NFL Offseason Guide: AFC North

Welcome to GNB Sports’ fourth edition of the Offseason Guide. I will be breaking down the AFC North’s needs to get to that Super Bowl level. The division is pretty strong outside of the Browns, and it’s going to be a tough one next year.

Baltimore Ravens

Positions of Strength: RB, MLB, S, DE

Positions of Weakness: WR, CB, G

Biggest Free Agents: OT Jared Gaither (RFA), FB Le’Ron McClain (RFA), WR Derrick Mason (UFA), WR Mark Clayton (RFA)

Summary: Mason might retire, and Clayton is gone. I have a feeling Brandon Marshall or Vincent Jackson, and if not those two, T.O. will probably be a Raven next season. This is the time where they go to get a weapon for Flacco. McClain might not be back if some team wants him as a RB. And even if they sign a good wideout that might be their first round pick.

Potential First Round Draftees: WR Arrelious Benn (Illinois), WR Damian Williams (USC), TE Jermaine Gresham (Oklahoma)

Cincinnati Bengals

Positions of Strength: RB, DT, CB

Positions of Weakness: WR, TE, T, S

Biggest Free Agents: DT Tank Johnson (UFA), S Roy Williams (UFA), FB Jeremi Johnson (UFA)

Summary: Not very big free agents. Chris Henry was on the list but…you know. I think they bring back Tank and Johnson, not sure about Williams though. Their WR position is old and not very good, QB might be a weakness very soon. Their TEs are almost as pathetic as the Bills’. Their O-line also needs a bit of an upgrade.

Potential First Round Draftees: S Taylor Mays (USC), WR Arrelious Benn (Illinois), TE Jermaine Gresham (Oklahoma)

Cleveland Browns

Positions of Strength: T, RB, ILB

Positions of Weakness: QB, WR, TE, S, CB

Biggest Free Agents: RB Jerome Harrison (RFA), MLB D’Qwell Jackson (RFA), S Brodney Pool (RFA)

Summary: The first two will be back unless someone makes a ridiculous offer for them. From what I’ve heard Pool is probably gone. They need upgrades at a lot of positions, and even though QB is a weakness they have a decent O-line, so drafting a QB is a possibility.

Potential First Round Draftees: QB Sam Bradford (Oklahoma), S Eric Berry (Tennessee), CB Joe Haden (Florida)

Pittsburgh Steelers

Positions of Strength: OLB, WR, QB, S

Positions of Weakness: RDE, Offensive line

Biggest Free Agents: S Ryan Clark (UFA), CB DeShea Townsend (UFA), CB William Gay (RFA)

Summary: Gay will be back. Clark is a very good player but I’m not sure he’ll be back, and Townsend may want to start somewhere else. There is probably a one percent chance they don’t draft a OL in the first round, and if they don’t a very high caliber player fell.

Potential First Round Draftees: OG Mike Iupati (Idaho), OT Bruce Campbell (Maryland), OT Trent Williams (Oklahoma)

That wraps it up. Tune in next time when we do the NFC East.

Any comments or feedback? E-mail [e-mail] .