AFC North 2024 NFL Draft recap
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Penn State DE Adisa Issac had a dominant game against Michigan State, totaling seven tackles, a QB sack and 1.5 tackles for losses. He was drafted in the third round by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2024 NFL Draft.
In the AFC North‘s draft recap, we begin with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The team has been extremely active this offseason, but lost a number of players in free agency. However, once the draft began, the Steelers went after grit, tenacity and physicality. Its first round pick can play multiple offensive line spots. Meanwhile, its second-rounder knows about the region from the “Backyard Brawl.” Roman will look to reign in his role as the team’s third wideout. But don’t sleep on the linebacker with 1970s Steelers vibes at the position. Or the fifth-rounder who was an integral part of back-to-back Top 10 defenses nationally.
Baltimore Ravens
In the rest of the AFC North’s draft, the Ravens grabbed an athlete in Round 1. Can he live up to the team’s standard in run support? Its second-round pick helped protect the blindside for Falcons eighth overall pick Michael Penix.
It didn’t stop there. Pressure is important with the quarterbacks in the AFC North. The team’s edge rushers they’ve drafted over the last two years are on notice. The Ravens needed to grab depth along the offensive line and did so in the sixth round.
Cincinnati Bengals
How would the Bengals attack the draft? It started with a rare athlete at offensive tackle and took a defender with NFL bloodlines in the second. They’ve yet to re-sign veteran third wideout Tyler Boyd. Did they find a former Georgia and Crimson Tide wideout to fill the void?
The loss of DJ Reader in free agency necessitated attacking that position again in Round 3. Can its fourth-round pick stay healthy? In the fifth round, the Bengals continued to enhance its impressive secondary depth. A potential sleeper at tight end in the sixth round was followed by a consistent SEC defensive end. Both seventh-round picks were productive multi-year starters who transferred successfully to the Power Four.
Cleveland Browns
Cleveland didn’t have a high number of picks. Diligent decision-making would be key. In the second round, did they find a collegian who could become a better pro? He often battled draft classmate and the team’s third-round pick in school. A potential fifth-round sleeper could challenge David Bell for playing time.
How many players were more productive than its sixth-rounder? He fits in the AFC North. Its first seventh-round pick has a long trek to making the roster at a deep position. The second seventh-rounder was one of the strongest players in the draft.
| 2024 NFL Draft Recap, AFC North | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers | ||||
| Selection | Player Selection | Position- School | Nasty’ Take: | Value (1-5): |
| 1 (20) | Troy Fautanu | 6’4 313 OG/OT-Washington | One of the better players in the entire draft among offensive linemen, Fautanu excels with foot quickness and movement skills. Gets into position on the outside to knock down then hands of rushers (2nd QTR/13:35, UCLA ’22). There have been issues vs. tenacious rushers (Holding call, Latu, UCLA ’22). He often wins hands fights with placement early in the down. | 5 |
| 2 (51) | Zach Frazier | 6’3 313 IOL-West Virginia | The Campbell Trophy finalist started 45 games in his career and was always available…. until late in his career. Plays low with leverage and wins a number of brawls in the briar patch. | 4.5 |
| 3 (84) | Roman Wilson | 5’11 185 WR-Michigan | The Wolverines most fleet-footed receiver, was consistently effective after the catch. He is adept in motion or when working from the slot. He scored twice in the 2023 CFP Semifinal, and had a third score that was turned away on a controversial call. | 4 |
