Continuing the series trying to find which division is the best, we’ll stay in the north for part two. The AFC North may have the best QB-WR-RB combo of the entire league, with All-Pro candidates in every position.
For those who didn’t read the NFC North edition (or don’t remember), we have some ground rules. First of all, I’m selecting only position groups, not individual players. As this involves a lot of projection, the teams may, and probably will, look different if we do this again after the season.
For transparency, this is what I considered in each position:
- Quarterback: 1
- Wide Receiver: 3
- Tight End: 2
- Running Back: 2
- Offensive Tackle: 2
- Guard: 2
- Center: 1
- Defensive Tackle: 3
- EDGE Rusher: 3
- Linebacker: 2
- Cornerback: 3
- Safety: 2
- Kicker: 1
- Punter: 1
- Returner: Both kick and punt returners
- Head Coach: 1
Quarterback: Baltimore Ravens (Lamar Jackson)
It was hard selecting between Jackson and Joe Burrow, but at the end of the day, Jackson is the 2x MVP. Arguably the best dual-threat QB in NFL history, Lamar is one of the most electrifying players in the league. He can take over a game at any time, either with his legs or with his arm.
Wide Receivers: Cincinnati Bengals (Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Andrei Iosivas)
Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are the best wide receiver duo in the league. You can put me with them, and they’d still be the pick here. Lucky for them, Iosivas is much better at this than me. Chase is one of the best receivers in the league and had a fantastic 2024, winning the triple crown. Higgins is arguably the best WR2 in the NFL, even though he missed a few games the past two seasons.
Tight Ends: Baltimore Ravens (Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely)
Andrews is starting to decline a little as he gets closer to the 30-year mark, but he’s still a very good TE, catching 10+ touchdowns for the first time since 2019. In the meantime, Isaiah Likely is becoming a good target for Jackson, reaching career-highs in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. They may not be the best duo in the league, but they are a high-floor duo, with two starting-level tight ends.
Running Backs: Baltimore Ravens (Derrick Henry, Justice Hill)
This has been a very Ravens-dominated list, but don’t blame me – they have one of the best offenses in the league. One of the best players in that offense, Derrick Henry. He was named to his fifth Pro Bowl after rushing for a second-best 1921 yards, and he did that at 30 years old. At a position that most players decline early, Henry still proves why he’s the best running back of his generation.
Offensive Tackles: Baltimore Ravens (Ronnie Stanley, Roger Rosengarten)
Stanley was named to his second Pro Bowl in 2024. Although he racked up a lot of penalties, he allowed only 2 sacks and 4 hits in almost 600 pass-blocking snaps. Rosengarten had a very good season, starting 14 games as a second-round rookie. With a blend of experience and youth, Stanley and Rosengarten make a good duo outside.
Guards: Cleveland Browns (Joel Bitonio, Wyatt Teller)
Joel Bitonio is one of the best guards of the last decade. With 7 consecutive Pro Bowl selections, with two 1st-team All-Pro and three 2nd-team All-Pro selections in the meantime, Bitonio can still play at a very high level, even at age 33. Teller is also a force opposite to Bitonio, making this one of the most underrated duos in the league.
Center: Baltimore Ravens (Tyler Linderbaum)
As I said, the Ravens have one of the best offenses in the league, so it shouldn’t be a surprise to see so many Ravens players here. With 0 sacks allowed in the past two seasons and one of the highest PFF run block grades at 82.5, Linderbaum is one of the best centers in the NFL. He doesn’t have many accolades because of Chiefs’ Creed Humphrey, but don’t overlook #64.
Defensive Tackles: Pittsburgh Steelers (Cameron Hayward, Derrick Harmon, Keeanu Benton)
With one future Hall-of-Famer in the mix, Cam Heyward should help first-round rookie Derrick Harmon accelerate his development. Heyward will be 36 this season, but still has gas in the tank, being named to his fourth All-Pro team last season and playing almost 800 snaps. Harmon is a rookie, so this is purely a projection on my part, but he was one of the best DT prospects in the Draft and has a lot of upside. A second-round pick in 2023, Benton showed signs of improvement last season, increasing his pressures. Heyward is still the top dog, but now he has two young players to help him wreak havoc.
