Clemson DE Myles Murphy should help the Bengals to become the first three-peat champion of the AFC North division.
Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.Random thoughts on the AFC North division …1. The Browns spent the most money and signed the most players in free agency. The Ravens came to terms with quarterback Lamar Jackson. The Steelers had the best draft. Guess what? The Bengals – operating under Joe Burrow’s rookie contract for perhaps the last transaction season – are still the class of the AFC North.
2. No team has three-peated in the AFC North since the division was created in 2002. The Bengals have a good chance to do it.
3. The Browns’ transaction season is essentially over, although a veteran or two could be added. I felt at the beginning that new coordinators Jim Schwartz and Bubba Ventrone would have the most impact of any new figures in the building this year. After 12 veteran players added and seven free agents, my feelings haven’t changed.
4. People howled when the Browns used a fourth-round pick last year to draft kicker Cade York. Now it looks like the Browns were trendsetters. The 49ers took Michigan kicker Jake Moody in Round 3, the Patriots took Maryland kicker Chad Ryland in Round 4, and the Packers took Auburn kicker Anders Carlson in Round 6. Further, the Patriots took Michigan State punter Bryce Baringer in Round 6, the Bengals took Michigan punter Brad Robbins in Round 6, and the Rams took Wingate punter Ethan Evans in Round 7. The Patriots are the first team to select a kicker and punter in the same draft since the Oakland Raiders drafted kicker Sebastian Janikowski (first round) and punter Shane Lechler (fifth round) in the 2000 draft.
5.
The Athletic draft analyst Dane Brugler said nobody gave Steelers top draft pick, left tackle Broderick Jones of Georgia, more trouble than Missouri defensive end Isaiah McGuire, the Browns’ fourth-round pick.
6. I would rate the drafts in the division this way: 1. Steelers, 2. Bengals, 3. Browns, 4. Ravens.
7. I would rate the best players drafted in the division this way: 1. Georgia OT Broderick Jones, Steelers; 2. Clemson DE Myles Murphy, Bengals; 3. Penn State CB Joey Porter Jr., Steelers; 4. Georgia TE Darnell Washington, Steelers; 5. Tennessee WR Cedric Tillman, Browns; 6. Boston College WR Zay Flowers, Ravens; 7. Clemson LB Trenton Simpson, Ravens; 8. Michigan CB D.J. Turner, Bengals; 9. Wisconsin DT Keeanu Benton, Steelers; 10. Baylor DT Siaki Ika, Browns.
8. The next phase of free agency begins after teams assess their rookies at their rookie minicamps. Here are the major veteran needs for each team: Ravens: cornerback. Bengals: linebacker. Steelers: 3-4 defensive end. Browns: safety.
