The AFC North is loaded up again, and when you stack the four rosters side by side, Cleveland keeps running into the same problem: too many questions on offense, too much confidence on defense.
That split shows up right away in the quarterback room. The Browns land last here without much debate.
Deshaun Watson is the Week 1 starter, but the expectation around him is already heading in one direction: toward a benching. He hasn’t delivered consistently strong play since 2020, and there’s nothing in the offseason to suggest that will suddenly change.
If that goes the way many expect, Shedeur Sanders is waiting behind him. The second-year quarterback is intriguing and polarizing, but he still has plenty to prove.
Elsewhere in the division, the bar is much higher, with Lamar Jackson in Baltimore, Joe Burrow in Cincinnati, and Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh.
At running back, Cleveland starts to look a lot more dangerous. Quinshon Judkins turned in a promising rookie year, piling up 827 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in 14 games while also catching 26 passes for 171 yards.
Dylan Sampson adds another layer as a dynamic pass-catching threat. The upside is obvious, but the Browns still have to earn their place above the rest of the division.
For now, Derrick Henry gives Baltimore the edge, while the Steelers lean on Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle, and the Bengals are led by Chase Brown.
The pass-catching group is another spot where Cleveland could climb quickly. Harold Fannin Jr. is back for year two after a record-breaking season, and the Browns have added rookies KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston.
There’s real promise there, but the division is still packed with established talent. Cincinnati remains the gold standard with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
Baltimore brings Zay Flowers, Mark Andrews, and some promising rookies into the mix. Pittsburgh also has plenty to like with DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., and Pat Freiermuth.
Up front, though, everything is still in flux. Cleveland was a mess on the offensive line in 2025, which is why all five starting spots are new, including four players who weren’t on the roster last year.
That makes this a prove-it season for the Browns. Baltimore has also made changes after an underwhelming year, while Cincinnati is trying to build on a decent season after years of struggle.
Right now, Pittsburgh looks the most settled of the group.
The Browns’ clearest strength remains their defensive front. Even without Myles Garrett, Cleveland still checks in as the best front in the division when you combine defensive linemen and linebackers.
Jared Verse, Mason Graham, Maliek Collins, 2025 Defensive Rookie of the Year Carson Schwesinger, and Quincy Williams give the Browns a group that stands out. Pittsburgh has a strong argument too with T.J.
Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, and Cameron Heyward. Baltimore is back in the conversation with Trey Hendrickson and a healthy Nnamdi Madubuike.
Cleveland also gets the nod in the secondary. Denzel Ward gives the Browns what may be the best corner in football, and Tyson Campbell gives him a legitimate partner.
At safety, Grant Delpit, Ronnie Hickman, and rookie Emmanuel McNeil-Warren round out a starting group that looks strong, even if the depth is a concern. Pittsburgh has a solid unit with Joey Porter Jr. and Jalen Ramsey, Baltimore has pieces that could make for a good group, and Cincinnati made progress last season.
Still, they’re chasing Cleveland here.
Coaching is the one category that’s hardest to pin down this early. Both Cleveland and Baltimore have first-year head coaches with promising outlooks, and Todd Monken could get the Browns offense moving while Jesse Minter is expected to help get the Ravens defense back on track. Even so, the Browns and Ravens are still being measured against Bengals coach Zac Taylor and new Steelers coach Mike McCarthy, who brings years of NFL success.
When the seven categories are added up, Pittsburgh comes out on top with 14 points. Baltimore follows with 17, Cincinnati has 18, and Cleveland finishes with 21.
That doesn’t automatically make the Steelers the best team in the division, and it doesn’t guarantee they’ll win the AFC North. What it does show is that Pittsburgh enters the season with the fewest unknowns.
In a division this crowded, that matters.
In Other News...
Browns Quietly Added A Local RB Who Could Push For A Role
The Browns have made it clear they want the ground game to be a bigger part of what they do in 2026, with Quinshon Judkins expected to be the featured back and Dylan Sampson already in the mix as another option. Recent practice squad addition Jaleel McLaughlin gives Cleveland another layer of depth, and the move fits the kind of insurance teams like to have when they plan to lean on the run so heavily.
McLaughlin also brings a local connection that makes the addition a little more interesting than a routine camp transaction. He arrives with a strong collegiate track record and enough familiarity with the area to make him an easy player to root for, but the real intrigue is whether he can do more than simply fill out the room. If he carries his momentum into the right opportunity, he could work his way into a rotational role and give the Browns another legitimate option behind their lead backs. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Suddenly Have A Rookie O-Line Question Fans Can't Ignore
Rookie Austin Barber is suddenly in the middle of one of the Browns most important preseason-to-opening-week transitions, and it comes with real weight for an offensive line that has already had to adjust. Head coach Todd Monken confirmed Barber will start at right guard for the season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars, stepping in for Teven Jenkins, who has been ruled out with a back injury.
Barber arrived in the league as a left tackle in college, but his preseason work showed enough versatility to put him in line for a different kind of first impression. Cleveland views him as a long-term option at right tackle, yet his ability to hold up inside has made him part of the conversation much sooner than expected, giving the Browns a test case for how quickly a rookie can be trusted when the line gets shaken up. [Read more 🡒]
Deshaun Watson Faces An Early Browns Test Fans Wont Ignore
Deshaun Watson is about to walk into another Week 1 spotlight with the Browns, and this one carries the usual mix of expectation and skepticism that has followed him in Cleveland. He is set to make his third season-opening start for the franchise, matching Baker Mayfield for the most Week 1 starts by a Browns quarterback since 1999, and the opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars gives the team an immediate chance to show whether this version of the offense can settle in fast.
The pressure around Watson is harder to miss after a preseason incident that already had fans and media circling before the games count. Cleveland goes in as an underdog, which only adds to the sense that the opener is more than a first step, it is an early test of whether Watson can steady the Browns and deliver the kind of start that quiets the noise, even if only for a week. [Read more 🡒]