Baltimore Beatdown
During this year’s free agency cycle and 2026 NFL draft, all four AFC North teams made significant moves to add talent to their rosters. While more additions are still possible over the next few months, everyone’s core players are mostly set ahead of the 2026 season.
How do the different positional groups in the division stack up to one another? Let’s rank the AFC North squads by position, starting with wide receiver.
Starters: Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Andrei Iosivas
Depth: Colbie Young, Mitchell Tinsley, Charlie Jones
There are few, if any, wide receiving corps in the NFL better than the Bengals’, thanks to the dynamic duo of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Even without the services of Burrow for half of the 2025 season, both players still produced. Chase finished Top 5 among all wideouts in receptions and receiving yards, while Higgins’ career-high 11 touchdown catches ranked tied for second. Andrei Iosvias has established himself as a capable No. 3 behind them through three career seasons. Iosivas has 12 career touchdown catches and over 1,000 yards with 144 targets.
Starters: D.K. Metcalf, Michael Pittman, Germie Bernard
Depth: Roman Wilson, Ben Skowronek, Kaden Wetjen
The Steelers made a notable splash on the trade market, acquiring veteran wideout Michael Pittman from the Indianapolis Colts. Pittman, 28, has been a consistent producer since being drafted in 2020. He’s eclipsed 800 yards and/or 80 receptions in four of his six career seasons and scored a career-high seven touchdowns in 2025. He’s not an explosive downfield threat or potent red zone player, but profiles as a good complement to the big-play ability of D.K. Metcalf. The draft addition of Germie Bernard in the second round has the potential to be an impactful move, too. Bernard is a well-rounded wide receiver out of Alabama who should be able to produce immediately.
Starters: Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Devontez Walker
Depth: Jakobi Lane, Elijah Sarratt, LaJohntay Wester
Last season, the Ravens’ wide receiver room was extremely Zay Flowers-centric. Flowers saw 64 more targets than the next closest wideout, Deandre Hopkins, who was not re-signed in free agency. He responded by posting career-best numbers across the board and is prime to continue ascending towards stardom. If Flowers makes the jump to elite status, he can carry the Ravens’ wide receiver corps higher in these rankings. A bounce back season from Rashod Bateman would go a long way, too. Bateman followed up a career-best 2024 season with just 19 catches in 13 games for 224 yards. The Ravens added a pair of mid-round receivers in the draft, Jakobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt, who are talented contested-catch, possession wideouts. The biggest X-factor in this group is Devontez Walker, who is in line for a potential breakout season if he can seize the No. 3 role.
Starters: Jerry Jeudy, KC Concepion, Denzel Boston
Depth: Cedric Tilman, Isaiah Bond, Tylan Wallace
Cleveland’s No. 1 wide receiver...
