Earlier this week, Pro Football Focus’ Thomas Valentine released a ranking of every division by strength in the NFL entering the 2024 season cycle. Unsurprisingly, the AFC North topped the list after featuring three playoff teams in 2023: the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Ravens won the division handedly last year and earned the AFC’s No. 1 overall seed with a 13-4 record in the regular season. Behind them were the Browns (11-6) and Steelers (10-7) who each won double-digit games as well. The Cincinnati Bengals rounded out the group in fourth place but also finished above .500 with a 9-8 record.
Despite this historic-level success from the division as a whole, Valentine is projecting the foursome could be even better this upcoming season.
“The AFC North was projected as the strongest division in 2023, and despite some ups and downs, the stark reality is that this is more than likely the strongest division again heading into 2024,” Valentine wrote.
The reigning division champions suffered a number of losses in free agency earlier this offseason, which has led many to already predict they’ll take a step back in 2024. However, Valentine is not on board with this notion.
“Armed with returning talent and some defensive reinforcements, including Kyle Van Noy and first-round pick Nate Wiggins, the Ravens will run it back as one of the best teams in the NFL,” Valentine proclaimed.
The biggest difference in 2023 from the previous two years prior was the decline of the Bengals, who won the AFC North in both 2021 and 2022. They were not able to overcome the loss of starting quarterback Joe Burrow, but his return in 2024 has many believing the Bengals will bounce back — including Valentine.
“Joe Burrow missed a large chunk of last season but earned successive 90.0-plus grades in 2021 and 2022,” Valentine noted. “With a strengthened offensive line and the returning Burrow, the Bengals will resume their role as players in the AFC.”
Valentine did not elaborate as much on the division’s other two teams, the Browns and Steelers. However, he noted the strength of the Browns’ defense as a top-five unit in 2023 led by reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett. Garrett finished the season with the best PFF grade (94.0) of any player in the league.
As for the Steelers, the performance they receive from the quarterback position will be a decisive factor in their success in 2024. The Steelers signed veteran Russell Wilson in free agency to be their projected new starting signal-caller.
“If Wilson can improve his 72.5 passing grade from a year ago in the new offense, the Steelers will continue their run of being perennial playoff hopefuls,” Valentine proclaimed.
Pittsburgh also made a trade for former first-round pick Justin Fields, taking him off the hands of the Chicago Bears. Fields will likely be hot on the heels of Wilson throughout the season vying for a chance to usurp him as the team’s starting quarterback.
While there a number of talented divisions across the league and some that are much improved so far this calendar year, it’s hard to argue against the strength of the AFC North. To Valentine’s point, the division is good enough to potentially feature three postseason teams again this upcoming season, which could be a rare feat.
That could be a tougher task this year, though, as the Steelers, Browns, and Ravens each rank in the Top-4 of most difficult strength of schedules for 2024. Nevertheless, from top to bottom on both sides of the ball, the AFC North is currently the cream of the crop in the NFL.