One of the most competitive divisions in football became even more so following free agency and the draft. However, an offseason still leaves needs on teams that need to be met to be as competitive as they can be. Each team has some sort of hole on their roster. How glaring that hole is can depend on the team and talent in the room, but every team will have them. The hard thing is finding the most efficient way to address those positions going into the season, or at least alleviating the concerns of that hole. I wanted to take a look at those roster holes on every NFL team, starting with the AFC North!
Baltimore Ravens: Edge
The strength of the Ravens as of late has been their defense, but their approach changed this offseason. The defense has a couple of needs to meet at cornerback and edge, but I saw edge as the bigger need given a pretty strong secondary overall. Several veterans at the edge rusher position left the Ravens, and so adding another experienced player to play with Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo would make me feel much better about this Baltimore defense.
Cincinnati Bengals: Tight End
The tight end room in Cincinnati may be mostly full for the 2023 season, but the depth is questionable and they are almost all on one-year deals. Irv Smith Jr. was a great signing for the Bengals, but with questions about his health along with my depth questions, tight end will remain the Bengals’ biggest hole going into the 2023 season.
Cleveland Browns: Defensive Tackle
Myles Garrett on the defensive line keeps offensive coordinators up at night, but outside of him there is not much going for the Browns on the line. The defensive tackle position especially has its questions, as outside of an adequate starter in Dalvin Tomlinson there is not much to show for. To make life easier on what could be a good defense, this position should be addressed.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Cornerback
The Steelers did address what I see as one of their biggest weaknesses in the draft at a tremendous value, but the depth is still extremely questionable. Adding Joey Porter, Jr. in a room with Patrick Peterson is great, but Porter Jr. may take time to adapt to the NFL and Peterson is at the tail end of his career. The room behind those two players lacks the talent I think that you want out of an NFL caliber cornerback room and still could use work.
