Browns Idle Day One; How Did the Rest of the AFC North Help Themselves in the First Round?

The Cleveland Browns didn't have a pick the first day of the 2023 NFL Draft, but the rest of division did. Discussing what the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals did and how it could help their chances this coming season.

The Cleveland Browns may have been idle the first day of the 2023 NFL Draft, but the rest of the AFC North wasn't. In what was already a whirlwind day with the news Lamar Jackson was re-signing with the Baltimore Ravens, each of the Browns division foes were on the offensive, adding talent to their rosters.

The AFC North looks like it's going to be a bloodbath where every game is going to be appointment viewing. For the Browns, so much is baked into whether or not Deshaun Watson can find his form and get back to the form he showed in 2020. The Ravens were able to retain Jackson, so the focus now shifts to Todd Monken, the team's new offensive coordinator. How does the offense change and does it make the Ravens better than what they were doing under Greg Roman?

The Pittsburgh Steelers are building around and grow with second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett while the Cincinnati Bengals have their core together, but are deciding how they want to move forward while filling in some holes on their roster.

14. Pittsburgh Steelers - Broderick Jones, OT Georgia

This pick makes all the sense in the world for the Steelers and continues an effort to drastically improve the offensive line. The Steelers had already added Isaac Seumalo in free agency, who should step in and be the best player on that group and now they get a legitimate left tackle option in Jones.

The Steelers gave up a fourth round pick. 120 overall, to move up in a swap with the New England Patriots. Given that it felt like the Steelers were going to get Jones, the fact they had to give up another asset is a net loss for the Steelers. However, the Steelers may start day two of the draft by selecting corner Joey Porter Jr. out of Penn State. Porter was the other player consistently linked to the Steelers throughout the process in the first round, so if they get both of them, the fourth round pick will quickly be forgotten.

The Steelers have been living a lie at tackle the past two seasons. The return on investment for Dan Moore, a former fifth-round pick was good, but it was a stop gap measure. Jones is an attempt at a long term solution. Combined with Seumalo, the left side of the line could be in great shape. Their best player can help take care of the rookie. Mason Cole is a solid center. The right side still has some question marks, but they also have some competition there to produce the best five.

Whatever anyone thinks of Kenny Pickett, he has terrific weapons and now his protection is better. The Steelers also hope these moves can help Najee Harris's mediocre rushing average.

I am curious if the Steelers would've been tempted to take Darnell Wright if he were available. Purely from a stylistic standpoint, he does a lot of things they like. Either way, the Steelers did well and are in great position to start off day two.

23. Baltimore Ravens - Zay Flowers, WR Boston College

This pick is interesting for a host of reasons. Flowers is small, sleek receiver who thrives after the catch and can produce from multiple levels on the field.

First, considering the Ravens already have Mark Andrews, Rashod Bateman, Devin Duvernay and Isaiah Likely, then added Nelson Agholor and Odell Beckham, Zay Flowers could be a player who capitalizes on space created by teammates to make an immediate impact. A simple drag route has the potential to produce an explosive play.

Lamar Jackson has more receiver talent than at any point in his career and a new offensive coordinator in Todd Monken. How do they put it all together? It's one of the most anticipated developments of the upcoming season.

The Ravens offense should create more spacing problems than it ever has which could open up the running game and create easier and safer rushing yardage for Jackson. That has the potential to be one of the most dangerous offenses in the league, but they have to go out and do it.

Between the changing offense and the fact that Flowers is coming to Baltimore with Beckham and Agholor, it's difficult to isolate what Flowers is specifically going to change for the Ravens. The mere number of players they are adding is the threat to everyone else. They have a lot of dudes on that offense. Nevertheless, it feels like a good situation for Flowers to thrive.

How does Rashod Bateman feel about all of this? Bateman was frustrated with his targets last year and has not been afraid to express himself. Maybe the new offense, the additional talent and uptick in passing will have him excited. However, if he sees his role being further reduced, will this boil over and result in a trade?

29. Cincinnati Bengals - Myles Murphy, DE Clemson

Myles Murphy is such an on-brand pick for the style of the Bengals and their pass rushers. They thrive with bigger bodies that have length. Trey Hendrickson is an elite athlete who has been everything the Bengals could hope for and then some. Murphy isn't on the same level as Hendrickson, but he's outstanding in his own right.

Murphy also has production issues which might limit his upside in the NFL, but it's difficult to imagine a better fit for him than the Bengals. In addition to Hendrickson, Murphy joiins Sam Hubbard and Joseph Ossai giving them a ton of depth.

The Bengals have size and strength on the edges flanking B.J. Hill and their behemoth D.J. Reader. The Bengals can dominate the line of scrimmage. The issue the Bengals have had with rushing the passer from the interior.

Does defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo envision a scenario where Murphy could potentially be part of a solution to rush from the interior? Theoretically, the Bengals could kick Murphy inside on passing downs with Hendrickson and Ossai coming off the edges.

The Bengals will likely continue to try to find more options to bolster their defensive interior, but Hubbard and Hendrickson are under contract through 2024. It stands to reason the Bengals drafted Murphy to be more than edge depth. They can put their athletes on the field and try to cause havoc in obvious passing situations.

The next few picks for the Bengals may help shape how Murphy is viewed. They have a major issue at right tackle and while going into the draft hoping to find a starter at that position is questionable to begin with, they could have drafted Dawand Jones from Ohio State. If the Bengals can either find a way to still land Jones or find another player who can come in contribute at that position, it could further enhance the Murphy pick.