AFC North -- Steelers, Bengals, Browns, Ravens -- Is Dominating NFL Free Agency So Far

It's too early to know which team has won the NFL offseason championship -- although the Houston Texans might disagree – because this is only the second day of free agency and there are many talented players still unsigned. But it's easy to say what division is winning free agency.

And since I like easy, here you go:

The AFC North.

No question.

The Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns are doing outstanding work so far and no foursome from another division has so far come close.

So why am I saying this? Well, let's do the exercise: 

Let's begin with the Bengals …

LAS VEGAS - Zack Moss speaks on SiriusXM at Super Bowl LVIII on February 8, 2024. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM)

Bengals Address Both Offense And Defense

It might look a little worrisome because they lost right tackle Jonah Williams to the Cardinals. And anchor defensive tackle D.J. Reader was starting to make free agency recruiting visits Wednesday, with his first stop expected to be the Lions.

But the Bengals are going to be good. Maybe better than good.

They believe they have upgraded in replacing Joe Mixon with Zack Moss at running back because they just saved $6.1 million in cap costs by trading Mixon and picking up a seventh-round draft pick. The Bengals also see Moss as a bit more explosive than Mixon.

Mixon hasn't eclipsed 4.1 yards per carry since 2018, which was his second year in the league. Moss got off to a slow start in his career, but he hasn't been under 4.3 yards per carry since 2021, his second season in the NFL. And last year, Moss averaged 1.9 yards per rush after contact. Mixon averaged 1.4 yards per rush after contact. That stat suggests Moss can make more yards with less help.

The Reader loss would hurt, but the Bengals are already ahead of the curve. They agreed on a two-year deal with Sheldon Rankins Wednesday evening after he picked Cincy over staying with Houston. Rankins had six sacks last season, which was his second-highest career mark.

The Bengals also added safety Geno Stone, whom they poached from the Ravens, following a season in which he collected seven interceptions in 11 starts. Stone was not discarded by the Ravens. Baltimore general manager Eric DeCosta called him his best seventh-round draft pick he ever made. Vonn Bell was cut recently and he makes a ton of sense in a reunion with the Bengals.

You should know the Bengals have work to do at receiver and right tackle. You should also know this is a great year for receivers and tackles in the April draft and that's where they'll stock the spots.

LAS VEGAS - Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy of the Denver Broncos scores a touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders in the second quarter at Allegiant Stadium on January 7, 2024 in Las Vegas. The Raiders defeated the Broncos 27-14. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)

Browns Getting Work Done

The Browns last season came as close to winning the division as any team can with a backup quarterback. This season they expect to have starting QB Deshaun Watson back, and they're improving the receiver corps for him and giving themselves some insurance if Watson falters.

Cleveland traded for Denver receiver Jerry Jeudy and announced that trade Wednesday.

"I had heard that the Browns were interested in me even two years ago," Jeudy said. "To hear that, and then be here now is exciting. It’s surreal. I feel like I am wanted, and the team has really made me feel welcomed. The Browns already had a great receiving corps with guys like Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore and I think I will fit in with them."

Jeudy, Cooper and Moore are all from South Florida – the football talent capital of the Earth. So there will be camaraderie in Cleveland's receiver room.

"Amari is actually a guy I’ve been modeling my game after since I was young, and we became friends while I was at 'Bama," Jeudy said. "I am excited to see what the future holds."

If the future includes another Watson injury (or another reason for him to miss more games), the Browns will fill the vacancy with newly arrived Jameis Winston. No, the club didn't run it back with Joe Flacco. That's because they didn't want Flacco and didn't even make him an offer.

The Browns believe Winston is better.

Cleveland is revamping its linebacker corps because talent has left the building. But talent is coming in as well, with Devin Bush visiting on Thursday and playmaker Jordan Hicks coming on a two year deal. And why call him playmaker?

Dude last season had an interception, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, a sack, and a touchdown. He's an inside linebacker who finds the football.

Patrick Queen To The Steelers

The Steelers are never going to make free agency splashes, right? Right?

Well, they've added Russell Wilson to compete with Kenny Pickett for the starting quarterback job. And, get this, the addition is costing them less money than if they had re-signed Mason Rudolph, who signed a one-year deal to be the backup for the Titans.

Wilson > Rudolph.

And then on Wednesday, the Steelers made the move that reverberated throughout the division by adding linebacker Patrick Queen. The Ravens were pretty much aware they could not afford to keep Queen.

The Steelers are adding Queen to be their alpha linebacker inside. 

Yes, there are concerns in some corners about whether Queen, 24, is ready to be that guy because he wasn't early on in Baltimore before Roquan Smith arrived. But the Steelers' defense is replete with alpha players – T.J. Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Cameron Heyward.

The Steelers, by the way, have traded receiver Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers for starting-caliber cornerback Donte Jackson. That leaves a void for the team at wide receiver.

That doesn't worry anyone because, again, it's a great year for receivers in the draft. And the Steelers, perhaps more than any other team, can find receivers in the draft.

Ravens Shining Light On Henry Thursday

So where does this leave the Ravens? They won the division last year and are working to manage their roster and salary cap to not lose any ground.

They retained defensive tackle Justin Madubuike after his breakout 13-sack season. And they're trying to retain defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, who is actively shopping his services starting with the Panthers.

But the thunderclap move of signing Derrick Henry the Ravens made earlier this week is still reverberating. Henry will be introduced at a press conference on Thursday, which is ironic.

Because since 2017, Henry leads the NFL in almost every major rushing category, including: yards (9,012), touchdowns (85), yards per game (86.7), attempts (1,920) and gains of 10-plus yards (220).

This mountain of a man needs no introduction.