While the Cleveland Browns will certainly be adjusting their roster between now and September, it’s safe to say that the foundation is set for the 2023 season, especially since they won’t have a pick in the first or second round of this year’s draft.
Browns fans got a glimpse of Deshaun Watson in 2022, but I really don’t think that is the version we will see in 2023. Remember, the Browns were all but out of the playoffs and he hadn’t played in over a year and a half. They may say it’s like riding a bike, but being an NFL quarterback is not an easy job.
Not only is the roster tailored to Watson, but Andrew Berry also made some improvements on defense that should take some pressure off Kevin Stefanski and the offense. Let’s dive deeper into the AFC North and rank the four quarterbacks.
AFC North Quarterback power ranking No. 4 – Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh Steelers
After two decades of Ben Roethlisberger, it’s nice to see the Steelers No. 4 on this list with their second-year starter Kenny Pickett. And as much as I’d love Pittsburgh to finish in the basement of the division, Pickett showed some signs of being a legitimate NFL quarterback at the end of last season.
Pickett started in 12 games as a rookie going 7-5 with a 63 percent completion rate and seven touchdowns along with nine interceptions. Turnovers were a huge issue early in the season, but he did settle in nicely.
The Steelers will always be competitive with Mike Tomlin as their head coach, but I still think this organization is on the decline. They couldn’t add any big-name free agents, and Pickett won’t have the firepower to pick this team up in 2023.
AFC North Quarterback power ranking No. 3 – Tyler Huntley, Baltimore Ravens
I get it, there is still a good chance that Lamar Jackson is the starting quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens in 2023, but either way, I have the Ravens with the third-best quarterback in the AFC North next year.
Yes, Jackson is still a superior athlete to Tyler Huntley, but I’m not sold there was a huge drop-off once Jackson got hurt last year. And with a full offseason to prepare I am starting to understand why the Ravens aren’t willing to back the truck up to Jackson for a long-term deal.
Baltimore continues to be a strange team. They don’t want to pay Jackson, yet they gave up first-round picks for Roquan Smith and recently signed Odell Beckham to a deal worth up to $18 million. It’s not that they are trying to rebuild, but there are some question marks on where they have decided to add talent.
Huntley was 2-2 as a starter in 2022, but he certainly had some electric plays and went against some stiff competition. He isn’t a guy that will consistently light you up for 400 yards plus of passing in a game, but he knows how to win.
Right now, Huntley’s athleticism gives him an edge over Pickett. If the season starts this way, I would say there is a decent gap between No. 3 and No. 2 on this list, but if Jackson is back that gap certainly narrows.
AFC North Quarterback power ranking No. 2 – Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns
Right now, everyone is looking at the Cleveland Browns like they may have made a mistake on Deshaun Watson. They gave up three first-round picks along with three other picks to acquire Watson, and what they got was less than stellar in his first six games as a Brown.
While the 58 percent completion rate and seven touchdowns to five interceptions won’t blow you away, he did go 3-3 in six starts. I know we all expect much bigger things, but 500 as a starter is impressive compared to what Cleveland has had in the past.
Watson was not only shaking off quite a bit of rust last season, but this roster also wasn’t that great on offense either. The offensive line struggled in pass protection and the play at wide receiver wasn’t always elite with a huge gap at the no. 3 spot.
Not only have the Browns made a trade for Elijah Moore, but they also signed Jordan Akins who has a ton of potential as a pass catcher in the NFL.
What really separates Watson from a guy like Huntley or Jackson, he can beat you with both his arm and legs. Not only is he an elite thrower, but he also has the athleticism to make the big plays. I know Jackson can run like crazy, but he still struggles in the pocket.
With a full offseason and all his off-field issues behind him, I expect a fantastic 2023 season from Watson and him solidifying himself as the second-best quarterback in the AFC North.
AFC North Quarterback power ranking No. 1 – Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
Even though the Cleveland Browns have had the number of Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals over his first three seasons in the NFL, I would make the argument that he is the second-best quarterback in the league behind Patrick Mahomes.
Burrow was injured as a rookie, but in his last two full seasons has gone 22-10 as the starter and took the Bengals to the Super Bowl in 2021, and AFC Championship in 2022. They certainly have some talent on the roster, but Burrow is a once-in-a-generation quarterback that makes everyone around him better.
There is some good news for the Browns — Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase are nearing the end of their rookie deals, and the Bengals are going to have to shell out some money which means there will have to be some cuts in other places on this roster. But for 2023 they still look to be a major contender for the AFC North and potentially another Super Bowl run.
There's no doubt that Burrow can sit in the pocket and pick a team apart, but he is also extremely athletic and can run when needed as well. He isn’t a run-first quarterback, but when things break down, he can nail you for a huge run just when you think you’ll get off the field.
The Bengals have continued to retain talent on offense, but one could argue their defense won’t be as good in 2023 as it was in 2022 or 2021. We will see if Burrow can carry this team even if the defense struggles.