A quick look at the AFC North Division in advance of the NFL Scouting Combine, free agency and the NFL Draft:
BALTIMORE RAVENS: The Ravens figured it out on defense eventually as last season progressed, but the plan is to look a lot more like the Ravens traditionally look on defense next season.
Especially as it relates to the front seven.
"That's really something that's going to be a target for us," head coach John Harbaugh told ESPN.com. "The front seven, specific positions and skill sets within the front seven, are going to be really critical."
The Ravens allowed 15.1 points and 268.9 yards over the final 12 games, but they finished 21st in the NFL in allowing 4.39 yards per carry overall in 2019.
Baltimore also finished last in the NFL with nine sacks generated by a four-man rush, per Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com.
Hensley also reported the Ravens lacked a first-round pick among their front seven for the first time in franchise history last season.
They have the cap space and the draft capital to go shopping.
"We know with our scheme and the way that we get attacked, we know the kind of player that we want," Harbaugh said. "So it'll narrow the focus even more, both in free agency and the draft, and we'll try to get two or three guys, maybe four."
Take a look at the best photos from the Week 5 matchup against the Ravens. The Ravens defeated the Steelers 26-23
Kameron Kelly
Mason Rudolph
Bud Dupree
Head Coach Mike Tomlin
Minkah Fitzpatrick
Javon Hargrave
Alejandro Villanueva
Vince Williams
Devlin Hodges
Devlin Hodges
Stephon Tuitt, Cameron Heyward and T.J. Watt
James Conner
Stephon Tuitt
Jayrone Elliott
JuJu Smith-Schuster
Bud Dupree
James Conner
Steven Nelson and Joe Haden
James Conner and Devlin Hodges
Jaylen Samuels
A 2019 regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, October 6, 2019. The Ravens defeated the Steelers in OT, 26-23.
Devlin Hodges
Minkah Fitzpatrick
Tyler Matakevich
Devin Bush
Head Coach Mike Tomlin
Vince Williams and T.J. Watt
Cameron Heyward
T.J. Watt
Devin Bush
Jayrone Elliott
Joe Haden
Devin Hodges and Ben Roethlisberger
Devlin Hodges and James Conner
James Conner
James Conner
Head Coach Mike Tomlin
Johnny Holton
James Washington
Devin Bush, Tyler Matakevich, Vince Williams and Javon Hargrave
Devlin Hodges
T.J. Watt
Devin Bush and Bud Dupree
Vince Williams
Chris Boswell and Jordan Berry
Mike Hilton
Vince Williams
Cameron Heyward
Mason Rudolph
Vince Williams
T.J. Watt, Terrell Edmunds and Mark Barron
Vince Williams
Aaron and Elijah Smith
Jaylen Samuels
Terrell Edmunds
A 2019 regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, October 6, 2019. The Ravens defeated the Steelers in OT, 26-23.
James Conner
Mason Rudolph
Vince Williams and Joe Haden
Diontae Johnson
Mason Rudolph
Kameron Kelly
Mason Rudolph
Mike Hilton
Johnny Holton
Benny Snell Jr.
Benny Snell Jr.
Diontae Johnson
Maurkice Pouncey
Joe Haden and Devin Bush
Kameron Canaday
JuJu Smith-Schuster
Steven Nelson
Justin Layne
A 2019 regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, October 6, 2019. The Ravens defeated the Steelers in OT, 26-23.
Joe Haden
Steven Nelson
JuJu Smith-Schuster
Cameron Heyward, Javon Hargrave and Stephon Tuitt
Tyler Matakevich
Mike Hilton
Terrell Edmunds
Cameron Sutton
Joe Haden
James Conner
Mason Rudolph and James Conner
Benny Snell Jr.
Roosevelt Nix
Jaylen Samuels
Vince Williams
Cameron Heyward
Cameron Heyward
Tyson Alualu
T.J. Watt
Devlin Hodges
Ryan Switzer
T.J. Watt
Artie Burns
T.J. Watt
Jordan Berry
Bud Dupree
Vance McDonald
Kameron Canaday
CINCINNATI BENGALS: The Bengals' offseason direction is beginning to come into focus.
The NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported this week that the team will attempt to trade quarterback Andy Dalton "when the time is right.
