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Analysis

AFC North rookie grades: Steelers, Ravens, Browns found talent

By Nick Shook
Around The NFL Writer
Published: Feb. 6, 2020 at 02:11 p.m. Updated: Feb. 12, 2020 at 01:16 p.m.

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 With Super Bowl LIV in the books, the offseason is upon us. To get ready for the NFL Scouting Combine, More Videos >
free agency and the 2020 NFL Draft, Nick Shook and Gennaro Filice are taking a division-by-division COMBINE SCORES
look backward to evaluate each team's crop of 2019 rookies, weighing hits and misses -- then looking Photos 1/8
forward at areas for each squad to focus on in the coming months. Shook examines the AFC North
below.
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Devin Bush grades his

rookie season with
Steelers

RANK

PITTSBURGH STEELERS
B+
Round 1: (No. 10 overall) Devin Bush, LB, 16 games/15 starts.
Round 3: (66) Diontae Johnson, WR, 16 games/12 starts; (83) Justin Layne, CB, 10 games/0
starts.
Round 4: (122) Benny Snell Jr., RB, 13 games/2 starts.
Round 5: (141) Zach Gentry, TE, 4 games/0 starts.
Round 6: (175) Sutton Smith, OLB, 0 games/0 starts (now with Seahawks); (192) Isaiah Buggs, DT,
9 games/0 starts; (207) Ulysees Gilbert III, LB, 7 games/0 starts.
Round 7: (219) Derwin Gray, OT, 0 games/0 starts.
Notable rookie FA signings: Devlin Hodges, QB, 8 games/6 starts.

The Steelers' trade up to select Bush was worth it, proven by his fine rookie play. Bush recorded
109 tackles, four passes defended, two interceptions and a forced fumble. He's a stud. A+ for that.
The third round provided some value to Pittsburgh in the form of Johnson, who saw additional
 playing time due to JuJu Smith-Schuster's injury issues and caught 59 passes for 680 yards and
five touchdowns. It'll be interesting to see if he makes a bigger leap in his second season with Ben COMBINE SCORES
Roethlisberger back under center. Layne projected to perhaps answer the Steelers' long-running
question at cornerback, but he didn't play a defensive snap in 2019, spending his entire time on
special teams.
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with a 4-yards-per-carry
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on his 108 attempts,
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gaining 426 yards and making two trips to the end zone. He's a worthy backup to James Conner.
Gentry saw very little action and caught just one pass in 2019. Smith is now with the Seahawks.
Buggs made an occasional rotational contribution, and Gilbert spent his season on special teams.
Gray spent 2019 on the practice squad and was signed to a futures contract. The undrafted
Hodges initially arose from afterthought who'd beaten out Joshua Dobbs for a roster spot to the
symbol of hope for Pittsburgh, though his struggles down the stretch contributed to the Steelers
missing the playoffs for a second straight season.

Combine/free agency focus: Joe Haden had an excellent year, but it's time to start thinking about
life after the 30-year-old corner. Pittsburgh spent a third-rounder on Layne last April, and could
use another selection this draft on a quality prospect. Mason Rudolph proved he can't be relied on,
as did (ultimately) Hodges, meaning the first pick Pittsburgh owns could be spent on a
quarterback. Big Ben turns 38 in March and is currently rehabbing from a serious elbow injury.
Another thing to think about: the future at center beyond 30-year-old Maurkice Pouncey. Not an
immediate need, but something to consider. Pittsburgh sent its first-round pick to Miami for Minkah
Fitzpatrick, so the expectations in the draft should be lowered slightly. With less than $2 million in
projected cap space for 2020 at the moment, per Over The Cap, there are going to be a couple of
cap casualties (looking at you, Mark Barron). Expect most additions to be made via the draft.

RANK

BALTIMORE RAVENS
B
Round 1: (No. 25 overall) Marquise Brown, WR, 14 games/11 starts.
Round 3: (85) Jaylon Ferguson, Edge, 14 games/9 starts; (93) Miles Boykin, WR, 16 games/11
starts.
Round 4: (113) Justice Hill, RB, 16 games/0 starts; (123) Ben Powers, OG, 1 game/0 starts; (127)
Iman Marshall, CB, 3 games/0 starts.
Round 5: (160) Daylon Mack, DT, 1 game/0 starts.
Round 6: (197) Trace McSorley, QB, 1 game/0 starts.
Notable rookie FA signings: Patrick Mekari, OG, 11 games/5 starts.

Brown didn't end up being the best receiver drafted with the last name Brown in 2019, but he was still
a healthy contributor to the Ravens' offensive efforts. Ferguson didn't replicate the efforts that
earned him the "Sack Daddy" nickname at Louisiana Tech, however he was able to carve out a
role for himself, starting nine games for Baltimore. Boykin and Hill each played rotational roles,
and Hill remains as a speedy option in the Ravens' backfield to spell to Mark Ingram and Gus
 Edwards. Powers, Marshall and Mack didn't get many chances to contribute due to their lack of
games played. McSorley could help another team as a dual-threat option, perhaps even filling a COMBINE SCORES
Taysom Hill-like role elsewhere, but he's buried on the depth chart behind Lamar Jackson and
Robert Griffin III.
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Combine/free agency focus: Guard might be a position needing a long-term future starter if
Marshal Yanda decides to call it a career. Linebacker includes the contributions of unheralded
addition L.J. Fort, who earned himself a short contract extension during the season, but the team
could still use another young addition after trading away Kenny Young. Baltimore is in the lower
half of the league when it comes to projected salary cap space, but thanks to the trade for Marcus
Peters, the roster has less holes to fill in the offseason, especially if the Ravens continue to get
production from their first four picks of 2019.

