Happy Thursday, Dawg Pound. Kelly Kent here from the Lake.
The 2026 NFL season is still three months away, but the AFC North arms race is already in full swing. Every team in this division made massive moves this offseason, and the balance of power is shifting fast. Let’s break down where each squad stands heading into the summer break.
Cleveland Browns — 2025 Record: 5-12 (4th in AFC North)
The 2026 season will be the Browns’ first under new head coach Todd Monken, as the team attempts to improve on its 5-12 record from 2025 and end a 33-season division title drought.
The Myles Garrett bombshell: The Browns traded two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams for two-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Jared Verse and multiple draft picks — a first-round pick in 2027, a second-round pick in 2028, and a third-rounder in 2029. It stings, Browns fans. But 79% of Browns fans polled said they liked the trade, a testament to how much fans liked the inclusion of Jared Verse. Verse, the 2024 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, joins Carson Schwesinger (the 2025 Defensive Rookie of the Year), making the Browns the first team ever to roster defensive rookies of the year from each of the last two seasons. That’s a foundation you build around.
The QB battle is ON: Todd Monken said he’s not going to name a starting quarterback between Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson after mandatory minicamp. “They’ve both played well enough to earn the right to compete to start,” Monken said. Watson had an up-and-down day at the second day of mandatory minicamp, throwing a pick-six to S Ronnie Hickman, though he also connected deep with rookie WR Denzel Boston for a big gain. This battle extends into training camp and likely through preseason.
New weapons everywhere: The Browns spent the offseason revamping their offense, completely overhauling the offensive line and drafting receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston. Fans will also get their first look at projected starting left tackle Spencer Fano.
Division race implications: Let’s be real — this is a rebuild year under Monken. Following the ill-fated Watson gambit in 2022, the Browns admitted they’re still in the early stages of a rebuild under Monken. But with two first-round picks in 2027, a young defensive core anchored by Verse and Schwesinger, and a revamped offensive roster, the arrow is pointing up. The future draft capital gives Cleveland the ammo to go all-in on a franchise QB next spring if needed.
Pittsburgh Steelers — 2025 Record: 10-7 (1st in AFC North)
The Steelers clinched the division title after a dramatic 26-24 victory over the Baltimore Ravens, marking their first division championship since 2020. But Pittsburgh hasn’t won a playoff game since 2016, despite winning three division titles and five double-digit-win seasons in that time.
Rodgers’ farewell tour: Aaron Rodgers said from Steelers OTAs that the 2026 campaign will be the final one of his career. “This is it,” Rodgers told reporters. Rodgers was unsure he’d play a 22nd NFL season, particularly after Mike Tomlin left the club, but the hiring of Mike McCarthy made him reconsider. The four-time NFL MVP signed a one-year contract worth up to $25 million, reuniting with McCarthy, his coach for 13 seasons with the Green Bay Packers.
Roster upgrades: Pittsburgh added Michael Pittman Jr., Rico Dowdle, Jamel Dean, and Jaquan Brisker this offseason. The Steelers also drafted Penn State’s Drew Allar in the third round as a potential future starter behind Rodgers.
Division race implications: By just about every stat, Rodgers was the worst quarterback to make the postseason in 2025. If he made it again this year, he’d likely be the worst in the field again. The McCarthy reunion creates intrigue, but the clock is ticking — literally. The Steelers have lost six straight playoff games and haven’t escaped the Wild Card Round since 2017. Until Pittsburgh proves it can win in January, I’m skeptical.
Baltimore Ravens — 2025 Record: 8-9 (2nd in AFC North)
The Ravens were eliminated from postseason contention, finishing with an 8-9 record — a shocking collapse for a team that entered 2025 as a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
New coaching staff: “I was shocked,” Lamar Jackson said of John Harbaugh’s firing. Jesse Minter now sits atop the coaching staff, and Jackson will continue building the next iteration of the Ravens’ attack with first-year Offensive Coordinator Declan Doyle. Jackson has embraced the offseason process, calling the changes “a breath of fresh air.”
Lamar’s contract situation: Jackson is currently under contract for both 2026 and 2027, carrying a cash schedule of $52 million per season in each year. Extension talks continue, and Jackson said emphatically, “Absolutely. I love the Ravens. I love this organization. I love this city.”
Bounce-back candidate: Jackson is coming off a disappointing 2025 season muddied by nagging injuries, but in a new offensive system, he should be primed for a big bounce back in 2026. Derrick Henry remains one of the league’s premier running backs at 32, having scored 32 rushing touchdowns over the past two years.
Division race implications: Don’t sleep on Baltimore. A healthy Lamar Jackson with a chip on his shoulder is a terrifying proposition for the rest of this division. Pundits already have the Ravens as deserving AFC North favorites. The coaching transition is the wild card — literally and figuratively.
Cincinnati Bengals — 2025 Record: 6-11 (3rd in AFC North)
Joe Burrow and several other Bengals voiced their frustrations during a 6-11 campaign. The undertone was clear: the club needed a quick fix to the defense.
Defensive overhaul: The front office delivered, signing Boye Mafe, Bryan Cook, and Jonathan Allen in free agency, then swinging a trade for Dexter Lawrence. The Lawrence deal is the centerpiece of a massive defensive overhaul that also included a three-year, $40.25 million deal for Bryan Cook and a three-year, $60 million deal for Boye Mafe.
Burrow’s contract restructure: The Bengals restructured Joe Burrow’s contract, gaining $10 million in cap space for the upcoming season. Burrow is pleased: “We have everything we need.”
Health is everything: Burrow, who turns 30 in December, played just eight games last year, completing 66.8 percent of his passes for 1,809 yards with 17 touchdowns and five interceptions. The key to ending their streak of three straight seasons missing the playoffs will remain Burrow’s health. If he goes down again, no amount of offseason additions is likely to matter.
Division race implications: If Burrow stays upright, this is the scariest team in the division. There are few, if any, wide receiving corps in the NFL better than the Bengals’, thanks to the dynamic duo of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Pair that with the defensive upgrades and Cincy has legitimate Super Bowl upside. That’s a big “if” on Burrow’s health, though — and it’s been a big “if” for three straight years.
The Bottom Line for Browns Fans
Here’s the honest truth, Dawg Pound: the 2026 AFC North crown probably runs through Baltimore or Cincinnati. Pittsburgh is banking on a 42-year-old QB on a farewell tour. And the Browns? We’re building. But for the first time in a while, the blueprint actually makes sense.
The Garrett trade gave Cleveland a young star in Verse, a war chest of future draft picks, and cap flexibility. Monken’s offensive mind is exactly what this team needed. The QB question is the elephant in the room, but the infrastructure around the quarterback position — the line, the receivers, the young defensive core — is taking shape.
Keep your eyes on that Watson-Sanders battle. That’s the single biggest storyline that will determine whether 2026 is another year of pain or the start of something real on the shores of Lake Erie.
See you next week. Go Browns.
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