The first week of NFL free agency has been absolute madness, and the AFC North wasn’t immune to some head-scratching decisions. Some teams made smart moves to improve their rosters, while others… well, not so much.
The Baltimore Ravens locked in Ronnie Stanley, added DeAndre Hopkins, and made a handful of savvy re-signings. Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Cleveland Browns? Let’s just say not everyone handled business like a team that actually wants to compete.
Whether it was ignoring their franchise quarterback’s wishes, failing to secure a much-needed upgrade at quarterback, or making a blockbuster move with no real plan, the AFC North had its fair share of baffling decisions. Let’s break down the worst of the worst.
3. Steelers let the Jets beat them to the punch for Justin Fields
The Steelers thought they could weasel their way back into the Justin Fields sweepstakes. They assumed the allure of playing for Mike Tomlin would be enough to get Fields to take a discount. Turns out, Fields couldn’t care less about the so-called "Mike Tomlin discount"—and he has 40 million reasons to back it up.
Fields signed a two-year, $40 million deal with the New York Jets well before the Steelers even got serious. And why would he wait? After leading the Steelers to a 4-2 record as a starter, they rewarded him by benching him for Russell Wilson, who proceeded to get embarrassed by the Ravens in the AFC Wild Card round.
Now, the Steelers are sitting around like the New York Giants, waiting for Aaron Rodgers to make up his mind. It’s a brutal situation to be in, especially after wasting their shot at a legitimate quarterback in Fields.
2. Bengals ignore what Joe Burrow wants
Joe Burrow made it very clear what he wanted this offseason. He wanted Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Trey Hendrickson back. Well... good luck with that.
The Bengals just spent over $275 million to keep Chase and Higgins around for the next four years (yikes). And as for Hendrickson? Burrow literally said, "We need Trey back. We need to give him what he's worth and what he deserves. He's earned that." Cincinnati responded by granting Hendrickson permission to seek a trade.
The Bengals' defense couldn't stop a nosebleed last season. Imagine if they trade away Hendrickson. They might be the only team to average over 40 points and still have a losing season.
1. Steelers trade for and extend DK Metcalf with no QB
It’s not like the Steelers would trade for a star receiver, immediately extend him, and then completely forget to secure a competent quarterback first, right? Oh wait, that’s exactly what happened.
Before the legal tampering period even opened, the Steelers swung a trade for then-Seahawks WR DK Metcalf and immediately handed him a five-year, $150 million extension. On paper, it sounds great—Metcalf is a beast. But there’s one little problem: they don’t have a quarterback.
Metcalf is coming off a strong season with 992 yards and five touchdowns, but who’s throwing him the ball? Mason Rudolph? A washed-up Russell Wilson? Maybe Aaron Rodgers if he ever decides to figure out what's next? Pittsburgh went all-in on a star receiver without securing a legit quarterback first, and that’s a disaster waiting to happen.
For a team that desperately needed to solidify its quarterback situation, trading for and extending Metcalf before addressing their quarterback need was beyond reckless. Now, they’re sitting around hoping Rodgers changes his mind or Wilson doesn't sign with the Giants. Not exactly a rock-solid plan.