Prior to the 2020 NFL Draft, I did an offseason recap for the Bengals, Browns, Steelers, and Ravens. Now that the three-day rookie entry event has passed, what has changed in the AFC North? Time for a quick AFC North update on how all four organizations have set their teams up for success (or not) this season.

AFC North Update: Cincinnati Bengals

Best Pick- QB Joe Burrow, LSU, Pick 1
Biggest Surprise- No Trades
Biggest Fantasy Potential- WR Tee Higgins, Clemson, Pick 33

The Bengals followed the script and brought Burrow in to lead the franchise into the future. For a team desperate for talent on offense and youth on defense, I expected them to move down in rounds two or three to get some more picks, but they held steady with each pick in the draft. Higgins in the second was a surprise because the Bengals had placed the franchise tag on WR A.J. Green. The question raised by the pick is whether it signals the end of Green’s time in Cincinnati or that the team has given up on John Ross.

There is still a lot to play out in Cincinnati, like what happens with Green and QB Andy Dalton. If they are both taken off the books prior to the start of the season, the Bengals will get a sudden influx of almost $35 million in cap space. I’m not sure what they will be able to do with it at this point, as most of the impactful players in free agency are gone. Why they didn’t make these decisions prior to free agency is the only real failure of the offseason.

Cleveland Browns

Best Pick- S Grant Delpit, LSU, Pick 44
Biggest Surprise- LB Jacob Phillips, LSU, Pick 97
Biggest Fantasy Potential- WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, Michigan, Pick 187

When you pick the guy who might be your starting left tackle for the next 12-15 years with pick 10 and he wasn’t your best pick? That’s when you know you nailed the draft. The Browns not only filled some large holes in their roster through the draft, but they also managed to do it while getting great value out of their picks, even after trading down twice.

Landing the leading tackler from the national champions in the compensatory stage of the third round was a welcome surprise. All of that was on top of OT Jedrick Wills, Jr., who they couldn’t believe fell to them at 10.

Harrison Bryant, the 2019 John Mackey Award-winning TE from Florida Atlantic, was a surprise at 115, too. He joins Austin Hooper and David Njoku as a necessary third option in a tight end heavy offense. Peoples-Jones has had every excuse in the world, from poor coaching to poor quarterback play. Still, if he can get to a point where his route-running and catching match his physical abilities, he could be a monster.

I’m not saying that will happen, or that it will happen soon. In a support focused draft, though, he is the most intriguing new face in Berea, Ohio fantasy-wise.

AFC North Update: Pittsburgh Steelers

Best Pick- RB Anthony McFarland, Jr., Maryland, Pick 124
Biggest Surprise- WR Chase Claypool, Notre Dame, Pick 49
Biggest Fantasy Potential- RB Anthony McFarland, Jr.

The Steelers decided to stick with pick 49 as their first selection in the draft. Then, they passed on a few players I think could have really helped them out, not to mention Van Jefferson and Denzel Mims, to select Claypool. As a Browns fan, I’m totally cool with it, I just don’t understand it. After passing on A.J. Epenesa, they settled for Alex Highsmith in round three. After passing on J.K. Dobbins, they settled for McFarland in round four. They must have really fallen in love with Claypool.

McFarland, Jr. wasn’t one of the sexy names coming into the draft, but he is a solid back who has been held back by injuries. He allegedly rand a 4.4-40 yard dash while still recovering from a high ankle sprain. He is a better option behind James Conner than Jaylen Samuels, but he is more of a flashy spell back than anything. Still, given Conner’s struggles with injury last season, I like him more than Claypool.

Baltimore Ravens

Best Pick- LB Patrick Queen, LSU, Pick 28
Biggest Surprise- So Much Talent
Biggest Fantasy Potential- RB J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State, Pick 55

The Baltimore Ravens are assholes. The retirement of general manager Ozzie Newsome and transition to hand-picked replacement Eric DeCosta has been flawless. Again, the Ravens add what looks to be like an insane amount of talent in one draft. They got tons of help on both sides of the ball, but the big win of the night was Queen falling to 28. The Ravens finally found their C.J. Mosely replacement.

Dobbins joins Mark Ingram in the run-heaviest offense in the AFC. I chose him as the biggest fantasy potential over WR Devin Duvernay (Texas, Pick 92), because of that and the potential for that to lead to an Ingram injury. Both are intriguing options to keep an eye on, though. Duvernay should be able to slot in as the Ravens WR2 on day one. That role is limited, however, due to the aforementioned scheme and the presence of TE Mark Andrews.

Stay tuned to Belly Up Fantasy Sports for every AFC North Update you need to know about. Follow me on Twitter @KyeP_Sports to find out every time I release one so you don’t fall behind. Head over to Belly Up Sports in the meantime for all your non-fantasy needs!