Thought this would be fun now that the Draft of 2022 is over.
Really simple. Just rank the AFC North teams within the North
Then add up the numbers where they are ranked .the lower accumotive
Score the better.

QB
1. Bengals
2. Ravens
3. Browns ( Watson hasnt played in a year , still needs to develop chemistry and
Learn new playbook)
4. Steelers

RB
1. Browns
2. Bengals
3.Ravens ( Dobbins Edwards coming off injury)
4. Steelers

TE
1. Ravens
2. Browns
3. Steelers
4.Bengals

Oline
1. Browns (Willis needs to stay healthy and take game
To another level. )
2.Bengals
3. Ravens
4. Steelers

WR
1.Bengals
2. Steelers
3. Browns
4. Ravens

Offensive coaching staff
1. Bengals
2. Browns
3. Ravens
4.Steelers


D-line
1. Bengals
2. Steelers
3. Ravens
4. Browns

LBers
1. Steelers
2. Bengals
3. Ravens
4.Browns

CBers
1.Browns
2. Ravens
3 Bengals
4. Steelers

Safeties
1. Bengals ( Bell Bates are rock solid but after this year,the Bengals
Will let one or both walk. )
2. Ravens
3. Browns
4. Steelers

Defensive coaching staff
1. Bengals
2. Steelers
3. Ravens ( Martindale is gone , new DC)
4. Browns


Return game punt and kickoff
1. Ravens
2. Browns
3. Bengals
4. Steelers

Punting Place Kicker
1. Ravens
2. Bengals
3. Steelers
4. Browns

Special teams coaches
1. Ravens
2. Bengals
3. Steelers
4. Browns

Front office
1. Ravens
2. Bengals
3. Browns ( Berry and Depodesta are in sync,but no Super Bowl yet)
4. Steelers ( Colbert is gone)

Head coach
1.Steelers
2. Ravens
3. Bengals
4. Browns

1. Bengals (31)
2. Ravens (35)
3. Browns ( 46)
4. Steelers (49)

Before they knock Berry and Depodesta for no super bowl yet, how about if they could make the playoffs in back to back years.
How about just making the playoffs this year, or just oh, how about winning an opening day game? So you don't start out playing catch up in trying to get back into the division race.

It would be nice to win our first game of the season; for once!!!

Since 1999, we are 1-21-1 in opening day games.

Interesting topic. I won't rank them. I'll put them into categories. I won't go through all of your lists because I'm not sure about certain positional evaluations on some of the categories.

QB: I would say that Burrow and Watson are elite. Top seven. Lamar is just outside of that, but I understand why some would put him in the very top tier.

RB: We are elite. Bengals are just below that. Ravens are a question mark because I don't know the health of Dobbins and Edwards, but they are very good. Harris is good. Leaves some yards on the field, but he has talent.

OL: We are elite. Ravens are not probably average to below average. Bengals were terrible, but tried to upgrade. Incomplete for now. Steeler's OL stinks.

TE: Ravens are maybe elite. Certainly, close to it. Steelers are average. We are probably a bit below average. Bengals same as us.

Might do more later.

The Title asks to rank the teams, not the characteristics of the teams.
Even if the Browns have better characteristics
We all know their records.
Time to get some more Wins!

Key positions:

QB - Browns, Bengals, Ravens, Steelers (top 3 depend on Watson’s suspension and Lamar’s health)
RB - Browns, Bengals, Steelers, Ravens
WR - Bengals … (they are clearly the class of the division in this regard)
OL - Browns, Ravens, Bengals, Steelers (last three are really close to me)

DL - Steelers, Ravens, Bengals, Browns (Garrett is elite, the rest is a HUGE issue right now)
Secondary - I think all 4 teams are good. tough to pick.
Coaching - Ravens/Steelers, Browns/Bengals … I think the top 2 and bottom 2 are neck and neck

I think 2 games will be the gap between the 1st and 4th place team
This year in the North .
I don't see any team going 6 and 0 inside the North

1 Baltimore they drafted 3 all pros
2nd Bengals Burrows is clearly a better qb then Deshaun they also drafted a all pro level safety.
3rd Browns no defensive line except Myles
4th Steelers they are much closer then people believe they have the best defense .

Ravens
Bengals
Browns
Steelers

It’s so close to call that anyone could win this division.

Perrion Winfrey is one the best DL prospects in the draft. We upgraded our K position 100%.

Do some homework.

Winfrey Scouting Report

In 2021, Winfrey totaled 5.5 sacks and 23 tackles. Winfrey has good speed, but he lacks instincts and is terrible in run defense as evidenced by his horrible tackle total. He decided to skip the Alamo Bowl to prepare for the pre-draft workouts.

