Grading draft of rivals in AFC North Division
Ravens get it right; Browns take some gambles
This time a year ago, the AFC North Division looked like it could be the best in football. The Steelers were reigning champs, the Browns were trending up and the Ravens were still the Ravens. At worst, the Bengals would be feistier than they’d been in a long time and at best, they’d be a surprise playoff team.
As it turned out, the Bengals had a lot more in the tank than that. They flipped the division on its head and now Joe Burrow’s bunch might be the AFC’s most complete roster this side of Buffalo. All four teams had plenty of motivation to get better in this year’s draft, but for the first time in decades, the Steelers were the team going after a franchise quarterback. With that question (mostly) answered for them, how did the other three make out?
Baltimore Ravens
Picks: S Kyle Hamilton (No. 14 overall), C Tyler Linderbaum (No. 25), OLB David Ojabo (No. 45), DT Travis Jones (No. 76), OT Daniel Faalele (No. 110), CB Jalyn Armour-Davis (No. 119), TE Charlie Kolar (No. 128), P Jordan Stout (No. 130), TE Isaiah Likely (No. 139), CB Damarion Williams (No. 141), RB Tyler Badie (No. 196)
Overview: It’s an interesting draft for the Ravens. They’re widely known as one of the most analytically savvy teams in the league, but they didn’t invest heavily in athletic testing numbers. They mostly trusted their eyes, especially with their first two picks. Hamilton is a playmaking safety who ran a bad 40 time, and Linderbaum is a nasty but undersized center with short arms. They didn’t overthink it, though, and added some physical specimens later in the immovable Jones, gargantuan Faalele and injured Ojabo.
Drafting a punter in the fourth round is a head-scratcher, especially since we now know they coveted Steelers fourth-rounder Calvin Austin, but how can you not trust Baltimore when it comes to special teams? Perhaps one of their two tight ends will be enough of a pass-catching threat to make up for no wideout.
Grade: A
Cincinnati Bengals
Picks: DB Daxton Hill (No. 31 overall), CB Cam Taylor-Britt (No. 60), DL Zachary Carter (No. 95), OL Cordell Volson (No. 136), S Tycen Anderson (No. 166), OLB Jeffrey
Gunter (No. 252).
Overview: Far from a sexy draft for the Super Bowl losers, but as mentioned above, they didn’t have many glaring needs. Outside cornerback was a weakness, and that’s not necessarily what Hill is built to do. Mike Hilton went from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati and excelled in the slot corner role, which is where Hill projects best. They have been mired in a year-long contract dispute with All-Pro safety Jessie Bates, so they may be planning for the future with their versatile first-rounder.
A complementary back to Joe Mixon would’ve been interesting, and they’re a bit thin at tight end, but they addressed their offensive line deficiencies in the offseason. They certainly hit on their last two first-rounders in Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase. Drafting outside the top five isn’t quite as simple, so we’ll see how this class turns out. Not much flash or substance on the surface, and it doesn’t feel like a group with difference-makers to help get them over the top. Then again, they looked foolish for drafting a kicker in the fifth round last year, and look what happened ...
Grade: BCleveland
Browns
Picks: CB Martin Emerson (No. 68 overall), DE Alex Wright (No. 78), WR David Bell (No. 99), DT Perrion Winfrey (No. 108), K Cade York (No. 124), RB Jerome Ford (No. 156), WR Michael Woods II (No. 202), DE Isaiah Thomas (No. 223), OL Dawson Deaton (No. 246).
Overview: It’s tough to make much of a splash when you don’t pick until the third round, and once they got on the clock, the Browns focused on defense. That’s not how many in Cleveland thought they’d approach it, but Emerson is a 6-foot-2 cornerback in a division with Tee Higgins and Chase Claypool. They found some good value in Bell and Winfrey, then followed the 2021 Bengals plan of using a pick too early on a toprated SEC kicker. And adding to the backfield was hardly a need.
Maybe it’s all gravy after trading for Deshaun Watson, but he’ll likely need Bell to be a reliable target for this draft to make sense. Three Oklahoma players in Winfrey, Woods and Thomas, which must be some sort of olive branch to the Sooners after the Baker Mayfield disaster.
C+