The Browns came away with the strongest class in the division, the Ravens added real help on both lines and at receiver, the Bengals may look better with time, and the Steelers had some moments Sportsvival liked but also a few spots where the value felt shaky.
Sportsvival is staying in the AFC and moving to the North. This division had a little bit of everything, teams chasing immediate starters, teams betting on upside, and teams trying to maximize smaller draft hauls. Some clubs hit premium spots early, while others had to be more selective and hope development turns solid classes into better ones down the road.
Baltimore Ravens, Final Grade: B+
1-14, Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State
2-45, Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri
3-80, Ja'Kobi Lane, WR, USC
4-115, Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana
-133, Matthew Hibner, TE, SMU
5-162, Chandler Rivers, CB, Duke
5-173, Josh Cuevas, TE, Alabama
5-174, Adam Randall, RB, Clemson
6-211, Ryan Eckley, P, Michigan State
7-250, Bilhal Kone, DT, Rayshaun Benny, Michigan
7-253, Evan Beerntsen, G, Northwestern
The Ravens grabbed a starting guard on day one with Ioane, and that gave this class a strong foundation right away. Sportsvival likes that pick a lot because Baltimore added a player who looks capable of helping early, not just down the road. Zion Young is also the kind of selection that could pay off in a big way, and Sportsvival sees him as a future impact player even if there is still some polish needed in his overall rush plan.
Baltimore also did a good job adding to the receiver room. Ja'Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt should be nice additions there, giving the Ravens more size and ball skills on the outside. This is not a flashy class from top to bottom, but it is a useful class, and Sportsvival likes the mix of immediate help and developmental upside enough to hand Baltimore a B+.
Cincinnati Bengals, Final Grade: C+
2-41, Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
3-72, Tacario Davis, CB, Washington
4-128, Connor Lew, C, Auburn
4-140, Colbie Young, WR, Georgia
6-189, Brian Parker II, C, Duke
7-221, Jack Endries, TE, Texas.
7-226, Landon Robinson, DT, Navy
The Bengals are a team that did well with fewer picks. Cincinnati did not have the same volume as some of the other AFC North teams, so this class was always going to depend on making the most of limited shots. Cashius Howell and Tacario Davis address important areas, and Connor Lew has the kind of profile that could prove useful if he settles in and develops the right way.
Sportsvival still sees this as more of a patient class than an instant-impact one. There is some reason to like the direction, but there is also a lot riding on development. The Bengals absolutely have the potential to have a better grade after a couple of years if a few of these players hit, but right now this feels more like a C+ than anything higher.
Cleveland Browns, Final Grade: A
1-9, Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
1-24, KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
2-39, Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
2-58, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, SAF, Toledo
3-86, Austin Barber, OT, Florida
5-146, Parker Brailsford, C, Alabama
5-149, Justin Jefferson, LB, Alabama
5-170, Joe Royer, TE, Cincinnati
6-182, Taylen Green, QB, Arkansas
7-248, Carsen Ryan, TE, BYU.
Cleveland added starters, and that is a big reason Sportsvival has the Browns on top in this division. Spencer Fano has a real chance to become an answer on the offensive line, and KC Concepcion helps a receiving corps that badly needed more life. Adding Denzel Boston on top of that only strengthens the point, Cleveland improved its receiving corps and gave itself multiple new pieces that can help a young offense.
Sportsvival also thinks Parker Brailsford, Justin Jefferson and Taylen Green are prospects worth keeping an eye on. Brailsford brings toughness and movement skills inside, Jefferson offers useful athletic traits at linebacker, and Green is the kind of late quarterback gamble that can become interesting if the coaching staff can settle his game down. This class attacked needs, added depth, and brought in players who could grow into major roles. That is why the Browns get an A.
Pittsburgh Steelers, Final Grade: C+
1-21, Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
2-47, Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
3-76, Drew Allar, QB, Penn State
3-85, Daylen Everette, CB, Georgia
3-96, Gennings Dunker, G, Iowa
4-121, Kaden Wetjen, WR, Iowa
5-169, Riley Nowakowski, TE, Indiana
6-210, Gabe Rubio, DE, Notre Dame
7-224, Robert Spears-Jennings, S, Oklahoma
7-230, Eli Heidenreich, RB/WR, Navy
Sportsvival understands what Pittsburgh was trying to do. Max Iheanachor gives them another first-round investment on the offensive line, and with the injury to Broderick Jones plus the lingering questions on that unit, the pick makes sense from a roster-building standpoint. Germie Bernard was a solid addition at receiver, and Gennings Dunker feels like a very Pittsburgh-type pick because of his physical style and interior fit. He has the kind of tone-setting game Steelers fans usually appreciate.
Still, this class had some reaches and left some talent on the board. Drew Allar is an interesting gamble, but one with real questions, and there are several picks here that feel more projection-based than sure-value selections. Sportsvival likes parts of the haul, especially the effort to address the line and add competition at multiple spots, but the overall return lands at a C+ because Pittsburgh did not consistently maximize the board.
Sportsvival’s AFC North takeaway is pretty simple. Cleveland looks like the division winner from draft weekend, Baltimore added sturdy pieces with upside, Cincinnati may need time before the full class is properly appreciated, and Pittsburgh had a few on-brand selections but still feels like a team that could have done more.