| 3 (98) from Eagles | Payton Wilson | 6’4 234 LB-NC State | The ACC’s fastest LB often looks like he’s been sped up on video. But there is no artificial intelligence in play here. Wilson plays with relentless passion. The health concerns involve both a knee and shoulder. Concerning trends entering the league. | 4.5 |
| 4 (119) | Mason McCormick | 6'4 309 OG-South Dakota State | McCormick started 57 straight games in college to close his career and was one of the best pulling guards in the draft. Pass protection has to be a focus when it comes to mirroring inside consistently. | 4.25 |
| 6 (178) from Cardinals through Panthers | Logan Lee | 6’5 281 DE-DT Iowa | Gets out of the stack to track ballcarriers after executing stunts (1st QTR, Music City Bowl ’22). Strong enough to fight through double teams on occasion. Lee’s impressive postseason likely secured a Day 3 selection. | 4 |
| 6 (195) | Ryan Watts | 6'3 208 DB-Texas, Ohio State | Watts has all of the tools to become a core special teams contributor for the Steelers. He handled some difficult tasks the last couple of years after settling in as a Buckeye transfer. Rare length for any defensive back position (82 1/8” wingspan). | 4 |
| Notable UDFA signing: | Jacoby Windmon | 6'1 235 LB-Michigan State, UNLV | Somewhat of a forgotten man after a four-sack performance against Western Michigan in 2022, Windmon has dealt with injuries. But his production goes back to his days as a Rebel, where he posted 12 QB sacks and a 119-tackle effort off the ball in 2021. | |
| Draft Grade: | 4.32 | |||
| Baltimore Ravens | ||||
| Selection | Player Selection | Position- School | Nasty’ Take: | Value (1-5) based on DN Big Board Rank and our grade: |
| 1 (30) | Nate Wiggins | 6’1 173 CB-Clemson | The draft’s fastest corner plays with confidence and doesn’t lose it once beaten (see Miami, Fla ’23). His ability to track the ball down the field is underrated. Wiggins needs to tackle with more consistency to ensure teams don’t attack him in the run game. | 4.5 |
| 2 (62) | Roger Rosengarten | 6’5 308 RT-Washington | Rosengarten has the movement to play either tackle spot and competed favorably against a variety of rushers in the Pac-12. That experience showed itself on game day in the 2024 Senior Bowl. Anchoring with more consistency has to be a focus. | 4 |
| 3 (93) | Adisa Isaac | 6’4 247 DE-Penn State | While teammate Chop Robinson secured the first-round spot, it was Isaac who was the Nittany Lions most consistent defensive end. Setting the edge was thought to be a weakness. But he showed during the postseason that it could become a relative strength in his game. | 4.5 |
| 4 (113) from Broncos through Jets | Devontez Walker | 6'1 1/2" 193 WR-UNC, Kent State | He was a deep threat artist in the MAC but was forced to sit out the season’s first four games after transferring to UNC. After he began to play, his speed opened up the offense, but drops were an issue that Walker has to clean up. | 4 |
| 4 (130) | T.J. Tampa | 6’1 191 CB-Iowa State | It’s no surprise that Tampa became a target of the Ravens. He often targeted opposing WRs with the thump of a safety playing at the cornerback spot. He transfers leverage in man coverage instinctively and plays with activity on the perimeter. | 4 |
| 5 (165) | Rasheen Ali | 5'11 206 RB-Marshall | Ali’s agility is unquestioned and the long burst is real once he gets into the open field. A 2022 injury put a damper on a 26-touchdown campaign in 2021. During that season, few defenders could track him down in the open field. | 5 |
| 6 (218) from NY Jets | Devin Leary | 6'1 215 QB-Kentucky, NC State | It is debatable if Leary ever regained his 2021-form, when he found a legitimate chemistry with a number of Wolfpack receivers. There is a bit of a longer delivery in place that he has shortened over the last three seasons. Can serve as a viable backup if given time to develop? | 4 |
