The Baltimore Ravens are, according to legal betting sites, the favorites to win the AFC North division. That would be the first divisional threepeat in the history of the franchise. Baltimore had the best run offense in 2019, rushing for 206.0 yards per game. QB Lamar Jackson and running back Mark Ingram combined for more than 2200 yards on the ground.
Baltimore Ravens
However, the Ravens apparently want more, and selected running back JK Dobbins in the 2nd round of the 2020 NFL draft, as the 55th overall pick. Dobbins left Ohio State with 4,459 yards rushing, making the school’s second best all-time rusher. In general, the Black Birds drafted the best possible player with each of their five picks, strengthening their considerable assets and addressing their few weaknesses. Baltimore is not just favored to win their division. They are Super Bowl faves at the best online sportsbooks, behind only the Chiefs.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are second on legal betting sites odds-boards to win the AFC North. Pittsburgh’s best preseason moves last year involved getting rid of dead weight. Namely, Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell. That’s why the selection of running back Anthony McFarland Jr. in the fourth round as the 124th overall pick may be raising a red flag.
Steelers beat writer David Todd quoted an anonymous source; “We took him off board because his football character is absolutely atrocious,” “He’s like a child. Really high maintenance. Every week there’s going to be something. Now, talent-wise, whew. He’s a weapon.” Head coach Mike Tomlin’s son Dino was McFarland’s teammate at Maryland. And QB coach Matt Canada was McFarland’s offensive coordinator and head coach with the Terrapins. They might be able to keep him in check and reap the benefits of his ability without the downside of a Brown or a Bell.
Odds to Win the AFC North Division
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Baltimore Ravens | -200 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | +350 |
| Cleveland Browns | +450 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | +2000 |
Cleveland Browns
Speaking of poor decision-making, the Cleveland Browns. The Browns drafted offensive tackle Jedrick Wills as their first round pick. There is no denying Wills’s potential, but Cleveland’s offensive line problems are front and center, quite literally. The Browns waited until the 5th round to select center Nick Harris, when they could have gotten guard Logan Stenberg in the fourth. But then they would have had to refrain from picking tight end Harrison Bryant in said fourth round.
And they should have, seeing as how they had already signed Austin Hooper. One wonders why the Browns went to the trouble of trading for picks from Indy, New Orleans, Houston and Arizona. If they were going to wind up squandering them. But that’s Cleveland for ya. No shock there. It would be a shame if starting QB Baker Mayfield didn’t get the proper protection. What with wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones joining Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry in the Browns’ vaunted receiving unit.
Cincinnati Bengals
As projected by legal betting sites, the Cincinnati Bengals selected QB Joe Burrow as the first overall pick. It may be a while, though, before that translates into winning their division. Then again, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Burrow has been studying the Bengals offense “for weeks” and is “so far ahead” that he is expected to start under center in Week 1, regardless of veteran Andy Dalton’s fate. Burrow will have an assorted array of targets in wide receivers A.J. Green, Tyler Boyd and John Ross, and running back Joe Mixon. All things considered, the fact that he was a shoo-in for the Bengals will allow Burrow to hit the ground running.
Our Pick: Unless the current pandemic wipes out Baltimore’s roster, there is foreseeable obstacle for the Ravens to repeat the divisional title.
