All-AFC North offense entering 2025 NFL season shows just how stacked the division is at the most exciting positions
Training camps around the NFL are starting, and before injuries and other roster moves muddy the waters, it's a good time to lay out our All-AFC North offense leading up to the 2025 season. This division is no longer just about suffocating defenses and low-scoring affairs. You need a high-powered offense to make it out of […]
Training camps around the NFL are starting, and before injuries and other roster moves muddy the waters, it's a good time to lay out our All-AFC North offense leading up to the 2025 season.
This division is no longer just about suffocating defenses and low-scoring affairs. You need a high-powered offense to make it out of this group alive, and none of the four teams move the ball the same.
And goodness gracious is there elite talent galore.
Our panel of four beat writers listed below voted on their picks for head coach and then 11 starters consisting of a quarterback, running back, two wide receivers, a tight end, a FLEX player (any RB, WR, or TE who's not the No. 1), and five starting offensive lineman at each position.
Baltimore Ravens: Kyle Crabbs
Cincinnati Bengals: John Sheeran
Cleveland Browns: Brandon Little
Pittsburgh Steelers: Rob Gregson
Head Coach
Steelers' Mike Tomlin: 2 votes
Ravens' John Harbaugh: 2 votes
This is what can happen with four voters. How do we break the tie between Tomlin and Harbaugh? All-time winning percentage and Super Bowl appearances favor the former, and Tomlin himself has never known a losing season in his 18 years leading the Steel Curtain. We may never see such a streak again unless Andy Reid keeps his current streak going for another six+ years for the Kansas City Chiefs.
I’m sure that Mike Tomlin atop the AFC North coaching ranks will cause no discourse. Especially not within his own fanbase, right? While I understand that much of the Steelers fanbase has Tomlin fatigue, the league, his players, and the people who cover the league don’t. Is he overrated? Maybe. Is he and X’s and O’s savvy? Definitely not. What he is, however, is a Super Bowl champion with almost two decades worth of non-losing seasons. He is still among the most coveted head coaches in the league by free agents. Has his voice run stale? Could he and the Steelers use a reboot? Perhaps. Or maybe Tomlin and the Steelers prove everyone wrong, and by some miracle, make a deep playoff run. Because up until a total collapse, Tomlin is still the cream of the crop in the AFC North. — Gregson
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Harbaugh would be the clear winner of a few other divisions, but Tomlin always does enough to keep Pittsburgh in contention for the postseason.
Quarterback
Ravens' Lamar Jackson: 3 votes
He almost won another MVP trophy and he was almost a unanimous vote-getter in this exercise. Jackson is unquestionably one of the best QBs in today's NFL, and his closest contemporary in the division, Joe Burrow, is right there with him. The strengths of their games are different, but the value they provide for their respective clubs is immense.
In Jackson's case, he gives you more big play ability with his arm and leg while also the efficiency of a high-quality passer. He's completed 66.9% of his passes while averaging 8.4 yards per attempt over the last two seasons under offensive coordinator Todd Monken. 7% of his throws have been touchdowns while only 1.2% have been interceptions under Monken as well.
Not bad for someone Bill Polian advised to play wide receiver in the NFL.
Other votes:
Bengals' Joe Burrow: 1 vote
Running Back
Ravens' Derrick Henry: 4 votes
King Henry established his reign with an authority during his first season in the AFC North last year. 1,921 yards and 16 touchdowns with 58.8% of his rushes being successful made Baltimore's run game virtually unstoppable with Jackson handing him the ball whenever he wasn't keeping it for himself.
The offensive backfield in Baltimore is the perfect blend of thunder and lightning. Lamar’s foundation as an athlete draws the attention of defenders, while Henry’s frame and power overwhelm their will to live in the hole. Jackson has expanded his game by leaps and bounds over the past several seasons, becoming as dangerous a passer inside of structure as he is when the play breaks down or outside the pocket. He played the best ball of his career in 2024, which could also easily be said for Henry. The super duo of Jackson and Henry is, perhaps, the most formidable backfield combination in the league, serving as force multipliers for one another. It’s a match made in heaven. — Crabbs
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It's incredible how Henry remains this good this late into his career, and I'm not just talking about his time in the NFL. The 31-year old logged 4,185 carries (including playoff games) going all the way back to his high school days. He's still chugging along like he's got another 4,000 left in him. No contest from anyone else in the division.
Wide Receiver
Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase: 4 votes
Bengals' Tee Higgins: 4 votes
Speaking of no contest, the AFCN's best wide receiver duo may also be the best tandem in the entire league.
