With free agency starting over a week ago the teams in the AFC North are looking quite a bit different than they did last season. Some have added players to make their team stronger, while some have lost players that were integral parts of their team. Teams will continue to sign players, though the majority of the big name signings are over. Depth will be signed, maybe a role player or two, but not much more. This means that for the most part draft needs are set and we can start looking ahead and figuring out who we think teams will target. With that in mind, let us take a look at how the draft needs of each of the AFC North teams changed through free agency.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens made a big splashes this offseason when they re-signed Eugene Monroe, keeping them from needing a left tackle early. The bigger splash however, might have been when they signed Steve Smith after the Panthers released him.
This gives them a good receiver opposite Torrey Smith and keeps a receiver from their immediate needs. They should still look to take one in the middle rounds, but it isn’t as pressing a need as it was. The Ravens re-signed some of their other players in Dennis Pitta and Daryl Smith.
The Ravens could still use another tight end to play opposite Pitta. On top of that, the Ravens need to look to upgrade both center and the right tackle position. The Ravens helped themselves fill some holes with their signings and re-signings, but they still need a solid draft to get back to where they want to be.
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals have had a rough start to free agency, opening up more holes than they wanted to have. Losing Michael Johnson to the Buccaneers mean that they need to take a defensive end for depth at the very least, but if Margus Hunt isn’t ready they may need him to be more.
The Bengals also lost Anthony Collins to the Buccaneers which will open a hole at either left tackle or left guard depending on where they want Andrew Whitworth to play. They have Clint Boling at left guard, but he is coming off of a season ending knee injury.
The Bengals also signed Jason Campbell to be the backup for Andy Dalton. That being said, reports say they still may want a mid-round prospect. They also still have a need at cornerback and depth at defensive tackle and safety. The Bengals have been drafting well the last few years and will need to continue to do so with the holes they have.
Cleveland Browns
The only team in the division to make a number of big moves, both signing and releasing players. The Browns released long time inside linebacker D’Qwell Jackson and replaced him with former Cardinal Karlos Dansby.
They still need to get another inside linebacker to pair with Dansby in the draft and could look at players like C.J. Mosley and Yawin Smallwood to fill that hole. The Browns also brought in Ben Tate at the running back position to fill that hole.
They let Davone Bess go and signed Andrew Hawkins away from the Bengals. This gives them a dynamic weapon in the slot. The Browns still need a number two receiver to pair with Josh Gordon and an upgrade at the guard position. The Browns also need to look at the quarterback position early in the draft.
They have Brian Hoyer who looked good in three games last season before going down with a season-ending knee injury. However, Hoyer hasn’t shown that he can get it done over an entire season and the Browns might look to take a quarterback early.
Pittsburgh Steelers:
The Steelers, like the Bengals and Ravens haven’t done a whole lot in free agency. They lost Al Woods and Ziggy Hood in free agency, but signed Cam Thomas to replace them as a backup on the defensive line. The Steelers let Ryan Clark go in free agency, but signed former Panther Mike Mitchell to replace him.
On offense, they lost both Emmanuel Sanders and Jerricho Cotchery to the Broncos and the Panthers. They signed Lance Moore, but this still leaves a huge hole at receiver opposite Antonio Brown. The Steelers have Markus Wheaton who they drafted last year, but look for them to still take a wide receiver early who has some size. Mike Evans would be a great addition at 15.
The Steelers could also use someone behind Le’Veon Bell if they don’t sign one of the free agent running backs that they have been linked too. They could also look to get some outside linebacker depth and a cornerback to replace Ike Taylor who is getting older. The Steelers, like the rest of the division have holes to fill and need a good draft to get back to where they want to be.