Ranking the AFC North at the midpoint of the NFL offseason
Ranking the AFC North at the midpoint of the NFL offseason
Geoffrey A Knox, Ravens WireMon, May 25, 2026 at 6:26 PM UTC
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Ranking the AFC North at the midpoint of the NFL offseason
We have officially crossed the halfway point of the NFL offseason. That sounds strange to say, but the calendar doesn’t lie. 15 Sundays have passed since the Super Bowl. 15 more remain until Week 1 delivers a full slate of regular-season football, including the first Baltimore Ravens game of their 31st season.
Before we get there comes the annual grind. OTAs are underway or rapidly approaching. Mandatory minicamps loom. Training camp debates will soon dominate headlines. OTA dates for every team are listed below:
Ravens - May 18-19, May 21, May 26-28, June 1-2, June 4
Cincinnati Bengals - June 1-3, June 9-11
Cleveland Browns - May 19-21, May 26-28, June 2-5
Pittsburgh Steelers - May 18, May 20-21, May 26, May 28-29, June 8-9, June 11-12
Position battles will be overanalyzed. Injury updates will fuel unnecessary panic. Somewhere in there, optimism will convince fan bases that their teams solved every glaring issue. That makes this the perfect time for a little perspective.
The AFC North remains what it always seems to be: physical, annoying, unpredictable, and almost always one of football’s toughest divisions to navigate. There are no easy Sundays here. Even the team projected to finish last usually finds ways to make life miserable for everyone else. That said, some teams clearly feel better positioned than others.
1. Baltimore Ravens
Forget what happened last season. This is Baltimore’s division. The Ravens’ disappointing 2025 campaign didn’t erase the larger truth.
This remains one of the NFL’s most stable organizations, one led by Lamar Jackson and supported by a front office that consistently keeps the roster competitive. The coaching transition adds intrigue, but the talent remains obvious.
Trey Hendrickson helps solve a longstanding pass-rush issue. The secondary looks dangerous. The culture is intact. There are questions, sure, but the Ravens still feel like the division’s most complete team.
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2. Cincinnati Bengals
A healthy Joe Burrow changes everything. Or perhaps, more accurately, a healthier-than-usual Joe Burrow changes everything. Cincinnati’s ceiling will always be tied directly to No. 9.
If he stays upright, the Bengals can absolutely challenge Baltimore for the division crown. If he doesn’t, the conversation changes quickly. The upside remains undeniable.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
Yes, Pittsburgh won the division. It can also be argued that the best team didn’t. That isn’t disrespect. It’s context.
Mike Tomlin always kept this team competitive. The Steelers deserve credit for their consistency, but the ship will now be steered by Mike McCarthy, who reunites with Aaron Rodgers.
That raises the intrigue level significantly. Questions remain about whether this roster is truly built to repeat, but it feels as though it absolutely is.
4. Cleveland Browns
No team offers stranger quarterback theater. Three quarterbacks believe they should start, and honestly, all three can make some sort of argument.
Still, this likely ends with Deshaun Watson under center unless something unexpected happens. That alone makes Cleveland difficult to trust.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ranking the AFC North at the midpoint of the NFL offseason
Source: “AOL Sports”
