This division is loaded when it comes to Draft help potential for its teams. The 4 teams combined have a total of 40 Picks as I write this. The STEELERS have the most in the NFL with 12 Picks, and the RAVENS are just a step behind with 11. In addition, each of the teams has added some serious VFA help to the roster. The biggest question for the division is who will the Steelers QB be? Let’s get to the team by team analysis.
BALTIMORE RAVENS (8-9) 11 PICKS: The RAVENS may have lost the most in VFA, but have also added some depth. Let’s look at their finances first though. Many of their VFA losses have been due to being tight against the CAP as the new NFL league year dawned last month. But as we head to the Draft next week they are $29.5-million under the Salary Cap. That may allow them to sign a couple more VFA after the Draft, when more vets will be released once teams have their Rookies in the signing process. On a relative scale their Dead Money under the Cap is relatively reasonable at $18.2-million. Perhaps the biggest stumbling point may be that they currently have only 57 players under contract. They did a solid job bulking up in the IOL room signing J. GWYN/OC, J. SIMPSON/OG, DANNY PINTER/G/C. They also signed TE DURHAM SMYTHE from Miami, who will help their run game with his blocking ability. On D they tried to get MAXX CROSBY, but their medical staff did not like his injured knee recovery status. So they went out and DID sign TREY HENDRICKSON. The also snatched up PATRIOTS S Jaylinn HAWKINS.
Their Draft Picks include 3 in the Top 80, with 8 on Day 3. Let’s hope their scouting department is ready to shine with those Day 3 Picks. Here are their top 3…
R1, P14 VEGA IOANE IOL Penn St 6’4/320
R2, P45 KEIONTE SCOTT CB Miami (F) 5’11/195
R3, P80 DOMINIQUE ORANGE DT Iowa St 6’2/322
Day 3 Picks 115- 154- 162- 173- 174- 211- 250- 253
This may no longer be the perennial champ in this division, although the 2 teams in Ohio aren’t really in any shape tp take their crown away.
I see the RAVENS going 10-7 which might grab them a Wild Card spot for post season play next season.
CINCINNATI BENGALS (6-11) 8 Picks: This team is always dangerous when JOE BURROW is healthy, but that seems to be a 50//50 proposition each season. The team made some helpful VFA acquisitions, but most of it was on the defensive side of the ball. They may have added 3 starters on that side of the ball with vet DL JONATHAN ALLEN, young Edge player BOYE MAFE from Seattle and BRYAN COOK/S from the CHIEFS. They also added CB/Ja’Sir TAYLOR and S/ST Kyle DUGGER.
I expect their Draft to add defenders early and then some offensive youngsters on Day 3 primarily. They have 8 Picks.
R1, P10 JERMOD McCOY CB Tennessee 6’1/190
R2, P41 ZION YOUNG ER/DE Missouri 6’6/262
R3, P72 KEYLAN RUTLEDGE IOL Georgia Tech 6’4/315
Day 3 Picks are 110, 189, 199, 221, 226.
They retained the bulk of their 2025 roster, and if BURROW stays reasonably healthy, they only need a bit of improvement from their D to carve out a 10-7 or 11-6 record and win this division. The guys above might provide the boost they need to win with BURROW.
CLEVELAND BROWNS (6-11) 9 Picks: BROWNS fans should be excited as the 2026 NFL Draft approaches. They should be excited for multiple reasons. First and foremost they have 9 Picks including 2 First Rounders, and a total of 4 Picks in the Top 70. Last year their team had what many (including myself) believe was the NFL’s top Draft class. Some might question TODD MONKEN as an NFL HEAD COACH, but he certainly should be a solid influence on SHEDEUR SANDERS, who is likely to be the first guy to get a legit shot at being their starting QB for next season.
The team generated the Cap space to sign some much needed help in the VFA period. Help along their decimated OL group came in the forms of ZION JOHNSON, ELGTON JENKINS & TYTUS HOWARD who hopefully will upgrade the front line supplemented by a couple of Draft Picks. LB/QUINCY WILLIAMS should make a nice partner for outstanding 2025 Rookie LB CARSON SCHWESINGER. Speedster WR/RS TYLAN WALLACE should make a difference to their speed factor as a receiver and a Return Man.
The team is almost out of the hellish thing, that is DeShawn Watson’s guaranteed contract money. Talk about an anchor tied around your neck as a life preserver for a drowning man! The team has managed to free up $21-million of Cap Space. However, they are still charged with just over $91-million in Dead Money, with most of it being WATSON’s guaranteed money. They have 68 players currently under contract for 2026.
So what about those Draft Picks? Here’s a shot at their top 4 Picks.
R1, P6 CARNELL TATE WR Ohio St 6’2/190
R1, P24 CALEB LOMU OT Utah 6’6/315
R2, P39 KEIONTE SCOTT CB Miami (F) 5’11/195
R3, P70 ANTONIO WILLIAMS WR Clemson 6’0/187
The 5 more additional Picks for Day 3 of the Draft are #107- 146- 149- 206- 248
A big key to their success for now, and in the near future, depends upon how much SANDERS can improve with a better supporting cast and a perceived QB Guru in MONKEN by his side. I like this crew to improve to an 8-9 record in 2026.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS (10-7) 12 Picks: What a happy coincidence that the team hosting the Draft this year is the Steelers, who happen to have the most Picks of any team in the League, with 12. And 5 of those Picks are in the Top 100. They may use some of their Day 3 Picks to trade up, or get more Draft capital for the supposed 2027 loaded Draft. They had some success in VFA and traded to acquire MICHAEL PITTMAN from the COLTS, who chose to pay & keep ALEX PIERCE instead of PITTMAN. Versatile IOL BROCK HOFFMAN was signed as a utility player so expect another OL to be drafted, I think in that Top 100 group. JAMEL DEAN & JAQUAN BRISKER were both signed to bolster their DB group, which they never seem to be quite satisfied with. They lost RB/GAINWELL in VFA, but managed to sign RICO DOWDLE who should blend in well with JAYLEN WARREN.
The team currently shows Cap space of $27-million with 73 players currently under contract. They also have a paltry $12.2-million on their books as Dead Money, amongst the lowest amounts in the League. The biggest question is, as it was last year, what is AARON RODGERS going to do? Speculation has been high that a big reason for MIKE McCARTHY being their choice to replace Mike Tomlin was primarily to help woo RODGERS back to the team. And longer term to develop the next Franchise QB, whom I believe is likely in the 2027 QB Prospect group.
For now here is what I think they might be looking at the top of the 2026 Draft.
R1, P21 KAYDEN McDONALD DT Ohio St 6’3/225
R2, P53 EMMANUAL PREGNON OG Oregon 6’4/315
R3, p76 GABE JACAS ER/DE Illinois 6’4/260
R3, P85 JOSIAH TROTTER LB Missouri 6’2/237
R3, P99 BUD CLARK S TCU 6’1/190
They have the following Picks available on Day 3; 121- 135- 161- 216- 224- 230- 237
If they can hit on enough of their 12 Picks to provide a legitimate boost to their overall roster talent they might have a shot at a 10-12 Win season, and a division championship. But realistically that possible outcome would depend on RODGERS coming back again and staying healthy.
Let’s just say 11-6
That’s it for the AFC North as we march into the pre-Draft weekend.
Pigskin Paul