Winfrey had an excellent week of practice at the Senior Bowl, causing havoc behind the line by using his speed to fire gaps and make plays. In the pass rush especially, Winfrey got the better of the offensive linemen. He really helped himself in Mobile. Winfrey has a lot of off-the-field issues that hurt him with teams, and some team sources are worried about Winfrey avoiding suspension and not partying his way out of the NFL.

Here is what an area scout texted me about Winfrey during the Oklahoma-Nebraska game, "Winfrey is a pure three-technique. He'll get better usage of his skill set in the NFL. They play him as a 0 or 4i primarily in their scheme. He's better when they let him tee off and 1-gap. His production gets hit taking so many base reps. They're doing what they need to in order to win. It's our job as scouts to project him properly."

I had a suspicion that might be an issue with the kid. He seems to have a bit of a rapper/rock star thing going on.

I hope he can dump his homeboys and stay home and not go clubbing every night.

I wanted to write something but it is very hard to at this point.

For one thing IMO our roster is not done. IMO we will still add players that make a big difference.

Coaching? Hard to rank coaching because there are many factors we can not see. There is more to it than seniority or win loss record.

Watson and the suspension possibility is completley unknown. Right now I would guess nothing will happen this year.

Quarterback - Watson is as good as anyone outside of Rodgers.

Running Backs - Browns have the best unit.

Secondary - IMO Browns have the best in the North.

OL - The Browns OL is very good. I can't rank them in the North.

WR - The Bengals are really good. The Browns may add a vet that would make a difference.

DL - Browns are not finished with the DL.

LB - The teams play different schemes so they are hard to compare. IMO JOK will become one of the best in the NFL. The rest of the Browns are above average.

ST - Ravens have Tucker

The Steelers are now looking for an answer at quarterback. That is a problem in the North.

Browns, Ravens and Bengals will be in serious battle against each other.

Good point about Ravens with Tucker. He’s a huge advantage. Bengals also seem to have a great kicker. Let’s hope we do too.

Watson rust?

IMO not an issue at all. By the time the season will begin he will be more than ready. In fact he maybe the healthiest he has been in his career.

DW is hard woking smart quarterback. He will aborb the playbook in no time. He will get the snaps he needs in camp to be ready.

I could wrong on this but since the civil cases have been pushed till next year. I don't see how he can be suspended this season?

I can only go by the way Josh Gordon suspensiosn were handled. They took forever to decide.

The Ben suspension.

This link is the complete NFL Policy. I read it. Still don't know. Robert Kraft got nothing? "Personal Conduct Code."

https://nflcommunications.com/Documents/2018%20Policies/2018%20Personal%20Conduct%20Policy.pdf

I have no idea what will happen.

I think where your confusion may lie in comparing Kraft to watson is the word consensual.

Like I said. I read it all.

"Everyone who is part of the league
must refrain from “conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in” the NFL. This
includes owners, coaches, players, other team employees, game officials, and employees of the league
office, NFL Films, NFL Network, or any other NFL business."

I still don't know.

Unless their hand is absolutely FORCED (or they're trying to oust one of the current owners), the owners aren't going to go after one of their own on something like this lest the one being gone after starts to open other cans of worms that affect the other owners.

It's fine for them to go after the employees, but they won't do it to each other.

My issue is comparing the two incidents. They aren't close to being comparable.

Even if they were identical situations, expecting an owner to be treated the same as a player is wishful thinking.

I am not making a comparison since nothing has been done.

This was the original post in the thread. I am not sure if I ever saw a thread w/so much talk about other topics and maybe only 2-3 posts addressing the actual topic. We have a mini-rant about the FO, our record in opening day games, a scouting report about our rookie DT, and another discussion about Watson's civil cases and possible suspension.

Too bad, Iluvmy....it was actually a very good topic. I tried to do a few rankings, but I had a feeling this thread didn't stand a chance, plus it's hard for me to actually rank players, coaches, etc numerically. Anyway, good topic and you obviously put some time into compiling your rankings.

That's quite true. The 32 billionaire club isn't going to punish each other unless they have no choice, period.

Have you been away for so long you've forgotten how this place works? This is more the rule than the exception. It happens all the time. I understand why a thread meandering all over the place can be aggravating, it's certainly nothing new or unusual.

Looking at your rankings got me to thinking about how all four teams are strong in key areas.

--Three of the four have excellent quarterbacks. I can't rank them, but I know they are really good. Most analysts would agree that at least two are elite and many more would include Lamar in that category.

--All four teams are well coached. I didn't approve of the Stefanski hire, but he's really good. I didn't like Taylor at first, but he has really matured and did a great job in tough moments last year. Tomlin and Harbaugh are elite.

