[2024] Division Preview: AFC North

[Piercewise1]

AFC NORTH

 

Team: Cincinnati Bengals
Last Year: 14-3 (2^nd place)
Alexfall ranking: 10/32

Key Progressions:
OT Richard Farris +5 (82/6)
DE Phillip Wilcox +4 (79/5)
C Raul Hallett +4 (79/5)
OT Elijhaa Rader +4 (74/3)
RB Ronnie Jefferson -4 (76/10)

Rookie to Watch:
CB Danny Garcia (55/A)

Overview:
Cincinnati has a wealth of solid offensive skill players in the primes of their careers, starting with QB Jeremiah West (76/7) and his top targets Antonio Campoverde (77/6), Barry Madruga (75/5), and TE John Hendrickson (77/7). With plenty of scheme overlap, look for this quartet to all put up big numbers in 2024. Meanwhile, the defensive is anchored in the middle by star DT Timothy Taylor (82/11) and ILB Russell Craw (79/7).

Strengths:
Defensive line
Wide receiver

Weaknesses:
Outside linebacker
Defensive back

Prediction:
Division winner

The Bengals have a solid roster with few obvious gaps and are fresh off a 14-win season. I don’t know if Ronnie Jefferson can put up another 3,000 yards at his age, but the passing game seems more than ready to pick up the slack. This division is an absolute buzzsaw, and their second-place schedule lines them up with tough games against Denver and Buffalo. But Cincinnati has the roster and the coaching to push through and come out on top.

 

 

 

Team: Cleveland Browns
Last Year: 7-10 (4^th in division)
Alexfall ranking: 12/32

Key Progressions:
RB Juan Mora +6 (81/5)
OG Dennis Matsui +5 (79/5)
WR George Lovejoy +5 (76/4)
CB Kolton Hayes +5 (68/3)
TE Mark Lysek -3 (79/10)

Rookie to Watch:
OT Mike Penny (58/A+)

Overview:
The Browns added Mike Penny to a strong offensive line led by center Robert Smith (82/9), and they all earned their keep last year by giving Mora enough space to run for nearly 2,200 yards. Mark Lysek is showing his age, but Lovejoy is finally developing into a true WR1 for QB James Rivera (75/9). The defense has some holes, but the young CB group made another huge stride in progressions and the LB corps is comprised of 3 solid veterans and last year’s 1^st round pick in Gordon Diallo (59/B-).

Strengths:
Running back
Offensive line

Weaknesses:
Defensive line
Cornerback

Prediction:
2^nd place

The Browns have developed a formidable offense on paper; add in the scheme bonuses and it should be enough to rack up some victories in 2024. Having a fourth-place schedule will help with that as well. For a team that has been betting big on potential for two years, is this the year they finally see some return? A trip to the playoffs would validate the patience of the Cleveland faithful.

 

 

Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Last Year: 15-2 (division winner)
Alexfall ranking: 11/32

Key Progressions:
DT Robert Berry +5 (85/6)
DE Krzysztof Leatherman +5 (79/5)
OT James Knoll +4 (80/5)
SS Jose Gomezrodriguez +4 (77/6)
OLB Anthony Rizzi +4 (77/6)

Rookie to Watch:
OG Felix Rodriguez (B/A-)

Overview:
Pittsburgh powered their way to the #1 seed last year with a top-5 rushing offense (182.2 ypg) and a defense that gave up only 16.8 points per game despite being in the bottom half of the league in total yards allowed. QB Robert Morris (77/7) and RB Dario Tamayo (79/9) remain an excellent 1-2 punch in the backfield, and the defensive line is loaded with stars like Berry and Leatherman. There’s some development needed at the cornerback position, but that’s why the Steelers invested the 12^th overall pick last year in CB Aaron McNitt (63/A-).

Strengths:
Defensive tackle

Weaknesses:
Guard / Center
Cornerback

Prediction:
3^rd place

The Steelers have lost some players from last season, but this ranking is more about the teams they’re competing with. A round robin of AFC division winners, coupled with six tough division games, could easily mean more losses this year. But the team still has a solid core of veteran talent and some up and coming young players to keep the momentum going.

 

 

Team: Baltimore Ravens
Last Year: 8-9 (3^rd in division)
Alexfall ranking: 6/32

Key Progressions:
RB James Taylor +6 (67/3)
DT Jeffrey Jesse +5 (85/6)
DE David Sparacino +5 (77/6)
WR Edwin Garcia +5 (75/4)
CB Juan Vega +4 (82/6)

Rookie to Watch:
OT DaVonte Logan (62/B+)

Overview:
It’s a quarterback league, and Baltimore has one of the best in David Chop (82/8). Add in a talented pair of backs in Taylor and Stanley Piper (75/10) and the Ravens have one of the strongest backfields in the sim. In the last two drafts they’ve added four linemen via early picks, a clear nod to the need throughout those positions and the importance of protecting those skill players. The defense runs through Jesse, the best interior lineman in the league at 85 Overall (and at only 28 years old).  

Strengths:
Quarterback
Running back
Defensive line

Weaknesses:
Offensive line
Outside linebacker

Prediction:
4^th place

That young offensive line will need some time to develop as a unit, and meanwhile the Ravens could finish under .500 again as they face off against stiff competition. But count out David Chop at your own risk; he led them to 8 wins last year and now gets a bunch of new guardians up front. Even if the Ravens finish in the basement, they could still be picking in the bottom half of next year’s draft – that’s how solid the North is. 

[smackemz]

Seems like a pretty fair assessment of the division. I agree Pittsburgh will likely take a step back this year.