The AFC North looks to be one of the best divisions in all of football, but how do each team’s depth charts compete amongst their rivals’? Let’s debate.
For July’s edition of the “AFC North round-up” series, we’ll be going in-depth of each team’s depth charts and ranking them against each other. We’ll be starting at the most important position: quarterback.
Quarterback:
1. Baltimore Ravens
The reigning league MVP resides in the AFC North in the form of Lamar Jackson. Baltimore thanks its lucky stars every day that the best quarterback in the AFC North was there’s for the taking at the end of round one of the 2018 NFL Draft.
2. Cleveland Browns
Baker Mayfield could turn his career back around in 2020 if he stops turning the ball over. Mayfield has some ridiculous options to throw the ball to and a much improved offensive line. He should rebound from a disappointing 2019 season.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
If Ben Roethlisberger wasn’t holding on to his career by a thread after suffering a season-ending elbow injury in 2019, Pittsburgh would be higher. Instead, the Steelers are gambling with the 38-year old signal-caller. The teams’ backups, Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges, didn’t inspire much confidence if “Big Ben” goes down again.
4. Cincinnati Bengals
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Cincinnati is only this low because their starter, 2020 NFL Draft no.1 overall pick Joe Burrow, is completely unproven. If Burrow hits, the Bengals will skyrocket up these rankings and perhaps have the second-best quarterback in the AFC North.
Running back:
1. Baltimore Ravens
No, Lamar Jackson is not a running back. Baltimore has four NFL caliber guys in Mark Ingram, Gus Edwards, Justice Hill, and incoming rookie J.K. Dobbins. These four will power what will once again be the league’s top rushing attack in 2020.
2. Cleveland Browns
Cleveland’s dynamic duo of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt is as good as it gets. Both are Pro Bowl-caliber players who can be bellcows for their teams. The Browns are lucky to have both of them for 16 games in 2020.
3. Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Mixon has logged back-to-back 1,100-yard rushing seasons with mediocre quarterback play. Behind him is the ever-reliable Giovani Bernard and some upside guys in Trayveon Williams and Rodney Anderson. Cincinnati has a very fun backfield to play with this year.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers
James Conner is a stud when healthy, but those times seem to be few and far between. After him, Benny Snell is solid and rookie Anthony McFarland is a good change-of-pace option for the team.