NFL Draft Review: AFC North Winners and Losers

Ken Kelly

manziel

This article is part of our ongoing series where we provide team-by-team analysis and veteran divisional winners and losers from the NFL Draft. You can read the entire series here.

The AFC North really focused on defense during the 2014 NFL Draft. In fact, every one of the teams within the division took a defensive player first as Darqueze Dennard (Bengals), Justin Gilbert (Browns), Ryan Shazier (Steelers) and CJ Mosley (Ravens) were all added to their respective teams with their first overall choices. Each of these teams saw defense as a priority with the hope these players help each of their respective defensive units in the long-term. You’d think such a focus on defense would limit the number of offensive losers from this group, but that may be a mistake. In fact, this division clearly has more veteran losers than winners as the offensive players taken by these teams were in key positions not completely solidified by their current inhabitants. In short, the offensive players taken by this division may not be household names (outside of one Johnny Manziel), but their impact on their new team’s depth chart is significant nonetheless.

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Winners

The Cleveland Receivers

There really aren’t that many veteran winners within this division. The quarterbacks weren’t given many new weapons and the players whose spots on the depth chart were a bit tenuous all had players drafted to challenge them. With that being said, the existing receivers for the Browns should be breathing a major sigh of relief. Even with the impending suspension of Josh Gordon looming over the franchise like a black cloud, the team did nothing to really address the position. Instead, they signed Miles Austin and his hamstrings to come and help provide some playmaking ability.

The receiving depth chart of the Browns is as sorry as any in the league with Austin, Travis Benjamin. Charles Johnson, Andrew Hawkins and Nate Burleson “highlighting” the group. Unbelievably, each of these players will have a chance to make an impact this season and the addition of Johnny Manziel could help them in the short term if his skills really can translate to the NFL level. There are as many questions about that as there are about this group, but the Browns passing on some of the big name receivers in the draft bodes well for the collective dynasty values found within this unit, as minimal as they may be.

Losers

BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB CIN

The law firm is easily the biggest veteran loser from the NFL Draft found within this division. The Bengals’ selection of Jeremy Hill puts a huge pin in the balloon of Green-Ellis. Hill is much younger and more talented version of BJGE and it’s quite possible the Bengals simply part ways with him if Hill shows well in camp. Unfortunately for Green-Ellis, Hill was promoted to the backup role behind Giovani Bernard on the first day of Spring practice, so the Bengals are obviously serious about getting him some action early in his career. Two years after posting a 1,000 yard season for Cincinnati, it really seems as if the ceiling for Green-Ellis would be as the RB3 for the Bengals and the floor would be him looking for work – neither of those scenarios should lead you to keep him on your dynasty roster.

Brian Hoyer, QB CLE

Hoyer just can’t catch a break. He looked good when he finally had an opportunity last season, but his injury destroyed his chance to make an impression strong enough for the Browns to think he could be their quarterback of the future. Unfortunately for Hoyer, Cleveland drafted “Johnny Football” in the first round and clearly think he could be the future of the franchise. In a best case scenario, Hoyer can hold off Manziel long enough to show another team he’s good enough to be a starter. The likelihood of that happening is likely between slim and none, though. It’s really a tough break for Hoyer, who really may possess an NFL skill set. Time will tell if he ever gets another chance to truly showcase it. Honestly speaking, his best chance is if Manziel fails to mature and focus on being a leader, thus tanking his career. Regardless, there’s not much of a need to make Hoyer a roster priority.

Ben Tate, RB CLE

It was bad when the Browns selected Terrance West in the third round and worse when they signed Isaiah Crowell as a free agent after the draft. However, it’s time to keep things in perspective a bit. Tate is the starter and would have to be dramatically outplayed by West, Crowell, Dion Lewis or anyone else on the roster to lose his job this season. The concern here is what happens beyond this year or if and when Tate gets hurt. The Browns aren’t on the hook much with Tate and it wouldn’t be much of a surprise to see his time in Cleveland be short. It’s time for Tate to stay healthy and productive because he has a number of players nipping at his heels. He has the talent to be a solid RB2 in dynasty leagues and the Browns have made moves this off-season to make it a “now or never” situation for him.

Markus Wheaton, WR PIT

Wheaton was a hot name in draft circles at this time last year, but he has major competition on the roster in the form of Martavis Bryant. Right now, Wheaton is the leader in the clubhouse for the starting “X” receiver position opposite Antonio Brown, but he’s going to need to make an impact early and often to hold off Bryant. He simply has to stay healthy and on the field this season after battling injuries last year. Pittsburgh won’t be patient with him again this season after losing Emmanuel Sanders in the off-season. They’re going to need production from that spot and Wheaton will have the first shot at nailing down the job – he just has no margin for error now that Bryant is in the fold.

Joe Flacco, QB BAL

The Ravens added an aging Steve Smith this off-season, but did little else to help their offense through the draft. They didn’t add another offensive lineman until round five and outside of running back Lorenzo Taliaferro, they really didn’t add anything on the skill position front, either. The running game is a huge question mark with Ray Rice facing a suspension and Bernard Pierce looking very pedestrian last season. Much of the pressure on offense is going to land on the shoulders of Flacco again this season and this offense just looks like a unit treading water at best right now.

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ken kelly