Now that the dust has settled on a unique NFL Draft. It’s time to see who played it well and who didn’t. Over the next few days, US-Odds are producing an in-depth look across the divisions.
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In this article, we’ll look at who’s in and who’s out across the AFC North Division teams. Plus, we’ll compare the DraftKings’ odds swing between pre-draft and current Super Bowl odds to decide are the winners and losers of the NFL Draft.
Baltimore Ravens
Division Odds: -200
Pre-Draft Super Bowl 55 odds: +700
Current Super Bowl 55 odds: +700
| Ravens’ Ins/Outs | Players |
|---|---|
| Key Re-signings | Jihad Ward, DT; Jimmy Smith, CB; Anthony Levine, S; Chris Moore, WR |
| Key trade acquisition | Calais Campbell, DE |
| Key trade departure | Hayden Hurst, TE |
| Key restricted free agent tender | Matt Skura, C |
| Key free agent losses | Seth Roberts, WR; Michael Pierce, DT; Patrick Onwuasor, LB; Josh Bynes, LB |
| Key free-agent signings | Derek Wolfe, DE |
| Key draft pick | Patrick Queen, LB (1st round); J.K. Dobbins, RB (2nd round); Devin Duvernay, WR (3rd round) |
| Franchise tag | Matt Judon, LB |
It was a disappointing finish to the Ravens season losing to the Tennessee Titans in the Divisional Round. Not only did they lose but wow, it was a total shellacking that was over before it even started. QB Lamar Jackson will be coming off an MVP season looking to prove to the critics that 2019 was no fluke. At +700 odds, this is certainly a team that should squarely be on the radar to win the Super Bowl.
Just when you thought this team would fold up like a lawn chair on Labor Day, somehow the Ravens got even better over the offseason. Particularly the defense is what rose to another level getting some serious studs to rock the black and purple. Baltimore absolutely nailed free agency and the draft, so getting one of the top two seeds in the AFC should be a piece of cake.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Division Odds: +350
Pre-Draft Super Bowl 55 odds: +2800
Current Super Bowl 55 odds: +2800
| Steelers’ Ins/Outs | Players |
|---|---|
| Key Re-signings | Jordan Dangerfield, S |
| Key free agent losses | Javon Hargrave, DT; Tyler Matakevich, LB; B.J. Finney, OG; Sean Davis, CB; Nick Vannett, TE; Artie Burns, CB; Roosevelt Nix, FB |
| Key free-agent signings | Derek Watt, FB; Eric Ebron, TE; Stefan Wisniewski, C; Breon Borders, CB |
| Key draft pick | Chase Claypool, WR (2nd round); Anthony McFarland, Jr., RB (4th round) |
| Franchise tag | Bud Dupree, LB |
The Steelers have gone through a very bizarre last two seasons. At the end of the 2018 regular season, Antonio Brown went into the beginning stages of his legendary psychotic breakdown; the following year, Ben Roethlisberger had a season-ending elbow injury that derailed the Steelers season. While Pittsburgh almost made the playoffs, it would have been a one-and-done situation even if the odds were defied.
Going into 2020, Roethlisberger and the Steelers need to find the familiar ways that made them one of the most successful teams of our lifetime. Although there weren’t a ton of offseason acquisitions to bring Pittsburgh back to a Super Bowl level, the offense should certainly put a ton of points on the board – assuming Roethlisberger stays healthy. WR Juju Smith-Schuster is a star in the making but his production was cut thin by the injury of Big Ben. The running-back situation in Pittsburgh is outstanding with four guys that are all capable of posting big numbers – you have to wonder if one of them is wearing a different uniform when the season begins.
Cleveland Browns
Division Odds: +500
Pre-Draft Super Bowl 55 odds: +3300
Current Super Bowl 55 odds: +3300
| Browns’ Ins/Outs | Players |
|---|---|
| Key Re-signings | Jack Conklin, OT; Austin Hooper, TE; Case Keenum, QB; Andrew Billings, DT; B.J. Goodson, LB; Karl Joseph, S; Kevin Johnson, CB; Andrew Sendejo, S; Jojo Natson, WR; Donovan Olumba, CB; Evan Brown, C |
| Key restricted free agent tender | Kareem Hunt, RB |
| Key free agent losses | Eric Murray, S; Christian Kirksey, LB; Juston Burris, CB; Demetrius Harris, TE; Joe Schobert, LB; Eric Kush, OG; Justin McCray, OG; Travis Carrie, CB; Damarious Randall, CB; Ricky Seals-Jones, TE |
| Key draft pick | Jedrick Willis, Jr., OT (1st round); Grant Delpit, S (2nd round) |
The Browns were the biggest disappointment of the 2019 regular season, but that’s just in the perception of the public. In reality, if you really dug deep in Cleveland’s schedule, you would have realized that a .500 record was perfectly acceptable. Heading into the 2020 season, though, this is certainly a time for QB Baker Mayfield to step up and lead this team to the playoffs.
Cleveland brass really helped Mayfield out in the offseason, getting plenty of help on the offensive line via the draft and free agency. In what could be regarded as a reach, the Browns did sign TE Austin Hooper to the richest deal for any player at that position – and he definitely doesn’t deserve it. All in all, though, the Browns upgraded a ton of positions this offseason and the postseason should be there for the first time in a while.
Cincinnati Bengals
Division Odds: +2000
Pre-Draft Super Bowl 55 odds: +10000
Current Super Bowl 55 odds: +10000
| Bengals’ Ins/Outs | Players |
|---|---|
| Key Re-signings | Torry McTyer, CB; Greg Mabin, CB |
| Key free agent losses | Clayton Fejedelum, S; Darqueze Dennard, CB; Andrew Billings, DT; John Miller, OG; Tony McCrae, CB; Nick Vigil, LB; Tyler Eifert, TE; LaRoy Reynolds, LB |
| Key free-agent signings | D.J. Reader, DT; Trae Waynes, CB; Xavier Su’a-Filo, OG; Vonn Bell, S; Mackensie Alexander, CB; Mike Thomas, WR; Josh Bynes, LB; LeShaun Sims, CB |
| Key draft pick | Joe Burrow, QB (1st round); Tee Higgins, WR (2nd round) |
| Franchise tag | A.J. Green, WR |
From one Ohio team to the other, we’re probably looking at a downtrodden season from the Bengals. Sure, they did land the prized possession — No. 1 overall pick QB Joe Burrow – to lead this team for the decade and then some. However, this is one of the most hard-nosed divisions in all of football, and that’s something he’ll learn sooner than later.
While the Bengals won’t win a ton of games, they should have some fun on offense. WR A.J. Green got the franchise tag and he’ll have at least one season to work with the new messiah of Cincinnati; paired with WRs Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd, Auden Tate, and John Ross III, this is going to be an LSU-like type of offense that made Burrow the star he turned into initially. This should be a lot of fun to watch, but let’s not expect too many wins as a team.