Rookie vs. rookie! Kyler

Murray tackles Mack
Wilson after INT

RANK

CLEVELAND BROWNS
B
Round 2: (No. 46 overall) Greedy Williams, CB, 12 games/12 starts.
Round 3: (80) Sione Takitaki, LB, 15 games/1 start.
Round 4: (119) Sheldrick Redwine, S, 12 games/5 starts.
Round 5: (155) Mack Wilson, LB, 16 games/14 starts; (170) Austin Seibert, K, 16 games/0 starts.
 Round 6: (189) Drew Forbes, OL, 2 games/0 starts.
Round 7: (221) Donnie Lewis Jr., CB, 0 games/0 starts. COMBINE SCORES
Notable rookie FA signings: Stephen Carlson, TE, 9 games/5 starts; Jamie Gillan, P, 16 games/0
starts.
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The Browns landed a first-round talent in the second round when they snagged Williams, whose
biggest knock ahead of the draft was his seeming apprehension toward tackling. That wasn't
much of an issue as a rookie (one missed tackle in coverage in 2019, per Pro Football Focus),
though his hamstring was, causing him to miss four games. Cleveland greased the skids for
Williams to start, and he proved worthy of the job opposite Denzel Ward. As for the second
defensive back selected, Redwine found himself buried behind four other safeties, but injuries and
a midseason release of Jermaine Whitehead opened the door for the rookie to get valuable playing
time. He was beaten at times, but did show incremental improvement. Redwine is an instinct-
reliant player, and he'll take time to learn about proper positioning. The Browns landed a legitimate
starter in Wilson, who was forced into such a role after an early season-ending injury to Christian
Kirksey, and while he needs to work on his coverage skills, Wilson looks to be a steal. Takitaki
didn't get as much burn, but plays with passion and speed above all else and could replace Joe
Schobert if he isn't retained. Forbes shifted from tackle to guard and made strides on the practice
field, but spent most of the season on IR. The Browns finally found their kicker in Seibert, though
he needs to become more consistent on PATs. Lewis was a cutdown day casualty, but spent most
of the season on Cleveland's practice squad. Lastly, the undrafted Gillan has a cannon for a leg
and boomed some absurdly long punts, but is still working on developing his entire bag of clubs,
as special teams coaches like to say. The Browns' retention of special teams coordinator Mike
Priefer should go a long way toward accelerating Gillan's development as a well-rounded punter --
and his rugby background helps him with tackling, if needed, too.

Combine/free agency focus: Offensive line. The Browns sent an All-Pro-level guard (Kevin
Zeitler) to New York in the Odell Beckham trade and thought they might get former second-rounder
Austin Corbett in a position to succeed him. Corbett was traded to Los Angeles just before the
deadline. Wyatt Teller, another in-season acquisition, ended up manning the spot after a dalliance
with free-agent signing Eric Kush. Teller did a decent job, but this need extends beyond guard.
Both of the Browns' tackles weren't good enough to qualify for a contending team. Greg Robinson is
headed to free agency and Chris Hubbard's five-year deal might be too hefty to continue to carry,
meaning the Browns need to take a long, hard look at all of the linemen available this offseason.
Luckily, this draft is loaded at tackle. The Browns could also use depth additions on the defensive
line after curiously parting ways with both Chris Smith and Devaroe Lawrence during the season.

RANK

CINCINNATI BENGALS
C+
 Round 1: (No. 11 overall) Jonah Williams, OT, 0 games/0 starts. COMBINE SCORES
Round 2: (52) Drew Sample, TE, 9 games/2 starts.
Round 3: (72) Germaine Pratt, OLB, 16 games/9 starts.
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Mike Jordan, OL, 13 games/9 starts.
Round 6: (182) Trayveon Williams, RB, 11 games/0 starts; (210) Deshaun Davis, LB, 0 games/0
starts (now a free agent); (211) Rodney Anderson, RB, 0 games/0 starts.
Round 7: (223) Jordan Brown, CB, 0 games/0 starts (now with Raiders).
Notable rookie FA signings: Fred Johnson, OT, 6 games/1 start; Damion Willis, WR, 10 games/2
starts.

Incomplete is honestly the most accurate grade we could give to this group, thanks to Jonah
Williams' season-ending torn labrum that occurred before he even got started. Add in Sample, who
battled an ankle injury that ultimately landed him on IR in early December. Pratt ascended to a
starting role once it became clear veteran Preston Brown couldn't help these young Bengals, and
the younger linebacker figures to find himself with a starting role next season. Finley was
temporarily handed the keys before the Bengals wised up after seeing him post a 62.1 passer
rating and a sub-50 completion percentage in three starts. Wren was decent in the small amount
of defensive snaps he received. The Bengals might have found something in Jordan, who ranked
above players like Rams guards Austin Blythe and Joseph Noteboom in pass blocking, per PFF.
Trayveon Williams found it tough to see playing time behind Joe Mixon and Giovani Bernard,
contributing mostly on special teams. Anderson tore his ACL in the final preseason game, and
Davis is currently without a team. Brown ended up with the Oakland Raiders.

Combine/free agency focus: This team still needs plenty of help in many areas, but we can
expect the Bengals to take LSU QB Joe Burrow with the No. 1 pick. With that need crossed off, we
can turn to wide receiver, defensive line (to replace veterans), linebacker and offensive line. The
Bengals are armed with $44 million in cap space, per Over The Cap, so they should be positioned to
make some much-needed upgrades and hold out hope they can retain A.J. Green, or else turn to
free agency/the draft to replace him.

Follow Nick Shook on Twitter @TheNickShook.

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