Now that the feverish pace of free agency has cooled off and we turn our attention to the 2024 NFL Draft, let’s look at the AFC North, how each team in the division will approach the draft, and how that might impact your fantasy rosters.
AFC North Narrative:
Would anyone question my statement that the AFC North is the most competitive division in the NFL? All four teams finished over .500 in 2023. What is most impressive about that fact is that three out of the four teams played with backup quarterbacks or a quarterback who should have been a backup. Either way, this division is stacked and ready to compete in 2024.
The Cincinnati Bengals hope Joe Burrow returns to form and makes Ja’Marr Chase the most feared receiver in the league again. The Pittsburgh Steelers addressed their most glaring need in the offseason by jettisoning former starting quarterback Kenny Pickett to the Eagles after signing Russell Wilson and trading for Justin Fields.
The Baltimore Ravens return the division’s most balanced lineup led by league MVP Lamar Jackson while boasting the most draft capital in this year’s draft to provide balance. The Cleveland Browns squeaked into the playoffs with Joe Flacco coming off the street to provide leadership and a steady hand.
Read about the NFL Draft needs for each NFC & AFC NFL Division:
Baltimore Ravens
Total Picks: 9
Picks to make:30 (1st), 62 (2nd), 93 (3rd), 113 (4th), 130 (4th), 165 (5th), 218 (6th), 228 (7th), 250 (7th)
Team Needs:
Offense: OT, OIL, WR
Defense: DL, Edge, CB, LB
Key Players Lost (new team):
Geno Stone, S (Cincinnati Bengals)
Patrick Queen, LB (Pittsburgh Steelers)
Gus Edwards RB, (Los Angeles Chargers)
Morgan Moses OT (New York Jets)
Kevin Seitler OT (Detroit Lions)
Jadeveon Clowney (Carolina Panthers)
Odell Beckham Jr., WR (TBD)
Draft Predictions:
The Baltimore Ravens have the 2nd-most draft capital in the division. Typically, I speculate how teams could use that capital to move up and draft more impactful players. However, that wouldn’t be historically how the Ravens approach the draft. The Ravens will generally drop in the draft early and acquire more picks. With that extra compensation, they consolidate picks to move up in the later rounds.
An excellent example of this was during the 2022 Draft. The Ravens traded Marquise Brown and a 3rd round pick to the Arizona Cardinals for a 2022 1st-round pick. Then, they traded down two spots with the Bills and added an extra 4th round pick. With their first-round pick, the Ravens will go with the best available. What position does that player play? Yup, your guess is as good as anyone’s. Stating that, in my last four mock drafts, I had the Ravens take a DL (Darius Robinson), a CB (Kool-Aid McKinstry), and an OT twice (Tyler Guyton).
With Lamar Jackson’s propensity to run and the new acquisition of Derrick Henry, I could easily see the Ravens fortify their offensive line in the first round. However, it would not surprise me to see the Ravens drop to the early 2nd round (acquire another 3rd-round pick) and target OT Jordan Morgan or Kingsley Suamataia. With the depth at CB and DL, the Ravens will have plenty of choices at #30.
The CBs most likely to be there are Kool-Aid McKinstry, Cooper DeJean, T.J. Tampa, and Ennis Rakestraw. At DL, the Ravens could choose from Chop Robinson, Darius Robinson, and Laiatu Latu. The Ravens benefit from being an excellent team with many draft picks to fortify their depth. Although WR is also a position of need with the departure of Odel Beckham Jr, the position is full of depth that they may use pick #62 to address. Players like Ja'lynn Polk, Jermaine Burton, and Jalen McMillen should be available in this range.
Fantasy Perspective:
The Baltimore Ravens’ draft may not add an instant offensive player like they did last year in Zay Flowers. However, if you play in an IDP league, the Ravens always provide quality young defensive players ready to make an impact. Suppose the Ravens draft an edge player in the first round; target that player early in your rookie drafts. In addition, with the departure of Patrick Queen, the Ravens may draft a player in the 3rd round to address the position (like Jeremiah Trotter Jr or Junior Colson). If that’s the case, draft them with confidence. The Ravens know how to develop linebackers, and fantasy managers should take notice!
Cincinnati Bengals
Total Picks: 10
Picks to make:18 (1st), 49 (2nd), 80 (3rd), 97 (3rd), 115 (4th), 149 (5th), 194 (6th), 214 (6th), 224 (7th), 237 (7th)
Team Needs:
Offense: TE, IOL, OT, WR
Defense: DL, Edge, CB
Key Players Lost:
Jonah Williams, OT (Arizona Cardinals)
DJ Reader, OT (Detriot Lions)
Joe Mixon, RB (Houston)
Chidobe Awuzie, CB (Tennessee Titans)
Tyler Boyd WR (TBD)
Draft Predictions:
Stop me if you have heard this before, but the Cincinnati Bengals must find a way to protect Joe Burrow. And if the Bengals employ that mentality in the first round of the 2024 draft, they will have a lot of high-caliber players to choose from. From JC Latham (Alabama) to Jackson Powers-Johnson (Oregon), in the middle of the first round, there will be plenty of quality offensive linemen to draft.
However, in three out of four mock drafts, I have tended to link Brock Bowers, Georgia tight end, with the Bengals in the first round. With Tee Higgins playing on a franchise tag this year, the Bengals should be hunting for big-time talent to complement Ja’Marr Chase in the offense.
I hope the Bengals make a package of one of their third-round picks and a later pick to move up to the late 2nd or early 3rd. This team needs help on both sides of the line and playmakers for Joe Burrow to utilize, and moving up will ensure the Bengals add some quality pieces to keep pace with the best division in football.
