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AFC North Free Agency Primer: What Ravens fans need to know

By Chris Schisler

BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 23: Center Ryan Jensen #66 of the Baltimore Ravens pushes defensive tackle Grover Stewart #90 of the Indianapolis Colts after a play in the third quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on December 23, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 23: Center Ryan Jensen #66 of the Baltimore Ravens pushes defensive tackle Grover Stewart #90 of the Indianapolis Colts after a play in the third quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on December 23, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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The NFL tampering period is underway and the Baltimore Ravens have been missing out on the top talent thus far:

The story of the AFC North goes a little something like this: The Pittsburgh Steelers are on top until proven otherwise. The Ravens and the Bengals have two of the longest tenured head coaches, despite a tough stretch for both franchises. The Browns went 0-16 and have already been extremely aggressive in player acquisition.

With that synopsis in mind, let’s talk about the AFC North and the free agency picture. The agreements are coming fast and in the coming days contracts will be inked. Here’s hoping that by the time you read this free agency primer, the landscape of what we know hasn’t rendered it useless. The crazy world of the NFL moves fast (except for the Ravens apparently).

Since the Cleveland Browns have beaten everyone to the punch with a few moves, it makes sense to start with them. We’ll work our way to the Ravens.

The Busy Browns:

Moves Already made: 

  • Trading for Jarvis Landry
  • Trading for Tyrod Taylor
  • Acquiring Damarious Randle

The Browns have already become a new look team. They picked up Jarvis Landry who is a reception machine. They have a competent quarterback in Tyrod Taylor and they will most likely take the quarterback of the future in the 2018 NFL Draft. Are the Browns done with the flurry of moves?

We asked our friends at Dawg Pound Daily, to give us some insight on the Browns potential targets in free agency. This is a team that clearly needs a lot of help and this is the list of talent that Randy Gurzi Dawg Pound Daily sent us. This is great analysis: 

1. Trumaine Jonson, CB, Los Angeles Rams

Trumaine Johnson has to be their top target. He played his best
football under Cleveland defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. Johnson
would be the type of corner that could change the face of their
defense and allow them to move Damarious Randall to free safety, his
more natural spot.

2. Nate Solder, LT, New England Patriots

This one may be a long shot, and also hinges on Joe Thomas’ decision
about his future. If Thomas calls it quits, they could go for another
stud left tackle with Nate Solder. Thomas said he will give the
decision soon, and hopefully the team will know how to attack free
agency better.

3. Dontari Poe, DT, Atlanta Falcons

After trading Danny Shelton away, the Browns could wind up going for a
guy who performed more naturally in a four-man line. Poe was able to
make an impact for the Falcons in his one season there, and could be
positive signing. He won’t be cheap though.

4. A.J. McCarron, QB, Cincinnati Bengals

They may have picked up Tyrod Taylor, but there’s no hiding the love
head coach Hue Jackson has for A.J. McCarron. There’s also no denying
that Taylor isn’t a franchise guy, but a placeholder. What’s to say
they won’t try and pair him with McCarron and let the two battle it
out. That would be a much better fight than the duel in 2017 between
Brock Osweiler and DeShone Kizer — man, that was ugly.

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