AFC North Draft Review

AFC North Draft Review

This division should be quite interesting this season. Just about everyone is picking Cleveland to take a major jump and win it given the way they finished last year and their additions during the off season. This is definitely the best Browns team in I don’t know how long but the Steelers and Ravens aren’t going to just roll over and hand them the division title. Pittsburgh should be a more harmonious locker room and yes a less talented one too. Baltimore is in full transition to the Lamar Jackson era with a lot of changes on defense too. The Bengals…well they are the Bengals, with a new coach but still with Andy Dalton at the controls, let’s assume they really aren’t in contention here.

Baltimore Ravens

(25) Marquise Brown WR
(85) Jaylon Ferguson OLB
(93) Miles Boykin WR
(113) Justice Hill RB
(123) Ben Powers OG
(127) Iman Marshall CB
(160) Daylon Mack DT
(197) Trace McSorley QB/Ath

Immediate Impact: WR Marquise Brown, OLB Jaylon Ferguson
The Ravens desperately need help at WR and Brown is pro ready and he’s a gamebreaker. His speed is deadly and while he’s small, he will find a way to get open and make big plays. Ferguson is a bit raw but the team lost Terrell Suggs and Za’Darius Smith in the off season and Tim Williams hasn’t exactly busted out. The team needs pass rushers and there is one thing Ferguson is really good at and that’s getting to the QB.

Best Value: WR Miles Boykin
There is an outside chance Boykin could become a starter pretty quickly. He’s the opposite of Brown in the fact that he’s a 6’4 big-bodied WR and the Ravens could use that too. He really only has to beat out Jordan Lasley and Chris Moore for playing time because Willie Snead lines up in the slot. Lasley and Moore aren’t that big of an obstacle for a guy like Boykin.

Sleepers: CB Iman Marshall, DT Daylon Mack
Marshall was a high-profile recruit at USC who never really lived up to the hype but was always good. He’s a really good athlete with solid cover skills and Brandon Carr is 32 and Jimmy Smith is 30 and hasn’t always been the picture of health. Marlon Humphrey is going to need a long-term running mate at CB and Marshall might be that guy. Mack is slightly shorter than your typical DT at 6’1 and he is best suited to play NT but it just so happens the Ravens use a NT. Their starter Brandon Williams happens to be 30 so he could use someone to take some snaps away from him to keep him fresh, Mack can do that and eventually replace Williams.

Overall Analysis
I really like this draft. Marquise Brown had a foot injury so he didn’t get a lot of pub before the draft but the kid is a player. Ferguson and Boykin may be a bit raw but they need players at those positions so they will play. RB Justice Hill is another speed demon type of back and he should be a great complement to newly signed Mark Ingram and holdover Gus Edwards. OG Ben Powers needs a little work but he adds some nice depth inside where the Ravens can really use it. Marshall and Mack were well worth their draft slots and could really pay off down the road. I’m not overly enthusiastic about Trace McSorley because he’s not an NFL QB but as a 6th round flyer on a kid who’s a good athlete and willing to play just about anywhere, I have no problem with that. He could be this team’s version of the Saints Taysom Hill and if he runs some gadget plays and takes some of the hits Lamar Jackson would otherwise take, he’s totally worth a 6th round pick.

Cincinnati Bengals

(11) Jonah Williams OT
(52) Drew Sample TE
(72) Germaine Pratt LB
(104) Ryan Finley QB
(125) Renell Wren DT
(136) Michael Jordan OL
(182) Trayveon Williams RB
(210) Deshaun Davis LB
(211) Rodney Anderson RB
(223) Jordan Brown CB

Immediate Impact: OT Jonah Williams
The Bengals offensive line wasn’t good last year and one of the major reasons was Bobby Hart at RT. Hart was basically a turnstile and it just so happens Williams is best suited at RT. He played LT at Alabama too but in the NFL, he will be at his best on the right side. It shouldn’t take long for him to push Hart to the bench or possibly off the roster.

Best Value: QB Ryan Finley
I might like Finley a little more than most but I think he’s more pro ready than a lot of this year’s QB class. He doesn’t have overwhelming arm strength but he makes up for it with good anticipation and better accuracy than most. He should fit into Zac Taylor’s offense quite well. It should be similar to the one the Rams run that Jared Goff excels in. Finley could give Andy Dalton a little competition, it’s not like Dalton has set the world on fire and Taylor has no allegiance to him. At worst, Finley is a solid backup QB.

Sleeper: DT Renell Wren
Wren has great size and a quick first step on the interior defensive line. The Bengals have Geno Atkins and Andrew Billings as starters but their backups aren’t anything to write home about. Atkins is also undersized and on the wrong side of 30. Wren was a good prospect to get in round 4 and I think he has a chance to actually make a difference on their defense.

Overall Analysis
Williams isn’t a flashy pick and he may never be a Pro Bowl player but he’s a solid addition on the right side of the line and fills a big need. TE Drew Sample wasn’t very productive in college but Washington doesn’t feature their TEs so he may produce more in the pros if given the chance, one thing he will do is block. I didn’t love the pick as there were more productive TEs available (Jace Sternberger) and if you are going to pick an underutilized college TE I would have gone for Dawson Knox from Ole Miss. Germaine Pratt fills a need because the Bengals desperately need LBs but I think there were better LBs on the board. Finley and Wren were value picks in the fourth round. I also like their other fourth rounder OL Michael Jordan out of Ohio St. I’m not sure he will make the starting unit but he can compete for the RG spot and he has plenty of versatility and will be a great bench piece as a rookie. The Bengals took two RBs in round six, Trayveon Williams and Rodney Anderson. Williams is a smaller back who flashed at times but lacks consistency while Anderson is a big back who missed time with injury. Neither is a perfect addition nor are they as threat to Joe Mixon but they are very talented depth added in a late round, smart moves. They were sandwiched around another LB, Deshaun Davis, who is a run-stuffer and probably a special-teamer. Don’t be surprised if Davis finds his way onto the field, the LB corps isn’t very good and Davis can play. 7th round CB Jordan Brown looks the part but he’s raw and the CB group is fairly solid, he’s a practice squad guy for now.