--All four teams have good front offices. The Bengals used to be bad, but they have spent more money lately and drafted well. The Steelers are undergoing a change at the GM spot, but there might not be a more stable team in the league.

--This unit isn't the lifeblood of a team, but all four teams have very good running backs.

This is a very good division.

It really is a good division. Outside of Cincy’s WRs, I can’t really think of a unit head and shoulders above the other 3

Our RB's and OL

I noticed in the draft the North teams drafted in regards of countering
Other teams strengths

The Browns took a potential wrecking machine In Winfrey.
What do the other 3 teams do well....run the ball.
Winfrey potential neutralizer vs the run and.....he can get skinny
And wreck the pocket ( think Larry O)

The Ravens got torched by Jamar Chase and Tee Higgins
How do they counter that.?
Drafted big time centerfielder Kyle Hamilton
Ravens again facing a elite Browns running game...let's draft
Travis Jones..all 390 of him.

The Bengals seeing how the Browns bought in a unicorn at QB..
Who do they draft...Daxton Hill and his 4.38 40 speed
RD 2..Cam Britt Taylor CB.

The Browns who lost some games by 3 or less...let's draft the best
Kicker In the nation..cause it worked for Ravens and Bengals

Sounds like we have a FO that finally knows what it's doing!!! They have done all this and even managed to keep us in good salary cap position!!!

I think the Browns OL is by far and away superior to the other three teams. I think all four teams have really good running backs. I think our OL could be instrumental to our success.

The Browns have the best oline in North. But it's not head and shoulders
Above the other 3 teams


The Steelers oline.played better down the stretch in 2021.
Najee Harris had running lanes and his numbers were strong.
Plus they added James Daniels In FA.

The Ravens get back Pro Bowler Ronnie Staley. Lindenbalm
Could step in and be that anchor at center.
The Ravens oline was decimated in 2021. Starting 5 new guys
Every 3rd week.
A healthy Ravens oline makes them a playoff lock.

The Bengals added some proven talent in FA. Karras, that OG
From NE , Cappa.from Tampa and Collins from Dallas. All high level players

The Browns oline IMO has some underlying issues
Can Jedrick Willis play all 17 games and be a top 7 LT?
Nick Harris replaces a savy vet in Tretter. Can Harris make
All the right calls?
Jack Conklin. Can he resume his level of play before the
Season ending injury?
The Browns depth is questionable. Hudson looked
Overwhelmed at RT in 2021.
The Browns oline had issues pass blocking in 2021.
I know Mayfield did them no favors by having zero
Pocket awareness and running into sacks.
But with Watson in the fold,expect more drop backs
In 2022. Pass blocking needs to step up.

390 lb Travis Jones - yeah no. More like 325.

and 4.57 Hamilton is not covering 4.38 Chase or 4.39 Higgins - maybe over the top coverage, so there's that.

Fair questions.

Especially Harris. They have been grooming him to take the position. He still has to prove he can.

Conklin is a damn good RT. He was before the injury. That injury was serious. Hopefully he can return to what he was.

Wills has to prove why he was selected in the first round. He must eliminate mistakes. He is inconsistent. He has the skills but he needs them on every play.

Hudson should improve like Harris he is being groomed to take over RT.

The OL has better depth than we did before.

Not arguing, but I disagree w/your overall take on the OL's. I will say you made some good points about Staley's injury, the Bengals upgrading, us having to replace Tretter, etc. Good discussion.

I will say that we had injuries, as well. Both our tackles were hurt. Yet, we still finished #8 overall according to PFF. We were the #1 ranked OL the previous year.

The Bengals did make some off-season moves, but they were ranked 20th.

The Rats should have Staley back, but they were 21st according to PFF grades.

The Steelers were 26th and PFF even mentioned their ranking was helped because no QB got rid of the ball quicker than Big Ben. I doubt Trubisky or Pickett duplicate that.

Furthermore, we were hindered by a qb who folded under pressure. How many times did you see him duck into an upright fetal position and he is notorious for holding the ball too long. Hell, he still can't identify the unblocked man. We won't have to deal w/that this year and our new qb will exploit coverages if teams even dream of stacking the box.

Anyway, good discussion and different opinions are nice to see. One last thing........>I really want to give a shout out to Callahan. He might be the best OL coach in the business.

This board is best with different points of view
Your correct Callahan is the best in the business.
I remember in that playoff game vs Pittsburgh, Bitonio was out and someone stepped in
And manhandled Stephon Tuitt. I think he is still on roster .cant recall name
But that's all coaching .eh you know you coached at a high level

Thanks, but no, I was just a high school coach.

