Cincinnati Bengals: 4 way too early predictions for the AFC North

The AFC North was the Baltimore Ravens and everyone else last season. With the Cincinnati Bengals eying Joe Burrow with the first pick, they stand to get better. As for the rest of the division, top to bottom could look different in 2020.

With Super Bowl LIV in the books, NFL fans can begin to look forward to the NFL Combine, free agency, and of course, the 2020 NFL Draft. For the Cincinnati Bengals, it’s about the first pick and LSU quarterback Joe Burrow.

If the status quo holds, and Cincinnati selects Burrow first overall, how much does it really move the needle for the Bengals in the AFC North? The division, which was beleaguered by injuries in Pittsburgh, a failed and vastly overrated Cleveland Browns, and a 2-14 Bengals team who was bad enough to lock up the opportunity to draft a Heisman winning quarterback.

Oh, and one more thing, it’s hard to imagine the Baltimore Ravens slipping. At least no so long as MVP Lamar Jackson is at quarterback.

It’s reasonable to believe the North is better in 2020. With Ben Roethlisberger due back from injury, the Steelers should be a legitimate challenge to Baltimore. More curious is how much better, or worse, will Cleveland be after dumping one-year disaster Freddie Kitchens. As for the Bengals, is 2-14 closer to who they are, or can drafting a quarterback move them to at least the middle of the pack.

The AFC North is going to be better, but who wins the division, who makes a dramatic move up the win total, and who crashes and burns is interesting to consider. Especially in early February.