EDGE Rushers: Pittsburgh Steelers (T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig)
We’re going full Steelers in the defensive line, with T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith leading the charge to the QB. It’s more likely than not that Watt will find his way to Canton when he retires. He had his “worst” healthy season, recording just 11.5 sacks and 31 pressures. Yes, this was bad by Watt’s standards, and he still finished fourth on the DPOY voting.
We’re two years removed from Highsmith’s only double-digit sack season, but he racked up 6.0 sacks and 20 pressures in just 11 games last season. Herbig stepped up when Highsmith went down and finished the year with 5.5 sacks, 18 pressures, and four forced fumbles.
Linebackers: Baltimore Ravens (Roquan Smith, Trenton Simpson)
The Ravens made one of their best trades when they brought in Roquan Smith in 2022. In the two-and-a-half seasons he has had in Baltimore, Smith recorded almost 400 tackles (over 150 in 2023 and 2024), 5 takeaways, 15 passes defended, 5.0 sacks, 16 tackles for loss, and two 1st-team All-Pro selections. Smith by itself would be enough, but Trenton Simpson had a very nice second season, with almost 80 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
Cornerbacks: Pittsburgh Steelers (Darius Slay Jr., Joey Porter Jr., Beanie Bishop Jr.)
Even though he’s at the twilight of his career, Darius Slay Jr. can still be the primary cornerback in a defense. He didn’t have an interception last year, but had 13 passes defended and a fumble forced. He will join Joey Porter Jr. as the outside corner, giving the Steelers an intriguing CB duo. Porter didn’t have a bad 2024, but it was worse than his rookie season. If he can replicate his maiden campaign, this defense will have a loaded front seven and the CBs to allow the pressure to arrive. Completing the “Jr. group”, Beanie Bishop had an outstanding season for an undrafted rookie, finishing the season with 4 interceptions, 7 passes defended, and a rating of 59.5.
Safeties: Baltimore Ravens (Kyle Hamilton, Malaki Starks)
In 2022, the Ravens selected arguably the best prospect in the Draft at pick 14. In 2025, they selected one of the best prospects in the Draft at pick 27. Insert the “they can’t keep getting away with it” meme here.
In two full seasons as a starter, Hamilton has 8 takeaways, 188 tackles, 5.0 sacks, 22 passes defended, and 14 tackles for loss to go with two Pro Bowls and one 1st-team All-Pro selection. One of the best young players in the league, Hamilton is already one of the best at his position. Starks is a rookie, but was a highly-touted prospect and one of the best players in a loaded Georgia Bulldogs’ defense.
Kicker: Pittsburgh Steelers (Chris Boswell)
Momentum is a good part of what being a good kicker is. According to the Associated Press, no kicker was better than Boswell in 2024. He missed just three field goals last season (two of 50+) and made all of his 35 extra point attempts. With 13 made field goals of 50+ yards, Boswell’s leg is as strong as ever.
Punter: Pittsburgh Steelers (Cameron Johnston)
Even though he missed most of the season with an ACL tear, I’m still choosing Johnston as the team’s punter. His punts had an average of just 4.0 return yards in 2023, his last healthy season, with only 3 touchbacks, and 45.5% of his punts being downed inside the 20.
Returner: Cleveland Browns (DeAndre Carter)
Going into his 8th season, Carter has made a career being a returner. Even at 31 years old, he had 9.3 yards per punt return and 31.9 yards per kickoff return. It may not seem much, but it helps a lot in improving field position before every possession.
Head Coach: Baltimore Ravens (John Harbaugh)
Mike Tomlin has some kind of pact to never finish with a losing record, and is a great coach in his own right, but Harbaugh is the only option here. He reinvented himself and the Ravens after going from Joe Flacco to Lamar Jackson at QB. Since taking over in 2008, Harbaugh has led the Ravens to 6 AFC North titles, 12 playoff berths, 4 AFC Championship Games, and a Super Bowl win. The 2019 Coach of the Year, Harbaugh is an excellent leader and is proof that being a good playcaller doesn’t mean being a good coach.
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You can check out the NFC North squad here.
