Ranking every offensive position group in the AFC North

Where does the Ravens new-look offense stack up compared to their divisional foes?

With the draft and free agency in rear view, we have a pretty good idea of how offensive units around the NFL will shape up next season - barring injuries, of course. This includes the AFC North, where all four teams added key offensive contributors in the offseason and return their cores from last year.

How do the offensive position groups of the Ravens, Browns, Steelers, and Bengals comapre to each other heading into the 2019-20 campaign? Take a look below and vote on the polls for each position. Also be sure to join the conversation in the comments!

Quarterback

1. Pittsburgh Steelers
2. Cleveland Browns
3. Cincinnati Bengals
4. Baltimore Ravens

Quarterback is the only position here where depth doesn’t really need to be taken into consideration, so the ranking is easier. It was tempting to give the Browns the #1 spot here after Baker Mayfield’s historic rookie season, but Ben Roethlisberger’s consistency and pedigree gives him the slight advantage. Mayfield is set up nicely for an even better sophomore campaign next year, though, and there’s a good chance he’s widely-considered the best QB in the division before the 2019-20 season is over.

It’s fair to say Andy Dalton, who missed the final five games of last season after being placed on IR with a thumb injury, is a notch below both of these guys. However, until we see how much Lamar Jackson improves as a passer and performs over a full season, Dalton still gets the edge as third-best starting QB in the division.

Running Back

1. Cleveland Brown
2. Cincinnati Bengals
3. Baltimore Ravens
4. Pittsburgh Steelers

This was perhaps the hardest ranking of all positions. All four AFC North teams have strong running back cores and figure to make up some of the best rushing attacks in the league next year. The margin between these teams at the RB positon is incredibly slim and one could make an argument for anyone being deserving of the #1 spot.

The addition of Kareem Hunt, even though he’s set to miss the first half of the season, is cause to place Cleveland first here. Hunt was the NFL’s leading rusher two years ago and will join Nick Chubb in the backfield. Chubb rushed for nearly 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns last year, and the Browns also have Duke Johnson Jr. in the rotation (barring a trade). The Bengals have a dynamic tandem of their own in Joe Mixon and Giovani Bernard. Mixon had a strong sophomore season with eight touchdowns, 1,168 yards and a YPA average of 4.9. Bernard is a talented receiving back, and the Bengals also added two running backs in the draft: Trayveon Williams and Rodney Anderson.

Cincinnati’s combination of top-end talent and depth is enough to give them the slight edge over the Ravens, who added two running backs of their own in the offseason. Mark Ingram is a consistent, versatile veteran who adds to the already strong core of Gus Edwards, Kenneth Dixon, and recently-drafted Justice Hill, the latter of which possesses elite speed. It was difficult to put Pittsburgh last, even after losing Le’Veon Bell in free agency. James Conner might be the second or third best RB in the division, but the rest of the Steelers depth chart is a bit murky. They added Benny Snell Jr. in the draft, but their depth at the position isn’t as strong as the Browns, Bengals, and Ravens.

Wide Receiver

1. Cleveland Browns
2. Cincinnati Bengals
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
4. Baltimore Ravens

Surprise, the Browns are #1 again. The Steelers may had retained their grasp as the team with the best WR core in the division had Antonio Brown not forced his way out of town, but here we are. Cleveland traded for Odell Beckham Jr, whose universially regarded as one of the elite receivers in the league. Beckham joins his former teammate Jarvis Landry, one of the best slot playmakers at the position, and the two will form a dynamic tandem.

The Steelers still have JuJu Smith-Schuster, but lack a definitive #2 option after him. They added Donte Moncrief in free agency and while there’s a good chance James Washington and/or Diontae Johnson emerge as consistent contributors, it’s hard to rank Pittsburgh ahead of the Bengals until we see it play out. Cincinnati is getting A.J. Green back from injury and still have Tyler Boyd, who posted over 1,000 receiving yards and seven touchdowns last season. Rounding out the group is the Ravens who, despite adding Marquise Brown and Miles Boykin in the draft, as well as signing Seth Roberts to a one-year deal, lack established wideouts other than Willie Snead IV.

Tight End

1. Baltimore Ravens
2. Cleveland Browns
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
4. Cincinnati Bengals

Like running back, the tight end position was a bit tough to rank. Bias aside, the Ravens are the team with the best top-to-bottom collection of talent. Mark Andrews had a productive rookie season and Hayden Hurst figures to take a step forward next year with good health. Nick Boyle, arguably the best blocking TE in the league, is also back in the fold. David Njoku took a step forward in his sophomore campaign for the Browns, shaking off a slow start to catch 56 passes for 639 yards and four touchdowns. His target share figures to take a hit with OBJ in town, however.

Pittsburgh lost Jesse James in free agency and replaced him by drafting Zach Gentry. They still have Vance McDonald, who posted four touchdowns and 610 yards last year. Elsewhere, the Bengals find themselves at the bottom of the bunch. They added Drew Sample in the draft but his impact remains to be seen. Tyler Eifert is coming off a gruesome leg injury and has played just 14 games over the past three seasons, leaving C.J. Uzomah has the only sure bet at the position.

Offensive Line

1. Pittsburgh Steelers
2. Cleveland Browns
3. Baltimore Ravens
4. Cincinnati Bengals

If there’s one area where the AFC North isn’t lacking talent and formidability, it’s offensive line. Ranking them wasn’t necessarily a challenge, however. While their main guys are getting up in their age, the Steelers offensive line may be the best overall unit in the league behind Maurkice Pouncey, David DeCastro, and Ramon Foster. The Browns unit developed into a top-tier group last season. The drop-off from Kevin Zeitler, whom Cleveland traded to the New York Giants, to likely starter Austin Corbett, remains to be seen, but the Browns are still in a good place with J.C. Tretter and Joel Biotino anchoring things.

So too are the Ravens. Marshal Yanda has long been a premier lineman in the league and Ronnie Stanley took a significant step forward last season. Orlando Brown Jr. has Pro Bowl potential, but question marks at center and left guard keep them at #3. The Bengals offensive line struggled last year. While adding Jonah Williams should help stabilize things, players like Cordy Glenn and Billy Price would need to improve significantly for them to move up this list.

Final Tally:

1st place rankings - Browns (2) , Steelers (2), Ravens (1)

2nd place rankings - Browns (3), Bengals (2)

3rd place rankings - Ravens (2), Steelers (2), Bengals (1)

4th place rankings - Bengals (3), Ravens (2)

from Baltimore Beatdown - All Posts http://bit.ly/2Yz1fZA