Chase is the reigning triple crown winner and is now the highest-paid offensive player who's not a quarterback. He's entering his prime at 25 years old and has a clear case for being the very best player at his position. He'd be the undisputed top receiver in every division aside from the NFC North.
Higgins is the Bengals' No. 2 wideout (or 1A according to Chase) but he may simply be the second-best receiver in the division as well. He caught a career-high 10 touchdowns in just 12 games played last season and his 75.9 yards per game was his highest since 2021.
Zay Flowers, Jerry Jeudy, and DK Metcalf all bring traits to the table, but Chase and Higgins are the standard for receiver play in this division.
Tight End
Browns' David Njoku: 3 votes
Cleveland's quarterback issues and multiple injuries didn't do Njoku any favors last year coming off his first Pro Bowl campaign in 2023, but the 29-year old still has high-quality traits as an all-around receiver and can get after it in the run game as a blocker.
Njoku missed six games in 2024 but still managed to record 505 yards and five touchdowns in what was a struggling offense. With the possibility of Joe Flacco returning—who helped Njoku produce his best season in 2023—he’s poised for a big year in what will be a contract season. Given the Browns’ wide receiver room is filled with unproven talent, there’s even more reason to heavily utilize their athletic tight end. — Little
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The division has a handful of solid starters such as Pat Freiermuth and Mark Andrews, and the latter remains the real competitor for this title. Baltimore's former All-Pro is turning 30 in September and started last season very slow before rounding into his usual form. His last game in the AFC Divisional Round ended on a sour note, but he'll get another chance at redemption.
Other votes:
Ravens' Mark Andrews: 1 vote
Flex
Ravens' Isaiah Likely: 3 votes
The guy next to Andrews on the depth chart has turned into a promising player in his own right. Likely looked like TE1 for the Ravens during various weeks of last season and will soon take over that role before long. His production has only grown each and every year since being drafted in 2022, and the position's importance in Baltimore's offense makes another leap likely for this year, pun intended.
Likely had interesting competition in Mike Gesicki and Jonnu Smith, two other tight ends more known for their work as big slot receivers. Likely is younger, more athletic, and the more well-rounded player.
Other votes:
Steelers' Jonnu Smith: 1 vote
Offensive Line
Ravens LT Ronnie Stanley: 4 votes
Browns LG Joel Bitonio: 4 votes
Ravens C Tyler Linderbaum: 4 votes
Browns RG Wyatt Teller: 3 votes
Browns RT Jack Conklin: 3 votes
No love for the Ohio River teams here. The left side of the line featured unanimous choices with Stanley, Bitonio, and Linderbaum manning LT, LG, and C, respectively. Baltimore's offensive line paves the way for Henry and keeps Jackson clean thanks in large part to those two.
Tyler Linderbaum can lay claim to ‘best center in football’ on any given year. He’s an ascending player with the proper blend of quickness, leverage, toughness, and balance. His presence in the middle of Baltimore’s offensive line gives the Ravens a steadying force between the tackles. On the edge, the Ravens getting Ronnie Stanley back at a rate of $20 million per season has to be viewed as a major win internally. Is he playing the best ball of his career at this stage? No. But he is a well-tenured starter with athleticism and ample experience? Absolutely. Stanley’s biggest issue is durability, which he successfully avoided in 2024 as a 30-year-old tackle. If it happens again in 2025, it could be magic for the Ravens’ offensive line. — Crabbs
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Bitonio has been a borderline Hall of Famer for Cleveland as his career will hit 12 years this season. His play has dropped a smidgeon due to age and the departure of o-line coach Bill Callahan, but he's still unquestionably the best at his position in the division. Bitonio and Teller as a duo remain very capable of paving run lanes.
Cleveland’s Pro Bowl guard duo took a step back last season, along with much of the team. If the Browns want to return to the level of offensive line play they’ve had in recent years, it starts with the interior regaining its dominant form. This could be Joel Bitonio’s final season, and a return to Pro Bowl form would be the ideal send-off. Meanwhile, Wyatt Teller will be a key piece in helping the Browns re-establish an effective ground game. — Little
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Conklin brings the best combination of ability and experience at RT, but like the other Browns linemen, he's getting up there in age and could be starting his final year.
The right side could see some changes next year. Pittsburgh's Mason McCormick and Cincinnati's Amarius Mims kept their heads above water as rookies last year, and expectations are for them to be even better this year.
Other votes:
Steelers RG Mason McCormick: 1 vote
Bengals RT Amarius Mims: 1 vote
Starters By Team
Ravens: 5
Browns: 4
Bengals: 2
Steelers: 1 (HC)
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