Three Draft Moves for Each AFC North Team

With the NFL Draft less than two weeks away, teams and players are surely getting anxious about what their next steps will be. Even more anxious might be the fans, who have no control over what happens but still choose to live and die with every decision.

It's like a parent watching their child play sports: the adults often say they're more nervous watching than the kids are playing. Part of that is the lack of control, when you want to help them succeed so much but are powerless to help. It's the same for the hardcore fan who knows the perfect pick and could turn this team around!

Teams have different goals in the draft depending on where their roster is and how close they are to competing. A successful draft for the Ravens this year doesn't necessarily look the same as a successful draft for the Browns.

Below are three draft moves for each AFC North team. It will include specific picks, positions to focus on, trades, and anything else that makes sense for the team in question.

Check out yesterday's look at the AFC East.

Baltimore Ravens – No. 27

1. Take a defensive back in Round 1 or 2.

I was going to specify a cornerback, but there are two highly regarded safeties who could each be available when the Ravens are on the clock (or with a trade up). Nick Emmanwori and Malaki Starks offer different skillsets, but either player could start next to incumbent safety Kyle Hamilton as a rookie.

If they are gone or a top corner falls, the Ravens would do well by filling a premium position with a possible rookie starter/rotation player.

2. Draft multiple defensive linemen.

This could also be Baltimore's first-round pick if the value matches up. This draft is seen as strong at edge rusher, at least in the first few rounds, so even if a string of players goes earlier in the first round, they still might be able to find value at 27.

Baltimore was 29th in pass rush win rate and 22nd in run stop win rate last season, according to ESPN, so they need higher-level players who can increase their level of play in 2025. An early pick and maybe a high-upside guy on Day 3 would be steps toward improving and deepening that unit.

3. Get immediate contributors as often as possible.

Some players are drafted because they have great potential, but they aren't necessarily ready to play as rookies. It's good to have some of those guys as lottery tickets, but a team as close to the Super Bowl as Baltimore needs guys who can play now, especially at positions of need (like those listed above).

With a lot of money being paid to Lamar Jackson and big contracts likely to come for other players soon, getting contributors on rookie contracts will be a key to keeping up the level of play throughout the roster.

Cincinnati Bengals – No. 17

1. Draft a pass rusher in the first round, maybe even with a trade up the board.

Trey Hendrickson was the only pass rusher who really made a difference for the Bengals last season. He is in the last year of his contract and asked for a trade. Cincinnati said they want to keep him and sign him to a new deal, a smart move, but with so much money tied up in the offense, it might not be quite that simple.

Even if they get a deal done with the veteran, they need more juice to get after the quarterback. Mike Green (Marshall), James Pearce Jr. (Tennessee), and Mykel Williams (Georgia) are first-round prospects who could be available when Cincinnati picks.

If they start coming off the board early or if there's a guy Cincy really likes, the Bengals could also make a move up ahead of a team like Atlanta at No. 15, as the Falcons are expected to also be looking at guys who get after the QB.

2. Take an offensive lineman on Day 2.

Cincinnati ranked last in pass blocking and 30th in run blocking last season. They cut guard Alex Cappa and re-signed Cody Ford, but they could use a major addition on the inside. Interior linemen who can start as rookies often are found on Day 2; Jonah Savaiinaea (Arizona), Donovan Jackson (Ohio State), and Tate Ratledge (Georgia) are guys who fit the bill and could be available at No. 49 in the second round.

3. Find as many contributors as possible.

Like the Ravens, Cincinnati is feeling a crunch from paying top players a lot of money. The Bengals need guys who can come in and contribute in some way while on their rookie contracts, whether as backups, rotation players, or (hopefully, eventually) starters.

Cleveland Browns – No. 2

1. Draft Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter second overall.

This is in lieu of the second quarterback off the board, likely Shedeur Sanders. Carter and Hunter are the top-ranked players by virtually every draft expert. I prefer Carter, but I can't be too upset with the Browns if they take Hunter. This is a case of adding a blue-chip player to the roster.

2. Draft an offensive lineman after the first round.

This could be as early as the first pick of the second round. The Browns had an average offensive line last season, but former supposed left tackle of the future Jedrick Wills is still a free agent, and four of their assumed starters on the offensive line will be at least 30 in Week 1. A young player who can compete early and be ready to take over soon would fit this roster well.

3. Take a quarterback at some point after the first round, but only if the value fits.

If they skip Sanders at No. 2, Cleveland will be on watch to take a passer at any other pick or even make a trade up the board for Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss) later in Round 1. Louisville's Tyler Shough, Alabama's Jalen Milroe, Ohio State's Will Howard, and Texas' Quinn Ewers are prospects who could be picked by the end of Day 2.

Pittsburgh Steelers – No. 21

1. Draft a quarterback.

This could come in the first round in the form of Dart (or maybe Sanders if they get lucky and he has a big slide), or the Steelers could try to find a developmental passer later in the draft.

Aaron Rodgers is likely to be Pittsburgh's starting quarterback (even though he hasn't signed yet), but he's the definition of a short-term answer. A young player who can be developed, even into just a backup, will give them a better future at the position.

2. Add both a running back and a wide receiver during the draft.

I would count the WR pick being filled if Penn State's Tyler Warren or Michigan's Colston Loveland, the top two tight ends in this draft, fell to the 21st pick and the Steelers grabbed one of them. Pat Freiermuth is still around, but Warren and Loveland are high-ceiling players.

Otherwise, Pittsburgh lost Najee Harris in free agency, and drafting a running back who can take over as their starter would raise the floor and ceiling of this offense. I'd prefer that pick wait until at least Day 2 unless Ashton Jeanty falls into the 20s.

3. Draft two defensive linemen.

Pittsburgh's defense is solid, but they are shortest on the line, where T.J. Watt still leads the way. Cameron Heyward will be 36 before the season, and no team has ever had too many good players on the lines.

One pass rusher and one interior lineman would make sense for the sake of adding depth and replacement options for players who are aging and/or have contracts coming up. Pittsburgh focused on the offensive line last year, adding three guys in the draft who will likely start, and that was after drafting left tackle Broderick Jones in the first round the year before and signing guard Isaac Seumalo. Now, they can beef up the front on the other side.