I really love our OL. We have a great scheme. We have a true bad azz in Tretter. He might be the most physical G in football. He kills people. Bitonio had an even higher grade than Tretter. He's a true pro and a gem of a player. Conklin is an excellent RT. I loved Tretter. We might miss him. He was very smart on his line calls. Wills is okay. I like Berry, but the comment about offensive tackles are offensive tackles was pretty dumb. There is a difference in the skill set between right and left tackles. I actually think Wills could be a really good RT. We got Hubbard back and he is really underrated by this board. This OL rocks. Y'all are going to see it this year. Hell, you saw it in 2020, but they didn't get enough credit by many.

Jed Wills at some point needs to go back to his natural position , RT
I know Conklin is the stater there.
But if a team needs a LT, you draft a LT. You don't draft a RT then switch him to LT.
Hand placement, stance, punch , footwork is totally opposite.

Didn't really want to comment on this thread cause I'm such a Homer everything comes up Browns for me...lol

But I would like to comment on one thing: QB

Sorry I got some big time ??? regarding DW off field escapades but ON THE FIELD.

He is better than Burrows
He is way better than Lamar
He blows the doors off whoever is QBing the Steelers.

Thats all I got to say.

I didn't see you mention that the Browns will be getting a very healthy Chris Hubbard back as depth in 2022. That's a damn good player to have at #3 on the OT depth chart.

I think Wills needs to play another season at 100% health at LT before we decide he can't play the position. I believe he was the top rated rookie LT of his class by PFF - he was hurt last year. If Callahan says he is the best option and can play LT then I have faith. Judging him based on an injury hit season wouldn't be doing him justice imo.

A Hue Jackson-like stat! Unfathomable....

But judging Mayfield on an injury marred season is justified?

mgh doesn't do that.

I agree with this. While I am not saying Burrows is not any good, I am also not ready to anoint him as elite. His rookie season, which was only 10 games or so, was a lot of short passes. Last year he seemed to rely on the "wing it downfield and let his receivers make the play." Personally, I do not think that is a sustainable model. It worked a lot last year, but you can't count on that continuing. He doesn't yet have 2 seasons under his belt so it's early. But I am not ready to put him in the category of Mahomes and Rodgers.

I am curious to see what Lamar is next year. I am *really* surprised he has yet to be extended. They had plenty of time to do so before the Watson contract that they are whining about now. I am not sure what the team's plan is. Are they really not sure if he is their guy or not?

Pittsburgh ... well. As far as QB goes, good luck. I would hate to have to choose between Trubisky and Pickett. I would also hate to have to pick between Locke and Geno Smith.

Cap, I think you are a great guy and great poster, but damn man. Don't buy into the opinions of others on this board who are often way off base. Wing it up? That isn't even close to true. Dude is a tactician.

I'm sorry did I miss something. What is this Wills is a failure at LT business and he has to be moved over to RT. I don't see a problem with his kick step where he just ain't cutting it. Its obvious when he played hurt (ankle sprain) that it effected his play a bit but that is not a reach where he has to switch over to RT I just don't get it. The Browns have not shown any desire to move him over. Has anyone heard anything about coaches not being satisfied or our we going off of the so called experts who must make a report - When the guy with the crooked fingers says he is a liability then I would start to believe it...sorry I ain't buying it.

tab, I personally think he would be better at RT, but I don't see us moving him over there. Wills ranked 52nd among offensive tackles this year in PFF's grading system. He wasn't particularly high last year, either. I think he can improve. I also think he is serviceable. We don't need a stud at every spot on the OL, especially now that we have a good qb.

Why have you suddenly decided that injuries don't factor into how well a player is doing on the field? An ankle injury severely limits your ability to gain leverage which OL players depend on. As a rookie changing positions it's only normal to have expected some growing pains but later in the 2020 season he was performing much better. I think I get it though. If you're going to dismiss one player's injury as it pertains to effecting their performance in the 2021 season, I guess you really have to dismiss them all. So in that regard it makes sense.

I had to go back and look at what I've said about our OL and Wills in this thread. Some folks continually resort to painting false narratives about what people actually say. So, I copied and pasted all my comments on the OL in this thread. Take a look:

Just noticed something. I accidentally referred to Teller as Tretter when speaking about the guard. Sorry about that.

Vers, as you know, Wills played hurt most of the season. I believe his rookie year is more indicative of what kind of player he is. If he is healthy he should be more than adequate as a LT.

I know Homes. That is why I mentioned that both our tackles were hurt. His PFF grades were not all that great as a rookie, either. However, I think he is good enough to be our starting LT for years and years to come. I love our OL. I think it is the best unit, or tied for the best w/RBs, on the team.