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The Ravens became the first NFL team to open training camp when their rookies reported over the weekend.
The rest of the league will soon follow suit, with all teams hitting the field for full-squad practices by the middle of next week.
We start our NFL futures previews with the AFC North, which should be fascinating this season.
The Ravens won the division last year, on their way to the top seed in the conference, but all four teams finished with winning records and three made the playoffs.
Let’s take a look at each team in the division and recommend a best bet (BetMGM win totals in parentheses).
Ravens (10.5 wins)
Failure to establish the run in their AFC Championship loss to Kansas City was the Ravens’ undoing, so they added RB Derrick Henry in free agency.
The offensive line will be remade after losing three of its top four starters in total snaps from a year ago.
Guard Andrew Vorhees, a 2022 seventh-round pick, and rookie second-round OT Roger Rosengarten will try to fill the void.
Bringing back All-Pro DT Justin Madubuike is key. Still, we could see some regression with coordinator Mike Macdonald having left for Seattle.
The addition of first-round CB Nate Wiggins helps offset the losses of Ronald Darby and Geno Stone.
The Ravens should remain one of the top teams in the AFC, but there’s not much value in their futures at the current numbers.
Bengals (10.5 wins)
Quarterback Joe Burrow played in only 10 games last season, and when he was on the field, his performance suffered because of injuries.
If he can stay healthy, he’ll provide a boost.
In free agency, the Bengals added OT Trent Brown. Rookie first-round OT Amarius Mims has tremendous upside.
WR Ja’Marr Chase returns, while WR Tee Higgins is on a franchise tag.
Cincinnati ranked 27th in defensive EPA/play last season, and losing tackle D.J. Reader won’t help the effort to stop the run.
According to Sharp Football, the Bengals have the sixth-easiest schedule, but there are too many unanswered questions for me to invest in their futures.
Browns (8.5 wins)
Kevin Stefanski coached the Browns to an 11-6 record amidst a cascade of injuries and adversity. Cleveland has a projected win total of only 8.5 despite the near impossibility of suffering the same level of injury attrition.
The Browns started five different quarterbacks last year, and if Deshaun Watson can simply provide stability at the position it would go a long way.
The defense was excellent in Jim Schwartz’s first year as coordinator. With 10 of the team’s top 12 defenders returning, there’s little reason to expect a dropoff.
With tons of roster talent and the coaching combination of Stefanski and Schwartz, the Browns offer value at +600 (DraftKings) to win the division.
Steelers (8.5 wins)
The Steelers cleaned house at quarterback in the offseason, trading Kenny Pickett and bringing in Russell Wilson and Justin Fields.
In the draft, they added three potential offensive line starters.
Whether Wilson or Fields is under center, a quality line is critical, as both quarterbacks had little time to throw last season.
Pittsburgh’s defense ranked seventh in EPA/play last year, and T.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Alex Highsmith ensure a high level of play every year.
Pittsburgh has upside in the division if it can figure out the quarterback position under first-year offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.
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AFC North best bet
If I’m betting on one team in the futures market today, it’s a half-unit flier on the Browns to win the division at +600 odds.
Continued elite defensive play and improved consistency at the quarterback position can lead Cleveland to a division title in 2024.
Bet: Browns to win AFC North (+600, DraftKings)