Assessing the draft hauls of every team in the division.
The 2024 NFL Draft is officially in the books and it’s time to assess how each team in the AFC North made out over the course of the annual three-day event. Two definitely greatly improved their respective rosters, another came away with a decent haul and the other tried to do the best with limited resources.
Baltimore Ravens: A+
- Clemson DB Nate Wiggins (No. 30 overall)
- Washington OT Roger Rosengarten (No. 62)
- Penn State LB Adisa Isaac (No. 93)
- North Carolina WR Devontez Walker (No. 113)
- Iowa State DB T.J. Tampa (No. 130)
- Marshall RB Rasheen Ali (No. 165)
- Kentucky QB Devin Leary (No. 218)
- Michigan State C Nick Samac (No. 228)
- Purdue DB Sanoussi Kane (No. 250)
Analysis: The overwhelming theme of the reigning division champion’s draft haul was value, value and more value because that is exactly what they got with the first five of their nine picks. They landed a future star and projected top 20 talent at the bottom of the first round with Wiggins, a fringe first-round talent at a premium position who is refined enough to start right away as a rookie with Rosengarten at the bottom of the second and snatched up an athletic pass rusher who fell to the bottom of the third round who can contribute right away.
Walker and Tampa were perhaps their biggest steals and greatest value picks given how they both were projected to come off the board on Day 2 and even possibly Day 1 for Tampa but the Ravens were able to nab both in the fourth round. Ali is a nice addition who adds another explosive playmaker to round out a backfield highlighted by four-time Pro Bowler Derrick Henry.
Best pick: Nate Wiggins – The run on offensive players in the top half of the first round pushed several talented defenders down the board including the former ACC star who possesses future All-Pro and perennial All-Pro potential. He was lockdown in coverage for the Tigers in college leading many pundits, the Ravens and Wiggins himself believe is the best pure cover corner in the class. He will be a part of a three-man rotation on the outside with three-time Pro Bowler Marlon Humphrey and 2023 breakout stud Brandon Stephens who is heading into the final year of his rookie deal.
Cleveland Browns: C
- Ohio State DT Michael Hall Jr. (No. 54 overall)
- Michigan OG Zak Zinter (No. 85)
- Louisville WR Jamari Thrash (No. 156)
- Mississippi State LB Nathaniel Watson (No. 206)
- South Dakota DB Myles Harden (No. 227)
- Cincinnati DT Jowon Briggs (No. 243)
Analysis: The 2023 division runner-ups only made six picks in this year’s draft and didn’t make their first until the bottom half of the second round. Nevertheless, this marked the last year of them paying off the Deshaun Watson trade and they were still able to come away with some decent talent and good value late. Hall Jr will bring some nice juice to an already ferociously potent pass rush, Zinter will be a high-quality backup who could develop into a solid starter down the road and both Watson and Harden were good value picks with high upside at positions of need.
Best pick: Michael Hall Jr. – Despite being undersized and a bit of a liability against the run, the former Buckeye possesses game-wrecking potential as an interior pass rusher who will come on the field on obvious passing downs to help collapse the pocket up the middle. Hall will either help take some attention away from reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garret in those situations or benefit from the one-on-one opportunities his disruptive presence on the edge will create.
Pittsburgh Steelers: A++
- Washington OT Troy Fautanu (No. 20 overall)
- West Virginia C Zach Frazier (No. 51)
- Michigan WR Roman Wilson (No. 84)
- N.C. State LB Payton Wilson (No. 98)
- South Dakota State OG Mason McCormick (No. 119)
- Iowa DE Logan Lee (No. 178)
- Texas DB Ryan Watts (No. 195)
Analysis: As much as it pains to admit it, the 2023 third-place finishers in the division are one of the biggest winners and most improved teams following the draft. They continued if not completed the rebuild of their offensive line with three incredible value selections a year after adding Broderick Washington in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft and signing veteran Isaac Seumalo in free agency last offseason.
Late medical red flags resulted in Fautanu falling into their laps in the first round and Frazier was a great pick-up in the second who will be a plug-and-play at center. Roman Wilson could very well wind up being the next great Steelers Day 2 wideout, following in the footsteps of George Pickens, Diontae Johnson and Juju Smith Schuster. Payton Wilson was the top-ranked off-ball linebacker in the eyes of numerous but a checkered injury history caused him to fall to the bottom of the third which might result in him being one of the biggest steals of the entire draft if he can stay healthy at the next level.
All three of their Day 3 selections were great value picks as well with McCormick who was one of the best small school prospects in this year’s class and will provide quality depth with the chance to emerge as a starter as soon as next season. Lee will be a nice depth piece at five-technique and Watts can be the same at both cornerback and safety at the next level.
Best pick: Troy Fautanu – Many pundits had the former Huskie rated as high as second or even first-best left tackle prospect in this class who most certainly wouldn’t have slid had it not been for some tackle-needy teams being leery about his long-term viability. Fautanu can play every spot on the line except center but even that probably wouldn’t be too hard for him to adjust to if he learned how to snap. His elite talent and versatility will allow the Steelers to put the best starting five on the field whether it means continuing to let him stay on the blindside or flipping him over to the right so Washington can go back to his natural position on the left side.
Cincinnati Bengals: B
- Georgia OT Amarius Mims (No. 18 overall)
- Michigan DT Kris Jenkins (No. 49)
- Alabama WR Jermaine Burton (No. 80)
- Texas A&M NT McKinnley Jackson (No. 97)
- Iowa TE Erick All (No. 115)
- TCU DB Josh Newton (No. 149)
- Arizona TE Tanner McLachlan (No. 194)
- Mississippi DE Cedric Johnson (No. 214)
- Mississippi DB Daijahn Anthony (No. 224)
- Miami C Matt Lee (No. 237)
Analysis: The 2023 last-place finishers came away with a very solid overall draft haul in which they addressed some other top immediate and long-term needs while also fortifying some position groups where they’ve been lacking depth and difference-makers for years. Mims has elite traits and All-Pro potential but since the Bengals already have two experienced starters in place with Orlando and Trent Brown, he will have a chance to develop and refine his game before taking over at right tackle next year or as soon as his rookies season if he wins the job outright.
Jenkins and Jackson with join forces to help offset the loss of DJ Reader on early downs in the run game while. Burton is a top talent who only fell due to character concerns, Johnson will contribute as a rotational pass rusher and the duo of All and McLachlan will help veteran Mike Gesicki try to bring stability and juice to the tight end spot.
Best pick: Jermaine Burton* – Had it not been for some questionable character concerns relating to off-the-field issues including a physical altercation with a woman, he might have been in contention for the late first round if not at least the top 50. Burton has all the talent in the world to be a game-breaking playmaker at the next level as long as he keeps his head on straight. With Tyler Boyd remaining a free agent, he could slot right in as the Bengals No. 3 receiver and with Tee Higgins playing on the franchise tag, he could move into the No. 2 spot behind Ja’Marr Chase in 2025 and beyond.
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