AFC North Offseason Grades After Day One Of Free Agency

Who got off to a hot start in the AFC North as free agency took off in a frenzy on Monday?

The 2024 NFL Free Agency Legal Tampering period got off to a hot start on Monday as new deals were struck and players across the league are finding new homes. A couple of guys remarked that this felt like Dynasty Mode on Madden because there was so much shakeup.

The members of the AFC North all made moves on Monday as they each jockey for positions heading into what appears to be the most competitive season in a long time. After Day One, here are my grades for each AFC North team.

Cincinnati Bengals: B

The Bengals are teetering on having a disastrous offseason, but for now, it is off to a great start. This offseason is massive for them as they try to find out what to do around Joe Burrow and they made an immediate upgrade at the running back position by releasing Joe Mixon and signing Zach Moss to a two-year, $8M contract.

On defense, the Bengals poached former Raven safety and NFL interceptions leader Geno Stone to join their secondary. This was a huge get for the Bengals as they are still trying to fill the hole that Jesse Bates left in '23.

Cincinnati is playing with fire as standout wide receiver Tee Higgins requested a trade on Monday. Some are saying that he is using this as a negotiating tactic while others believe he may be moved. Time will tell, but a Higgins departure would be detrimental to this offense.

Key Additions

• Geno Stone - Safety, Baltimore
• Zach Moss - Running Back, Indianapolis

Key Departures

• Chidobe Awuzie - Defensive Back, Tennessee 

Dec 23, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) at the line of scrimmage against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports / © Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Cleveland Browns: B

The Browns got off to a solid start this offseason. Fans wanted them to make a big splash either on the defensive line or at the wide receiver position but that is just not their identity as a front office. They wait in the weeds and make strategic moves to better the franchise for the short and long term.

The big splash for Cleveland outside of the Jerry Jeudy trade was the re-signing of Za'Darius Smith and Maurice Hurst on the defensive line. The negative for Cleveland was losing linebackers Sione Takitaki and Anthony Walker Jr. while replacing them with veteran Jordan Hicks. 

Cleveland has a lot of work to do to improve the roster but Monday was a good start at building depth on the defensive line.

Key Additions

• Jerry Jeudy - Wide Receiver, Denver
• Za'Darius Smith - Defensive End, Cleveland
• Maurice Hurst - Defensive Tackle, Cleveland
• Jordan Hicks - Linebacker, Minnesota

Key Departures

• Sione Takitaki - Linebacker, New England
• Anthony Walker Jr. - Linebacker, Miami
• Mike Ford Jr. - Defensive Back, Houston

Dec 10, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II (90) celebrates after sacking Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (not pictured) during the second half at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports / Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Pittsburgh Steelers: C+

Average start for the Steelers in free agency. I thought that they could have been a little more aggressive in the wide receiver market but as you would expect, they are not rushing it. I personally love the Russell Wilson signing by them. It is a zero-risk, all-reward deal for Pittsburgh. Truthfully, if Wilson gives them the production he had in Denver last year, Pittsburgh is going to win a lot of games. Oh, and they signed him for $1.2M.

Key Additions

• Russell Wilson - Quarterback, Denver

Key Departures

• Mitchell Trubisky - Quarterback, Buffalo
• Chukwuma Okorafor - Defensive Back, New England

Nov 26, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson (3) looks to pass under pressure from Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) an dlinebacker Tony Fields II (42) in the first quarter at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports / Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Baltimore Ravens: D+

Not a good start in Baltimore and it is headlined by the loss of NFL interception leader Geno Stone. Stone isn't going far. He is headed to Cincinnati to join the Bengals but Baltimore has more problems than Stone hitting the market.

They lost Gus Edwards to Los Angeles and Devin Duverney to Jacksonville. Joining Duverney on the trip south is defensive back Ronald Darby.

The Ravens are set to lose a few more key pieces over the next couple of days but the damage has begun and the Ravens took a hit on Monday.

Oct 1, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (85) runs with the ball after a catch as Baltimore Ravens safety Geno Stone (26) defends during the first quarter at Cleveland Browns Stadium / Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Key Additions

• Malik Harrison - Linebacker, Baltimore

Key Departures

• Geno Sone - Safety, Cincinnati
• Devin Duverney - Wide Receiver, Jacksonville
• Gus Edwards - Running Back, Los Angeles Chargers
• Ronald Darby - Defensive Back, Jacksonville
• John Simpson - Guard, New York Jets