When the Bengals traded the No. 10 pick in the draft for Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, they reinforced their all-in commitment to improve their defense.
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Editor’s note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns and NFL analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Before the Browns can seriously compete for the Super Bowl, they have to first win the AFC North division title.
The Browns have never finished first in their division since their rebirth as an expansion franchise in 1999. Their last division crown was in 1989.
Only seven wild-card teams have won the Super Bowl in 60 years. The last was Tampa Bay in 2020.
So the Browns’ focus should be on their division rivals. Let’s see where their division rivals stand as the big draft weekend draws closer.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens’ transition from coach John Harbaugh to Jesse Minter is comparable to the Seahawks’ transition from Pete Carroll to Mike Macdonald. Coincidentally, both Macdonald (2022-23) and Minter (2017-20) served time on Baltimore’s defensive coaching staff.
Macdonald coached the Seahawks to the Super Bowl championship in his second season. With quarterback Lamar Jackson in his prime, no doubt the Ravens have a similar timeline – or sooner -- in mind.
Two personnel moves marked the beginning of the Minter era in Baltimore.
Their major acquisition was signing ex-Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson in free agency after the Ravens canceled a trade of two No. 1 picks for Maxx Crosby of the Raiders.
Hendrickson, 31, had four productive seasons in Cincinnati (57 sacks, 169 pressures) before two injuries limited him to seven games in 2025. He is the most accomplished pass rusher in Baltimore since the Terrell Suggs era (2003-18).
The other move was just as impactful, but in a negative way. Three-time Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum left in free agency to the Raiders.
Linderbaum’s defection exacerbated a major deficiency in the Ravens’ interior offensive line. It should result in the Ravens assigning priority to the offensive line high in the draft.
Cincinnati Bengals
The conservative Bengals shocked the football world this week by trading the No. 10 pick in the draft for Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. They tacked on an extra year on Lawrence’s contract for $28 million, securing the three-time Pro Bowler, 28, through 2028.
It was the Bengals’ biggest trade since dealing holdout quarterback Carson Palmer in 2018, and was their boldest move in the draft since trading up from No. 5 to No. 1 for Penn State running back Ki-Jana Carter in 1995.
With a top-three offense intact, the Bengals have been determined to upgrade their horrible defense. The Bengals do feel the pressure of quarterback Joe Burrow’s frustration with his team’s defense.
Lawrence teams with free-agent pick-up Jonathan Allen to give the Bengals a formidable defensive interior duo.
Allowing Hendrickson to depart in free agency leaves the edge rush chores to recent first-round draft picks Myles Murphy and Shemar Stewart, and ex-Seahawk free agent pick-up Boye Mafe.
Other Cincinnati defensive additions include free agent safeties Bryan Cook (Chiefs) and Kyle Dugger (Steelers).
Devoid a No. 1 pick for the first time in 37 years, the Bengals are expected to continue adding to their defense at linebacker and cornerback in the draft.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Everyone in Pittsburgh expects the reunion of new coach Mike McCarthy and quarterback Aaron Rodgers to be consummated before the team’s mandatory veteran minicamp in June.
Rodgers’ familiarity with McCarthy’s offense from their Green Bay days makes his absence from the offseason program much easier to accept than last year, when Rodgers waited till June to join Mike Tomlin’s offensive-challenged program.
McCarthy has expressed excitement about ex-Ohio State QB Will Howard, taken in the sixth round in 2025. Howard, whose rookie season was ended with a pre-season hand injury, is expected to receive the bulk of reps in Rodgers’ absence and in preseason, but he probably begins the season as QB3 behind Rodgers and Mason Rudolph.
The Steelers’ two major acquisitions were trading for ex-Colts receiver Michael Pittman and signing ex-Bucs cornerback Jamel Dean in free agency.
Pittsburgh’s priorities in the draft are offensive line and wide receiver.