If the Bengals take Brock Bowers in round one with pick #18, they may find Kingsley Suamataia or Kiran Amagadjie available at pick #49, which will instantly help the offensive line. In the third round, I see the Bengals adding a receiver and a running back to provide depth.
Fantasy Perspective:
I am rooting for the Bengals to draft Brock Bowers from a fantasy perspective. He will instantly become a Top-5 Dynasty tight end if that happens. The pairing with Joe Burrow, while having Ja’Marr Chase on the outside, reminds me of how the 49ers use Brandon Aiyuk and George Kittle.
If the Bengals draft an offensive lineman in the first round, Joe Burrow should see an uptick in protection and a return to his 2022 form. Also, an improved line should help ease Zack Moss as the new lead running back. Although, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Bengals try to address the running back position on day three of the draft.
Cleveland Browns
Total Picks: 5
Picks to make: 54 (2nd), 85 (3rd), 156 (5th), 206 (6th), 243 (7th)
Team Needs:
Offense: IOL, OT, WR, RB
Defense: LB, DL
Key Players Lost:
Joe Flacco QB (Indianapolis Colts)
Kareem Hunt RB (TBD)
Nick Harris C (Seattle Seahawks)
Anthony Walker LB (Miami Dolphins)
Draft Predictions: Like the Bengals, the Cleveland Browns need to rebuild their trenches. Both the offensive and defensive lines could use an infusion of youth and talent. Since the Browns do not have a first-round pick, they must patiently wait for the 2nd round with pick #54 before making a selection.
In that range, the Browns can hope for Kiran Amegadije (OT, Yale) if they want to bolster their offensive line. Their best value may be at the wide receiver position, where Keon Coleman (FSU), Xavier Leggette (SC), and Ricky Pearsall (FLA) could all be available.
Fans of the defensive side of the ball can hope that Edgerrin Cooper (TXAM) is available at #54. Cooper is the best 3-down linebacker in this draft and would see the field quickly. Later on in the draft, I can see the Browns selecting Khristian Boyd (DL, Northern Iowa), Grayson Murphy (ED, UCLA), and one of my draft favorites, Isaac Guerendo (RB, Louisville), all would look good in brown and orange.
Fantasy Perspective:
Any wide receivers listed above have a slim chance of making a fantasy impact in 2024 but offer a solid upside in dynasty formats. For IDP players, Edgerrin Cooper could be on the field in game one against the Bengals. He is that good! And he will be a fantasy stalwart for years to come. Isaac Guerendo is an excellent stash running back with his explosiveness and ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. If Nick Chubb does not return to the field this season, any running back the Browns draft will be worth a stash in dynasty formats.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Total Picks: 7
Picks to make: 20 (1st), 51 (2nd), 84 (3rd), 98 (3rd), 119 (4th), 178 (6th), 196 (6th)
Team Needs:
Offense: WR, OT, OIL
Defense: S, CB, LB, DL
Key Players Lost:
Kenny Pickett QB (Philadelphia Eagles)
Mason Rudolph QB (Tennessee Titans)
Diontae Johnson WR (Carolina Panthers)
Allen Robinson WR (TBD)
Chukwuma Okorafor OL (New England Patriots)
Patrick Peterson CB (TBD)
Keanu Neal DB (TBD)
Draft Predictions:
The Pittsburgh Steelers have never had a losing season under coach Mike Tomlin. And that stat still amazes me, considering what the last two years have looked like on offense. With the quarterback room wholly reworked with the additions of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, the Steelers have made a weakness now a strength.
The only current pass catchers on the team are George Pickens and Pat Freiermuth; Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris are the only other players on the current roster that caught a pass for the Steelers in 2023. The Steelers will address the position in the 2nd round.
With the 20th pick in the first round, the Steelers will address their offensive line. In my series of mock drafts, I have the Steelers grabbing three different offensive linemen (JC Latham, Troy Fautanu, and Jackson Powers-Johnson). Pick #20 is where the best draft value appears. Although not a splashy pick for fantasy purposes, fortifying the offensive line will help the running game (Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren) while providing Russell Wilson time to make throws.
The Steelers can choose from various wide receivers in the second round. Ricky Pearsall, Jermaine Burton, Ja’Lynn Polk, Xavier Leggette, and Devontez Walker project to be available in the second round. Ricky Pearsall and Ja’Lynn Polk seem to be the best fits.
If the Steelers address the defense in the first round, I can see one of the top cornerbacks being the selection. Nate Wiggins, Cooper DeJean, and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. could be available. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Steelers selected Tyler Nubin (S, Minnesota) in the second round if they decide to bypass a cornerback in the first round.
Fantasy Perspective:
In most mocks I have conducted, I see the Steelers selecting a wide receiver early. That player will be a must-add to rookie drafts. The Steelers are fearless in playing receivers early in their careers and have proven successful. Any offensive lineman selected will help to provide opportunities for the running backs to flourish and provide time for Russell Wilson to complete passes.
The one thing Pittsburgh does consistently well is play defense. I am not a huge fan of cornerbacks in IDP (a majority don’t accumulate enough stats to be productive), but drafting Tyler Nubin would be a solid IDP player for years to come if the Steelers were to draft him to play the safety position.
Don't Forget The Rookies! Top Rookie Prospects by Position
[QB] [WR] [RB] [TE] [DT] [DE] [EDGE] [LB] [S] [CB]
Watch Rookie Content On IDP+ YouTube
- Top 50 Offense & IDP Rookie Rankings
- 2-Round Dynasty 2024 IDP Rookie Mock Draft
- Subscribe & Never Miss An Episode
Thank you for reading my thoughts on the AFC North 2024 NFL Draft. Please follow me @JGoody77 or links by @IDP_Plus in the "X" World and check out more of my articles on IDP+.
