No one can deny Baltimore's Justin Tucker is the best kicker in the division; he's the best of all-time. (ESPN.com)
Ranking the AFC North’s top position groups to determine best overall roster strength
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
The NFL draft is less than three weeks away and the Browns are the only team in the AFC North division without a first-round pick.
So how do the pre-draft rosters within the division stack up?
We rate the position groups among the four AFC North rivals. Four points go to the No. 1 unit, three to the No. 2, and so on. At the end, total points determine the best roster heading into the draft.
Offensive line
1. Browns
Probable starters: Jedrick Willis, Joel Bitonio, Nick Harris, Wyatt Teller, Jack Conklin.
2. Bengals
Probable starters: Jonah Williams, Jackson Carman, Ted Karras, Alex Cappa, La’el Collins.
3. Ravens
Probable starters: Ronnie Stanley, Tyre Phillips, Patrick Mekari, Kevin Zeitler, Morgan Moses.
4. Steelers
Probable starters: Dan Moore, Kevin Dotson, Mason Cole, James Daniels, Chukwuma Okorafor.
Analysis: Bengals leap-frogged from fourth with four veteran additions, but Browns’ lead is comfortable.
Running backs
1. Browns
Three-deep: Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, D’Ernest Johnson.
2. Ravens
Three-deep: JK Dobbins, Gus Edwards, Justice Hill.
3. Bengals
Three-deep: Joe Mixon, Samaje Perine, Chris Evans.
4. Steelers
Three-deep: Najee Harris, Benny Snell, Anthony McFarland Jr.
Analysis: No team has the depth of the Browns here.
Tight ends
1. Ravens
Three-deep: Mark Andrews, Nick Boyle, Josh Oliver.
2. Browns
Three-deep: David Njoku, Harrison Bryant, Miller Forristall.
3. Steelers
Three-deep: Pat Freiermuth, Zach Gentry, Kevin Rader.
4. Bengals
Three-deep: Hayden Hurst, Drew Sample, Mitchell Wilcox.
Analysis: Bryant pushed Browns past Steelers.
Wide receivers
1. Bengals
Top three: Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd.
2. Ravens
Top three: Marquise Brown, Rashod Bateman, Devin Duvernay.
3. Steelers
Top three: Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, Anthony Miller.
4. Browns
Top three: Amari Cooper, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Anthony Schwartz.
Analysis: Bengals’ advantage here might be widest of any group.
Quarterbacks
1. Bengals
Top two: Joe Burrow, Brandon Allen.
2. Browns
Top two: Deshaun Watson, Jacoby Brissett.
3. Ravens
Top two: Lamar Jackson, Tyler Huntley.
4. Steelers
Top two: Mitchell Trubisky, Mason Rudolph.
Analysis: And to think that Burrow has yet to defeat the Browns.
Defensive line
1. Steelers
Projected front three: Cameron Heyward, Tyson Alualu, Stephon Tuitt.
2. Bengals
Projected front four: Sam Hubbard, D.J. Reader, B.J. Hill, Trey Hendrickson.
3. Ravens
Projected front four: Derek Wolfe, Michael Pierce, Calais Campbell, Odafe Oweh.
4. Browns
Projected front four: Myles Garrett, Jordan Elliott, Tommy Togiai, Chase Winovich.
Analysis: Underscores the urgency for the Browns to re-sign Jadeveon Clowney.
Linebackers
1. Steelers
Probable starters: T.J. Watt, Devin Bush, Myles Jack, Alex Highsmith.
2. Ravens
Probable starters: Josh Bynes, Patrick Queen, Tyus Bowser.
3. Bengals
Probable starters: Logan Wilson, Germaine Pratt, Markus Bailey.
4. Browns
Probable starters: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Anthony Walker, Jacob Phillips.
Analysis: Steelers, Ravens attach greater value to linebackers in their systems.
Cornerbacks
1. Browns
Top four: Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome, Troy Hill, Greedy Williams.
2. Ravens
Top four: Marcus Peters, Marlon Humphrey, Kevon Seymour, Robert Jackson.
3. Bengals
Top four: Chidobe Awuzie, Eli Apple, Mike Hilton, Tre Flowers.
4. Steelers
Top four: Levi Wallace, Cam Sutton, Ahkello Witherspoon, Justin Layne.
Analysis: Browns’ No. 5, A.J. Green, could be No. 3 for Ravens and Steelers.
Safeties
1. Bengals
Top three: Jessie Bates, Von Bell, Brandon Wilson.
2. Browns
Top three: John Johnson, Grant Delpit, Ronnie Harrison.
3. Ravens
Top three: Chuck Clark, Marcus Williams, Geno Stone.
4. Steelers
Top three: Minkah Fitzpatrick, Miles Killebrew, Karl Joseph.
Analysis: Top three units are evenly matched.
Specialists
1. Ravens
Kicker, punter, returner: Justin Tucker, Sam Koch, Devin Duvernay.
2. Bengals
Kicker, punter, returner: Even McPherson, Drue Chrisman, Chris Evans.
3. Steelers
Kicker, punter, returner: Chris Boswell, Pressley Harvin, Gunner Olszewski.
4. Browns
Kicker, punter, returner: Chase McLaughlin, Corey Bojorquez, Jakeem Grant.
Analysis: Browns have a lot of catching up to do.
Now for the breakdown.
The Browns and Bengals each had three top units; the Steelers and Ravens had two apiece.
The Steelers finished fourth in five categories. The Browns had four fourths and the Bengals one. The Ravens were not last in any category.
Based on our analysis, the best rosters heading into the draft (with another wave of free agency to come):
1. Bengals, 28 points.
1. Ravens, 28.
3. Browns, 25.
4. Steelers, 19.
(Ed. note: The original posting of this story contained a mathematical error. It has been corrected.)