| 7 (228) from Jets | Nick Samac | 6’4 307 OG-Michigan State | Samac plays through the whistle while running his feet (2nd and 5, 2nd QTR/14:55, Maryland ’22). Executes slip blocks well getting up to the second level. Overaggressiveness has been an issue on occasion. He can play any of three interior line spots. | 4 |
| 7 (250) | Sanoussi Kane | 6'0 215 S-Purdue | Frequently seen tracking plays down from the inside-out, Kane projects as a definitive core special teams demon. This is the type of seventh-round pick who could play on all four special teams as a rookie for special team coach Chris Horton. | 3.5 |
| Notable UDFA: | Beau Brade | 6’0 203 DB-Maryland | How many people would have predicted four months ago that Kane would have gone before Brade? Brade led the Terrapins in tackles in each of the last two seasons and can fill a multitude of roles. Postseason workouts hurt his final charge, but his 6.89 clocking in the 3-cone drill tells more of the story. | |
| Draft Grade: | 4.17 | |||
| Cincinnati Bengals | ||||
| Selection | Player Selection | Position- School | Nasty’ Take: | |
| 1 (18) | Amarius Mims | 6’7 1/2” 340 OT-Georgia | One of the biggest offensive tackles in the draft, Mims’ upside ensures that the Bengals will do their best to keep Joe Burrow upright. Can he pick up a variance of line games and how much will experience cripple him early? | 4 |
| 2 (49) | Kris Jenkins | 6’3 299 DT-Michigan | The Bengals need a player who can win at the three-technique DT spot and Jenkins has shown flashes. His statistical production has been erratic, but his overall play speed is above average. | 4.5 |
| 3 (80) | Jermaine Burton | 6’0 196 WR-Alabama, Georgia | Burton never got mentioned among the top receivers in this year’s draft simply because he was more steady than flashy. Nevertheless, he averaged at least 15 yards per catch in each of his four seasons between the SEC’s two top programs. And, perhaps more importantly, he was Bryce Young’s No. 1 target during his final season at Alabama. | 4.25 |
| 3 (97) | McKinnley Jackson | 6’1 1/2” 326 DT-Texas A&M | There were times that Jackson flashed the potential of becoming a dominant player early (see Orange Bowl ’21), and those moments continued thereafter. But he needs to understand that the more bodies he takes up, the more playing time he’ll receive. | 4 |
| 4 (115) | Erick All | 6’5 252 TE-Iowa, Michigan | All contains all of the factors that teams look for. He’s smart, aware, runs well after the catch and has soft hands. Few tight ends offer the package of All as a move guy or in-line tight end. He has all of the tools, but a back injury ended his 2021 campaign and an ACL took away most of 2023 after a hot start. | 3.75 |
| 5 (149) | Josh Newton | 5’11 190 CB-TCU, ULM | One of the most competitive CBs in the draft, Newton’s field speed more than covers the criteria for an outside corner. The former college WR can find the ball in the air late in the down and the tackling is sufficient. He’ll add depth to a Bengals secondary that continues to get better. | 5 |
| 6 (194) | Tanner McLachlan | 6'5 245 TE-Arizona, Southern Utah | Also a sixth-round pick in the CFL Draft, McLaughlin’s game went to another level at Arizona after playing for the Thunderbirds. He shows good run after the catch skill on routes that cross the field. | 3.75 |
| 6 (214) | Cedric Johnson | 6'4 260 DE-Ole Miss | Johnson wins with quickness slanting inside and dipping his shoulder (QBH, 2nd QTR/6:49, Mississippi State ’22). OTs will turn him on the backside of run action away. On game day in the 2024 Senior Bowl, he set the edge. A consistent performer, Johnson had at three sacks in every season and finished with 19 sacks. | 4 |
| 7 (224) | Daijahn Anthony | 6'0 191 S/CB-Ole Miss, Liberty | At Liberty as a CB, Anthony exhibited zone underneath awareness and positive bail-and-run techniques (vs. Palmer, 2nd QTR, UAB ’21). The 195-pounder can match bigger TEs by using sufficient catch-man techniques (East-West Shrine ’24). Anthony offers options on special teams, safety and nickel back. | 4 |
