TEAM TO BEAT
. The window appears to be closing in the Steel City as All-Pro QB Ben Roethlisburger (36) nears retirement age and works with a new offensive coordinator, Randy Fitchner. But after 13 wins last season, and having won three of the last four division titles, the AFC North still belongs to Mike Tomlin & Co. until another team takes it from them.
NEW FACES
Baltimore: Safety Morgan Burnett, linebacker Jon Bostic, receiver , receiver . The Ravens passing game should receive an important lift from a pair of proven NFL wideouts.
Cincinnati: Defensive tackle Chris Baker, left tackle Cordy Glenn, quarterback , linebacker Preston Brown. The Bengals replace AJ McCarron with Barkley for their backup QB.
Cleveland: Quarterback , wide receiver , linebacker Mychal Kendricks, running back , defensive back Damarious Randall. Taylor is the likely QB starter in Week 1.
Pittsburgh: Safety Morgan Burnett, linebacker Jon Bostic, running back , defensive back Nat Berhe. Burnett is the biggest splash, but the Steelers kept quiet on the free agency front.
IMPACT ROOKIES
Baltimore: Quarterback Lamar Jackson is the buzz of training camp and might have an opportunity to supplant starter sooner rather than later. Baltimore’s other first-round pick, tight end Hayden Hurst, could be a dynamic pass-catching threat.
Cincinnati: The Bengals used their No. 21 overall pick on Ohio State center Billy Price to help solidify the O-line. Third-rounder , an ultra-aggressive former Texas linebacker, fits the mold for Cincinnati’s defense.
Cleveland: The Browns hope to have added their franchise quarterback, (OU), and cornerback, Denzel Ward (Ohio State), with two of the draftap top-four picks. Quite the burden considering the Browns’ sordid history.
Pittsburgh: The Steelers are hoping the former Oklahoma State duo of quarterback Mason Rudolph and wide receiver James Washington will revive their Stillwater magic in Pittsburgh once the aging Steelers’ guard moves on.
ON THE HOT SEAT
Browns coach Hue Jackson. Even in hapless Cleveland, one win over two seasons just isn’t enough production for job security. Jackson’s leash will be tight, and if either Tyrod Taylor or Baker Mayfield prove incapable of leading a Browns renaissance, then Jackson will likely be out the door by season’s end.
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
1. Pittsburgh: The Steelers should be heavy favorites, but thatap also a knock on the lack of competition within the division.
2. Baltimore: That 2013 Super Bowl seems eons ago with three consecutive seasons missing the playoffs.
3. Cleveland: If the Browns win four games this year, it should be celebrated. Thatap how low the bar is in Cleveland.
4. Cincinnati: Hard to believe that Marvin Lewis is back for a 16th season. Not hard to believe that linebacker Vontaze Burfict will once again start the regular season suspended.
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