The AFC North enters a season of change after a flurry of offseason moves upended a division long associated with stability. Lamar Jackson reacted with visible relief when asked about Myles Garrett no longer being in the division, and Baltimore coach Jesse Minter called it “a transition year for the division,” saying “it’s going to be a grind,” according to ESPN reporting.
One of the biggest headlines was Cleveland’s trade of Garrett, a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, to the Los Angeles Rams. The Browns also replaced long-tenured coaches across the division, with Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh departing their roles. The only club returning its head coach, the Cincinnati Bengals, made notable roster changes on defense.
Cincinnati’s biggest addition cited as likely to affect next season is defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II, a three-time Pro Bowl player acquired to bolster the interior of the defensive line alongside veteran Jonathan Allen. The move aims to address the team’s run defense; Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher said the upgrades have reenergized the roster.
The Bengals’ quarterback question remains health-related: Joe Burrow has missed time over multiple seasons because of injuries and has appeared in only one largely injury-free campaign — the 2024 season that produced his best statistical year and an MVP finalist nod. Burrow acknowledged a growing understanding of when to push and when to pull back, saying, “You live, and you learn.” Defensive secondary additions include safeties Bryan Cook and Kyle Dugger, and Cincinnati is banking on stability with Dax Hill and DJ Turner II as the starting outside corners.
Cincinnati projects to be a favorite in the division: ESPN’s Football Power Index lists the Bengals as favored in 14 of 17 games, but last season’s surprising losses to non-playoff teams remain a cautionary note. Burrow emphasized the team’s expectations, saying they plan to win every game they play.
In Cleveland, the Browns hired former Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken to lift an offense that has ranked as the NFL’s lowest scoring since 2024. Monken has been praised for tailoring schemes to personnel and for a hands-on approach in practice that players have welcomed, according to the reporting by AFC North beat writers for ESPN.