| 7 (237) | Matt Lee | 6'4 300 OC-Miami (Fla.), UCF | Miami (Fla.) asked Lee to make tough blocks releasing in the screen game. He also is capable puller from the OC spot. The UCF transfer needs continued work in pass protection. Bigger zero-technique INTs keep their feet centered if no double team (2nd QTR/8:02, Temple ’21). | 4 |
| Notable UDFA signings: | Justin Blazek | 6'3 252 DE-Wisconsin-Platteville | The Division III All-American finished his career with 37 tackles for losses and broke up six passes in 2023. The broad-shouldered DE may have a shot to make the team’s practice squad. The lower body quickness is sufficient but he has to get stronger at the point of attack. | |
| Aaron Casey | 6'1 231 LB-Indiana | He only runs in the 4.7-range and coverage is a question mark. But Casey was one of the Big Ten’s best LBs when it came to finishing plays beyond the line of scrimmage (6.5 QB sacks, 20 TFLs). Casey operated well during the 2024 East-West Shrine Bowl.. | ||
| Draft Grade: | 4.13 | |||
| Cleveland Browns | ||||
| Selection | Player Selection | Position- School | Nasty’ Take: | |
| 2 (54) | Michael Hall, Jr. | 6’3 290 DT-Ohio State | Hall, Jr. was one of the most recognizable figures down the stretch for the Buckeyes. His quickness and slippery nature offer the Browns options in one-on-one situations. How will his size translate in a physical division. It was not a problem in school. After winning early in the down (see below vs Zinter) he’s left sacks on the field. | 4.25 |
| 3 (85) | Zak Zinter | 6’6 309 OG-Michigan | Despite a leg injury suffered late in the year, Zinter’s value never waned. He pulled quite a bit from right-to-left in their gap-schemed run attack. His base will get a little wide in pass pro (1st QTR/5:00, Iowa ’22). And he actually over-set vs. new teammate Michael Hall, Jr. in his final career game (2nd QTR/5:22, Ohio State ’23). Twice, his blocks opened up huge TDs for Donovan Edwards in 2022 (3rd QTR, Penn State ’22; 4th QTR/3:40, Ohio St. ’22). | 4 |
| 5 (156) | Jamari Thrash | 5’11 185 WR-Louisville, Georgia State | A route-runner with body control, Thrash rolls speed cuts because he drops his weight effortlessly. Started fast at Louisville before fading late. Dominant near the end of tenure at Georgia State. | 4.25 |
| 6 (206) | Nathaniel Watson | 6’2 240 LB-Mississippi State | Watson -one of the best LBs in the 2024 Senior Bowl on game day- overcomes lower body stiffness with play speed and anticipation. This flashes in some of his curl-hook drops. The SEC’s leading tackler ended his career with back-to-back 21-tackle performances. | 4 |
| 7 (227) | Myles Harden | 5’11 195 CB-South Dakota | Harden’s short-area quickness allows him to stay in-phase with WRs on intermediate routes. Not a particularly long CB, his skill-set projects to the inside nickel spot. At that position, his tackling capability could shine. It will be a long path to making the roster with Greg Newsome II and Cameron Mitchell already in tow. | 4 |
| 7 (243) | Jowon Briggs | 6'2 293 DT-Cincinnati, Virginia | A productive player in the ACC before transferring to Cincinnati, Briggs’ punch shocks OL off he snap. Strong enough to control the OC at the zero-technique NG (2nd QTR/9:12, UCF ’22). HIs lateral movement shows itself tracking outside runs (2nd QTR, ECU ’22). 39 bench press reps at 225 lbs. | 4 |
| Notable UDFA: | Javion Cohen | 6'4 324 OG-Alabama, Miami (Fla.) | False starts were an occasional issue in school back in 2021. He played well enough at Miami (Fla.) to get attention late in the draft. Improved passing off stunts as his career went along but it is still a needed area of improvement. The former four-star recruit moves bodies in the run game. That could be his key to making it. | |
| Draft Grade: | 4.08 |
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