2019 NFL Draft Recap – AFC North

Now that the NFL Draft is a couple weeks removed from its completion, let’s dive in and analyse the potential. The AFC North has been one of the most competitive divisions over the last several years showing hard nose punishing football from its members. With the Steelers looking to be somewhat in transition, the Browns have stockpiled weapons to finally challenge for the AFC North crown. We could see some great contests this season especially after what was added in this year’s draft.     

AFC NORTH

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Round 1 (25): Marquise Brown (WR) - Oklahoma

Round 3 (85): Jaylon Ferguson (DE) - Louisiana Tech

Round 3 (93): Miles Boykin (WR) - Notre Dame

Round 4 (113): Justice Hill (RB) - Oklahoma State

Round 4 (123): Ben Powers (OL) - Oklahoma

Round 4 (127): Iman Marshall (CB) - USC

Round 5 (160): Daylon Mack (DL) - Texas A&M

Round 6 (197): Trace McSorley (QB) - Penn State

Undrafted Free Agents:

Charles Scarff, TE, Delaware | Gerald Willis, DT, Miami | Cole Herdman, TE, Purdue | Otaro Alaka, LB, Texas A&M | Marcus Applefield, OL, Virginia | Jaylen Smith, WR, Louisville | Silas Stewart, LB, Incarnate Word | Antoine Wesley, WR, Texas Tech | Evan Worthington, DB, Colorado | E.J. Ejiya, LB, North Texas | C.J. Toogood, OL, Elon | Sean Modster, WR, Boise State | Markus Jones, LB, Angelo State | Patrick Mekari, OL, Cal | Kalil Morris, DT, Kent State | Mike Onuoha, LB, Texas A&M-Commerce | Matthew Orzech, LS, Azusa Pacfic

With a new forward path for this Ravens offense, second year pro Lamar Jackson is now the unquestioned starter with Joe Flacco being shipped to the Denver Broncos. Even as the writing is on the wall for another season of ground and pound, the Ravens added sound depth on both sides of the ball.

After losing speedy receiver John Brown via free agency, the Ravens traded back in the first round and selected a player of similar skillset. With wide receiver being the largest need on this club, selecting Marquise Brown to help aid in stretching the field should produce a healthy amount of deep shots from Jackson. Being compared to the likes of Desean Jackson, the Ravens may have found a gem in the first round.

Staying on the offensive side, the Ravens added two players that ADF has quite an affinity for. Notre Dame receiving prospect Miles Boykin will provide that size and speed to compliment fellow rookie (Marquise Brown) to hopefully turn heads. Boykin is a solid player that we for one feel could potentially turn out very strong production.

As much as we like Boykin, we are captivated in the selection of the speedy Justice Hill. With the addition of former Saints running back Mark Ingram, having that key complement like he had with Alvin Kamara could go a very long way in Baltimore. While we aren’t suggesting Hill will be as good as Kamara, the formula is set up to attempt the recreation of that system.

While the Ravens draft class appears to swing more toward the offense, selecting Louisiana Tech rushing dynamo Jaylon Ferguson could be a steal being selected in the second round. Baltimore has a history of turning out defensive talent and expelling the most of their abilities, and with his great production from college, this could again be a giant home run.

All-in-all, this Ravens class looks extremely solid on paper and should instantly improve an already stout roster.           

CLEVELAND BROWNS

Round 2 (46): Greedy Williams (CB) - LSU

Round 3 (80): Sione Takitaki (LB) - Brigham Young

Round 4 (119): Sheldrick Redwine (DB) - Miami (FL)

Round 5 (155): Lyndell Wilson (LB) - Alabama

Round 5 (170): Austin Seibert (K) - Oklahoma

Round 6 (189): Drew Forbes (T) - Southeast Missouri State

Round 7 (221): Donnie Lewis Jr. (CB) - Tulane

Undrafted Free Agents:

David Blough, QB, Purdue | Dorian Baker, WR, Kentucky | Stephen Carlson, TE, Princeton | Brian Fineanganofo, G, Idaho State | Jamie Gillan, P, Arkansas Pine-Bluff | Darrin Hall, RB, Pitt | Jarrell Owens, DE, Oklahoma State | Jermaine Ponder, DB, St. Francis (PA) | Wyatt Ray, DE, Boston College | Dedrick Young, LB, Nebraska | J.T. Hassell, LB, Florida Tech | DJ Montgomery, WR, Austin Peay | Anthony Stubbs, LB, Prairie View A&M | Trevon Tate, C, Memphis | Willie Wright, C, Tulsa

The Cleveland Browns stole the headlines all offseason with many top notch transactions to help round out this club. With the additions of Odell Beckham Jr, Kareem Hunt, Sheldon Richardson, and Olivier Vernon - this version of the Browns would be looking to add viable depth to this roster in the draft.

Knowing that their greatest weakness rested in the defensive back room, the Browns used their first selection to snag the speedy ultra-talented corner back from LSU. Greedy Williams was pegged to become a sure first round selection two months before the draft, but saw his stock fall drastically as time moved forward. Greedy does check off many boxes when it comes to skill but does require a good level of refinement to his game. While we truly believe he should be able to carve out a role, improvements in press coverage and tackling will be most important.