Cleveland Browns

(46) Greedy Williams CB
(80) Sione Takitaki LB
(119) Sheldrick Redwine S
(155) Mack Wilson LB
(170) Austin Seibert K
(189) Drew Forbes OL
(221) Donnie Lewis Jr. CB

Immediate Impact: CB Greedy Williams
Considering the team traded its first-round pick for Odell Beckham Jr. it probably shouldn’t have ended up with someone who could start right away yet here we are. Williams fell to 46th overall most likely because he isn’t much of a tackler but the man can cover. The Browns hit big with Denzel Ward last year in round one but that puts pressure on their #2 CB. Terrance Mitchell and TJ Carrie are veterans but Williams has elite coverage skills. He doesn’t like to tackle but I think the team will get over that when they see just how good he is at sticking to his man.

Best Value: Williams (and it’s not even close)
The greatest cover corner in history was Deion Sanders and he couldn’t tackle worth a damn. I’m not saying Williams is Sanders but he’s functional enough as a tackler to let it slide and take advantage of his coverage skills. A top-notch cover corner at #46 overall is a frickin’ steal.

Sleeper: LB Mack Wilson
Wilson didn’t dominate later in his Alabama career the way it looked like he might early on. There is still a lot to like and he could fill a position of need if the team doesn’t re-sign Joe Schobert at MLB next year. Wilson will be a solid backup this year for sure and he has starting potential in the future.

Overall Analysis
The Browns traded their first-round pick for Odell Beckham Jr. so they already won this draft. Greedy Williams is icing on the cake and I think he’ll be a starter earlier than some might think. LB Sione Takitaki was a decent choice in the third round and the team needed LB depth. S Sheldrick Redwine may prove to be a smart pickup as free agent Morgan Burnett is a stop-gap measure at best and his best football may be behind him. Wilson was a value pick. K Austin Seibert isn’t a bad choice after watching the team struggle at kicker last season. Greg Joseph stabilized the position eventually but he’s far from a sure thing and Seibert brings the added value of having punting experience too. Sixth round pick OL Drew Forbes and seventh round pick Donnie Lewis Jr. are developmental prospects that are likely to be stashed on the practice squad if they show some promise in training camp. It’s been a long time since the Browns had a deep enough roster to not be looking for contributors late in the draft but here we are. I’m not crowning this team Super Bowl champs like some people but this is the best Browns roster in 20 years and they are a legitimate threat to win the AFC North.

Pittsburgh Steelers

(10) Devin Bush LB
(66) Diontae Johnson WR
(83) Justin Layne CB
(122) Benny Snell RB
(141) Zach Gentry TE
(175) Sutton Smith OLB
(192) Isaiah Buggs DL
(207) Ulysees Gilbert III LB
(219) Derwin Grey OL

Immediate Impact: LB Devin Bush, CB Justin Layne
The Steelers defense misses Ryan Shazier a whole lot so they drafted his clone in Devin Bush. That’s a high standard to live up to but Bush is an exceptional athlete and talent and he should slide right in at ILB for the Steelers. They spent some draft capital to move up to get him but he will prove to be well worth it. The team may have signed Steven Nelson in free agency to replace Artie Burns opposite Joe Haden but Nelson may want to watch out. Layne is a big CB with great ball skills (he used to be a WR) and he will compete for a starting job. At worst, Layne probably spells the end for Burns on the roster.

Best Value: Layne
Seriously, he had first-round potential and they got him in the third round. He could kick Steven Nelson to the nickel roll and start opposite Haden on the outside. He’s a big CB with the physical skills to be a #1 corner and Joe Haden isn’t going to be around forever.

Sleeper: OLB Sutton Smith
The Steelers defense has always had great pass rushing OLBs but right now they only have TJ Watt. Bud Dupree has been a serviceable starter but he’s in the fifth year of his contract and I think the team will be moving on. Smith is undersized but he played as an undersized DE in college and he made it work. He has a lot of pass rush moves and the team can find a way to use him. As a situational pass rusher for now and who knows down the road.

Overall Analysis
It’s hard to argue with the Steelers draft. Moving up for Devin Bush was costly but he fills a huge need. WR Diontae Johnson is a smaller WR out of the MAC and I’m not going to argue with the Steelers when drafting WRs, they are exceptionally good at it. Justin Layne was a steal. Fourth round RB Benny Snell isn’t fancy but he’s effective and he should help them save some wear and tear on James Connor. Zach Gentry may have been a little bit of a reach which is hard to be in the fifth round but he’s pretty raw and wasn’t very productive. I guess if you’re going to bet on a TE there are worse ones to choose. Sutton Smith could bring some pass rushing value now and in the future. DL Isaiah Buggs is never going to stuff the stat sheet but he’s actually very versatile and makes for nice depth on a Steelers defensive line that has never been about stats. Gilbert and Grey are longshots for this roster but they were worth the risk in the last two rounds.