NFL: 2025 AFC North Preview

The AFC North is also a tough division traditionally.

AFC North Preview

Baltimore Ravens

• Coaching: HC Jon Harbaugh is back, and he is really one of the more consistent coaches in the NFL. I thought he was on his way out a couple years ago, but it’s hard to criticize the success. OC Todd Monken called good games last year, guys just need to execute (Mark Andrews…). DC Zach Orr lead the D to a solid season and should again.
• Departures: CB Tre’Davious White (to BUF), OT Josh Jones (to SEA), WR Diontae Johnson (to CLE), QB Josh Johnson (to WAS)
• Additions:
  • Free Agents:
    • Defense: CB Jaire Alexander (from GB), CB Chidobe Awuzie (from TEN), LB Jake Hummel (from LAR), DT John Jenkins (from LVR)
    • Offense: WR Deandre Hopkins (from KC), OT Joe Noteboom (from LAR), QB Cooper Rush (from DAL)
  • Draft:
    • S Malaki Starks (1st – Georgia)
    • LB Teddye Buchanan (4th – Cal)
    • OT Carson Vinson (5th – Alabama A&M)
    • DT Aeneas Peebles (6th – VA Tech)
    • CB Robert Longerbeam (6th – Rutgers)
    • WR LaJohntay Wester (6th – Colorado)
• Overview – Look, we all know the Ravens are great. How great? Going back 25 years, there hasn’t been a team this good that hasn’t reached the Super Bowl per DVOA stats. Why? KC mostly, but really it is blowing it in big moments in the playoffs. Lamar had another great year in 2024, so if he stays healthy he is in the MVP race again. They need to play best in the playoffs. The D looks good again. The O didn’t really upgrade like in 2024 with Henry. I still like them in 2025.
• Prediction – 13-4 – really tough schedule, but I think they win the AFC North yet again.

Cincinnati Bengals

• Coaching: HC Zac Taylor was not fired, which in my view was an organizational mistake. Year after year, the Bengals stumble out of the blocks under Taylor and in the last 2 years have fallen just short of the playoffs. It’s really inexcusable. OC Dan Pitcher had a great 1st year campaign with QB Joe Burrow last year having his best statistical year. DC is now Al Golden from Notre Dame, I like the move. I’m not sure they have the horses, but a change was necessary.
• Departures: DT Sheldon Rankins (to HOU), OG Alex Cappa (to LVR), DE Sam Hubbard (retired), S Vonn Bell (unsigned), CB Mike Hilton (to MIA)
• Additions:
  • Free Agents:
    • Defense: DT TJ Slaton (from GB), LB Oren Burks (from PHI), DT Taven Bryan (from IND)
    • Offense: OG Lucas Patrick (from NO), RB Samaje Perine (from KC)
  • Draft:
    • DE Shemar Stewart (1st – Texas A&M)
    • LB Demetrius Knight (2nd – South Carolina)
    • OG Dylan Fairchild (3rd – Georgia)
    • LB Barrett Carter (4th – Clemson)
    • OT Jalen Rivers (5th – Miami)
    • RB Tahj Brooks (6th – Texas Tech)
• Overview – The Bengals have gone the route like MIA to pay both WRs and the QB. DE Trey Hendrickson is in a contract dispute, but there are only so many guys they can pay huge deals to. So, the rookies need to step up immediately, and Burrow needs to be superhuman again. I think the Bengals will not be a Super Bowl contender in 2025, but I can’t see a Burrow-led team miss the playoffs 3 straight years. If they do, then it will be a new coaching staff in 2026.
• Prediction – 10-7 – Bengals will make the Wild Card, and then it is up to their stars.

Pittsburgh Steelers

• Coaching: HC Mike Tomlin continues to be the longest tenured coach in the NFL, as he should. His career without a losing season is incredible. OC Arthur Smith returns, and he was ok in 2024. DC Teryl Austin’s D was great with Watt in the lineup.
• Departures: QB Russell Wilson (to NYG), QB Justin Fields (to NYJ), WR George Pickens (to DAL), RB Najee Harris (to LAC), DT Larry Ogunjobi (to BUF), WR Mike Williams (retired), OG Nate Herbig (to WAS), CB Donte Jackson (to LAC), OG James Daniels (to MIA), QB Kyle Allen (to DET)
• Additions:
  • Free Agents:
    • Defense: CB Darius Slay (from PHI), S Juan Thornhill (from CLE), S Jalen Ramsey (via trade MIA), S Chuck Clark (from NYJ), LB Malik Harrison (from BAL)
    • Offense: QB Aaron Rodgers (from NYJ), WR DK Metcalf (via trade SEA), WR Robert Brooks (from HOU), TE Jonnu Smith (via trade MIA), QB Mason Rudolph (from TEN), RB Kenneth Gainwell (from PHI)
  • Draft:
    • DE Derrick Harmon (1st – Oregon)
    • RB Kaleb Johnson (3rd – Iowa)
    • LB Jack Sawyer (4th – Ohio State)
    • DT Yahya Black (5th – Iowa)
    • QB Will Howard (6th – Ohio State)
• Overview – I’m still a little shocked that the Steelers signed Rodgers. He is not really a hard-nosed Steeler type guy. Maybe Tomlin can reign in the ridiculousness with him. I do not think so. The D will carry them a lot of games, but the division is tough, and so is their overall schedule. Harmon is a stud, and DK is a great target for Rodgers, but will it be enough? Not to me.
• Prediction – 8-9 – yep, I think this is the year where Tomlin does not get over the .500 mark.

Cleveland Browns

• Coaching: HC Kevin Stefanski is in a make or break year. Perhaps he has a method here, but I need to see it. OC Tommy Rees gets elevated from QB coach, and hopefully, he gets this right. DC Jim Schwartz gets DE Myles Garrett signed, which is great and will need to keep this team in games.
• Departures: RB Nick Chubb (to HOU), QB Jameis Winston (to NYG), QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson (traded to PHI), WR Elijah Moore (to BUF), DE Dalvin Tomlinson (to AZ), OT Germain Ifedi (to MIA), DT Maurice Hurst (unsigned)
• Additions:
  • Free Agents:
    • Defense: DT Maliek Collins (from SF), DE Joe Shoyinka-Tryon (from TB), LB Jerome Baker (from TEN), S Rayshawn Jenkins (from SEA), S Damontae Kazee (from PIT)
    • Offense: QB Joe Flacco (from IND), QB Kenny Pickett (via trade PHI), WR Diontae Johnson (from BAL), WR Deandre Carter (from CHI), OG Teven Jenkins (from CHI), OT Lucas Cornelius (from WAS), OT Jackson Barton (from AZ)
  • Draft:
    • DT Mason Graham (1st – Michigan)
    • RB Quinshon Judkins (2nd – Ohio State)
    • LB Carson Schwesinger (2nd – UCLA)
    • TE Harold Fannin (3rd – Bowling Green)
    • QB Dillon Gabriel (3rd – Oregon)
    • RB Dylan Sampson (4th – Tennessee)
    • QB Shedeur Sanders (5th – Colorado)
• Overview – Originally, I was high on CLE given the draft – Graham, Judkins and Schwesinger will contribute right away. However, the drama in camp at QB is alarming. They have 5 QBs on the roster as of this article, which means they have none. I guess I figured Shedeur would win the competition, and now it looks like Flacco is going to win the job. The D should be tough with the 2 draft picks and Garrett, but they can’t win games if the O is a joke.
• Prediction – 7-10 – Probably a little optimistic here. In the final analysis, this may drop to 5 wins.

Next week, we move the the South.

Wegs