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AFC North round-up: Baltimore Ravens close 2019 season in heartbreaking fashion

By Richard Bradshaw

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 11: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens reacts on the sideline during the AFC Divisional Playoff game against the Tennessee Titans at M&T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 11: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens reacts on the sideline during the AFC Divisional Playoff game against the Tennessee Titans at M&T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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CINCINNATI, OH – DECEMBER 29: Head coach Zac Taylor celebrates with Carl Lawson #58 of the Cincinnati Bengals during the second half against the Cleveland Browns at Paul Brown Stadium on December 29, 2019, in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH – DECEMBER 29: Head coach Zac Taylor celebrates with Carl Lawson #58 of the Cincinnati Bengals during the second half against the Cleveland Browns at Paul Brown Stadium on December 29, 2019, in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

Cincinnati Bengals:

The offseason started for the Cincinnati Bengals awhile ago. The team holds the number one overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and the future of their franchise will be decided with the pick. LSU’s Joe Burrow seems like a slamdunk for the team, but they could opt to go with a different quarterback like Oregon’s Justin Herbert, with whom the team spent a lot of time with at the 2020 Senior Bowl. Ohio State’s Chase Young is also an option, should they want to take the best player in the draft class.

Even with all the speculation, Burrow seems to be a lock to be taken first overall after having arguably the greatest single-season in college football history. Considering the need for a franchise quarterback, the Bengals would be fools to pass on him.

Must Read. Putting a bow on the 2019 Baltimore Ravens season. light

As far as contending for the AFC North goes, the crown seems to be well out of reach for Cincinnati. The Baltimore Ravens are simply head and shoulders above the rest of the division, and the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns remain talented teams. Still, getting their franchise quarterback in the upcoming draft will go a long way for them.

The Bengals have some major decisions to make this offseason in terms of Free Agency. A.J. Green is an unrestricted free agent and could depart for greener pastures. As the team’s best receiver in franchise history, it would be tough to watch him go.

All in all, this offseason will be a very telling one for the Cincinnati Bengals. What they do could decide how quickly they can back in the AFC North race. This team has some really nice building blocks and it wouldn’t shock me if they found themselves challenging for a .500 record sooner rather than later.

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