While we knew this class for the Browns would be dominated on the defensive side, outside of the Greedy Williams selection, this group is very difficult to predict. Sheldrick Redwine and Lyndell Wilson should be able to compete for work, but need to show a lot in camp to earn their share of playing time.

If we view this class as more depth pieces rather than starting caliber talents, the Brown did a good job in that case.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Round 1 (10): Devin Bush (LB) - Michigan

Round 3 (66): Diontae Johnson (WR) - Toledo

Round 3 (83): Justin Layne (CB) - Michigan State

Round 4 (122): Benny Snell Jr. (RB) - Kentucky

Round 5 (141): Zach Gentry (TE) - Michigan

Round 6 (175): Sutton Smith (DE) - Northern Illinois

Round 6 (192): Isaiah Buggs (DL) - Alabama

Round 6 (207): Ulysees Gilbert III (LB) - Akron

Round 7 (219): Derwin Gray (OL) - Maryland

Undrafted Free Agents:

Jay Hayes, DE, Georgia | Chris Nelson, DL, Texas | Travon McMillian, RB, Colorado | Alex Myers, DB, Houston | Dravon Askew-Henry, S, West Virginia | Ian Berryman, P, Western Carolina | Matthew Wright, K, Central Florida | Trevor Wood, TE/LS, Texas A&M | Garrett Brumfield, G, LSU | Fred Johnson, G, Florida

With another AFC North team generating a lot of buzz this offseason, the Steelers could be seen as being on the wrong end of that conversation. Losing both Antonio Brown and LeVeon Bell would normally place a club in a tailspin to compete for the first overall selection in next year’s draft, this roster appears to have enough to keep this train moving.

As middle line backer was the largest need on this club (after the loss of Ryan Shazier), the Steelers saw no choice other than to move up to secure the services of the second best at the position. Michigan standout Devin Bush will have the opportunity to earn the starting role from day one and should become an instant difference maker. Even though Bush has some knocks to his overall game, we are encouraged with the landing spot in Pittsburgh.

When reviewing this Steelers class as a whole, we have a difficult time placing negative thoughts on their top choices. Always finding great fortune in drafting wide receivers, Pittsburgh may have found another jewel in Diontae Johnson out of Toledo. Johnson has good skill that should translate into eventually having a role in the slot.

With another glaring need at the defensive back position, the Steelers also addressed that with Justin Layne from Michigan State. Layne has been gifted with good size and length to go along with supreme intellect on the field. He should make moves in the second half of the season for this Steelers defense.

It’s tough to place overall grades on a class this early in the process, but Pittsburgh does seem to have found solid members to join the team.  

CINCINNATI BENGALS

Round 1 (11): Jonah Williams (OL) - Alabama

Round 2 (52): Drew Sample (TE) - Washington

Round 3 (72): Germaine Pratt (LB) - North Carolina State

Round 4 (104): Ryan Finley (QB) - North Carolina State

Round 4 (125): Renell Wren (DL) - Arizona State

Round 4 (136): Michael Jordan (G) - Ohio State

Round 6 (182): Trayveon Williams (RB) - Texas A&M

Round 6 (210): Deshaun Davis (LB) - Auburn

Round 6 (211): Rodney Anderson (RB) - Oklahoma

Round 7 (223): Jordan Brown (CB) - South Dakota State

Undrafted Free Agents:

Keaton Sutherland, OL, Texas A&M | Jake Dolegala, QB, Central Connecticut State | Stanley Morgan, Jr., WR, Nebraska | Tyree Kinnel, S, Michigan | Jordan Ellis, RB, Virginia

Finally we see a change of the guard in Cincinnati as offensive potential genius (Zac Taylor) takes over as head coach. Finding himself in the midst of understanding what his roster holds, this draft class for the Bengals does appear to house an uneven outlook.  

Obviously for any new coach looking to improve their roster, highlighting the offensive and defensive lines should be paramount in any retooling or rebuild. Looking to make year one of his Bengals tenure one of straight evaluation, selecting one of the best offensive linemen in the draft is a good starting point.

Having seen a great deal of frustration with Tyler Eifert over the years with his inability to remain healthy, the Bengals chose an interesting prospect at the position in Drew Sample. Having great size and speed with a good aptitude for blocking, his receiving skills are somewhat undervalued. Providing another capable blocker on the line was a must for this team while adding more weapons in the pass game. Sample could show he is one of the better tight ends from this class.  

Perhaps the most intriguing prospect for the Bengals draft came from Oklahoma runner – Rodney Anderson. While it’s been argued by many that Anderson possesses high-end NFL talent, we struggle to get past his lengthy injury history. If healthy, Anderson could have a role on this team more as a redzone specialist or short yardage runner. We aren’t overly encouraged with his limited change of direction ability, but he could have standalone value as a true workhorse back.

This Bengals class does appear to have strong starter potential for this club moving forward, but any super star talent coming to fruition might be a stretch.