hubbard on the edge. Their linebackers are weak, and should be a focus in the draft after the first round. The secondary is almost completely changed, outside of Jackson, Bates, and Williams.
I feel like I say this every year, but the Bengals should be good, but aren’t for some reason. If they do get Joe Burrow, it’ll be a new era getting started in an effort for the Bengals to be relevant once again.
Cleveland Browns
Key acquisitions: TE Austin Hooper, OT Jack Conklin, LB B.J. Goodson, S Karl Joseph, CB Kevin Johnson, DT Andrew Billings, QB Case Keenum, S Andrew Sendejo, DE Adrian Clayborn, WR JoJo Natson
Departures: LB Joe Schobert (Jaguars), LB Christian Kirksey (Packers), S Damarious Randall (Raiders), S Eric Murray (Texans), G Eric Kush (Raiders), S Morgan Burnett, TE Demetrius Harris (Bears), S Juston Burris (Panthers)
Remaining free agents: WR Rashard Higgins, OT Greg Robinson, QB Drew Stanton
Analysis: Another busy offseason for the Browns, another potentially disappointing season on the horizon. That’s just how it is in Cleveland. They had so much hype last season and fell on their faces. They clearly still had some roster issues, and did some good work in free agency, landing two of the top free agents. Hooper comes to the Browns from Atlanta and is immediately entrenched as the starter over David Njoku. Njoku was a first-rounder, and could be traded to a tight end-needy team, or maybe they’ll keep him and form a great two tight end set. Jack Conklin leaves the Titans to be among the highest-paid tackles and makes this a much better offensive line, which was one of the weakest units in 2019.
A bunch of defensive additions came with some losses and some mixed reviews. They parted with starting linebackers Schobert and Kirksey and signed former Packer and Giant B.J. Goodson. In the secondary, they signed a couple former first-rounders in Karl Joseph and Kevin Johnson, along with Andrew Sendejo, to replace Randall, Burnett, and Murray. On the line, they brought in a big division rival in Andrew Billings to plug up the middle alongside Sheldon Richardson and Larry Ogunjobi.
Conclusion: Every season is an important season for every team, but 2020 may be the most important season for the Cleveland Browns. Baker Mayfield needs to show that he is not the problem and can be the franchise quarterback. He has plenty of talent around him with Odell Beckham, Jarvis Landry, Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, Hooper, and Njoku. The line should be improved, as long as they do the smart thing and take a tackle in the first round. The defense was great last year, and should be good again this year, despite the notable losses. The Browns have been the laughing stock of the league for too long, and now is the time to put that to bed. It’s up to you Baker.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Key acquisitions: FB Derek Watt, TE Eric Ebron, G Stefen Wisniewski, DE Chris Wormley
Re-signed: OLB Bud Dupree (franchise)
Departures: G Ramon Foster (retired), NT Javon Hargrave (Eagles), CB Sean Davis (Redskins), FB Roosevelt Nix (Colts), CB Artie Burns (Bears), C/G B.J. Finney (Seahawks), LB Mark Barron, LB Anthony Chickillo, LB Tyler Matakevich (Bills), TE Nick Vannett (Broncos)
Analysis: The Steelers are not known to be super active in free agency, signing a few guys here and there. They did the very same this year, signing a few guys on offense and acquiring a depth guy on defense. Their biggest acquisition is the signing of a fullback, Derek Watt, brother of T.J., replacing Roosevelt Nix. At tight end, Eric Ebron comes on board to pair with Vance McDonald and give Roethlisberger a big red zone target. Longtime veteran guard Ramon Foster retired, so they brought in a veteran guy to likely take his place in Stefen Wisniewski, who has been a starter most of his career.
On defense, they franchised Bud Dupree, who along with Watt, formed an elite double-digit sack duo. They also acquired Chris Wormley from the Ravens as more of a depth move as they only gave up a fifth-rounder. Unfortunately, they lost a good amount on defense, notably starting nose tackle Javon Hargrave, safety Sean Davis, linebacker Mark Barron, and former first-round bust Artie Burns. They’re such a good drafting organization that I trust they’ll eventually fill these voids.
Conclusion: The Steelers 2019 season was a bit disappointing, but they lost their starting QB early, so it was understandable. The season showed that they need a better backup quarterback, as Mason Rudolph absolutely STINKS. Duck Hodges shouldn’t be trusted, and Paxton Lynch is there. Jameis Winston is still out there…just saying. They really had a lot of injury issues, as James Conner missed six games and JuJu missed four games and underperformed. Those injuries opened the door for Diontae Johnson and James Washington to show they can round out a great receiving core, and rookie Benny Snell played well in Conner’s place to earn more playing time.
The defense was phenomenal last year, with Watt and Dupree having double-digit sacks, and more importantly the early-season acquisition of Minkah Fitzpatrick from the Dolphins, and became an All-Pro. Devin Bush was great as a rookie linebacker, replacing Ryan Shazier, but they did lose Barron, Chickillo, and Matakevich, so they have some holes to fill there. In the secondary, Fitzpatrick was elite alongside Terrell Edmunds with Joe Haden and Steven Nelson the top corners. Look for them to add depth at corner in the draft as well, can never have too many defensive backs. They could use a replacement for Hargrave at nose tackle, as there really isn’t anyone, maybe a Marcell Dareus? They have no first-round pick (Fitzpatrick trade), so they’ll start working on Day 2.
2019 stunk for the Steelers, and with Roethlisberger not getting any younger, they wasted a year of contention due to the terrible replacement quarterback play. Big Ben sounds like he’s almost fully healthy, so the Steelers should be back better than ever to challenge the Ravens for the AFC North crown.
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