"They're not going to do anything that puts him in a bad spot or that he does not agree with going forward," Rapoport added.
Dalton, benched for a three-game stretch in 2019, has one year left on his current contract. His $17.7 million salary for 2020 reportedly isn't guaranteed, which means the Bengals could trade or release him without absorbing a salary cap hit.
Dalton took over at quarterback for the Bengals after they drafted him on the second round (35th overall) in 2011. His 70-61-2 career record as a starter includes a 2-11 showing in 2019.
Cincinnati has the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, which has the Bengals positioned to draft LSU quarterback Joe Burrow if they so desire.
There are other offseason questions to address.
Wide receiver A.J. Green must be either signed to a contract extension or secured via the franchise tag if he's to play in Cincinnati in 2020 after missing the 2019 season (ankle).
And running back Joe Mixon, coming off consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, is entering the final year of his rookie contract, which leaves his long-term future with the organization uncertain.
Take a look at the best photos from the Week 12 matchup against the Bengals. The Steelers defeated the Bengals 16-10
Bud Dupree
Zach Banner
Bud Dupree
Mason Rudolph
Bud Dupree, Anthony Chickillo, Cameron Heyward and Ola Adeniyi
Mark Barron, Cameron Heyward and Terrell Edmunds
Devlin Hodges
Benny Snell Jr.
Devlin Hodges
Zach Banner
Cameron Heyward
A 2019 regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, November 24, 2019. The Steelers defeated the Bengals 16-10.
James Washington
Head Coach Mike Tomlin
A 2019 regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, November 24, 2019. The Steelers defeated the Bengals 16-10.
Benny Snell Jr.
James Washington
Head Coach Mike Tomlin and Ben Roethlisberger
Terrell Edmunds, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Bud Dupree
Benny Snell Jr.
Head Coach Mike Tomlin
Bud Dupree
Mike Hilton
Head Coach Mike Tomlin
Mike Hilton
James Washington
Devlin Hodges
T.J. Watt
Justin Layne
Isaiah Buggs and Mark Barron
Kerrith Whyte
Kameron Canaday
A 2019 regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, November 24, 2019. The Steelers defeated the Bengals 16-10.
Benny Snell Jr.
Ola Adeniyi
Vance McDonald
Jordan Berry
Ben Roethlisberger
Bud Dupree
Devlin Hodges
Tyson Alualu and Mark Barron
Mark Barron, Cameron Heyward and T.J. Watt
Devlin Hodges and Alejandro Villanueva
Head Coach Mike Tomlin
Tevin Jones, James Washington, Vance McDonald, Deon Cain and Benny Snell Jr.
Devlin Hodges
Ben Roethlisberger
Benny Snell Jr.
James Washington
Cameron Heyward
Mike Hilton
James Washington
Devlin Hodges
Bud Dupree
A 2019 regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, November 24, 2019. The Steelers defeated the Bengals 16-10.
Mason Rudolph
Benny Snell Jr.
Minkah Fitzpatrick
Jordan Berry
Alejandro Villanueva
A 2019 regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, November 24, 2019. The Steelers defeated the Bengals 16-10.
Bud Dupree, Anthony Chickillo and Ola Adeniyi
Head Coach Mike Tomlin
Justin Layne, Steven Nelson and Terrell Edmunds
Tevin Jones
Kameron Canaday and B.J. Finney
Benny Snell Jr.
Chris Boswell
Cameron Heyward and Javon Hargrave
William Gay
Trey Edmunds
Joe Haden
Cameron Heyward
B.J. Finney
Deon Cain
Justin Layne
T.J. Watt
Ramon Foster
Minkah Fitzpatrick
Mark Barron and Terrell Edmunds
Steven Nelson and Mark Barron
Mark Barron
Ben Roethlisberger
A 2019 regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, November 24, 2019. The Steelers defeated the Bengals 16-10.
Bud Dupree
Nick Vannett
Mark Barron
T.J. Watt
Kerrith Whyte
Steven Nelson
Devin Bush
T.J. Watt
Cameron Heyward and Terrell Edmunds
Alejandro Villanueva
Isaiah Buggs
Isaiah Buggs, Daniel McCullers and Cameron Heyward
T.J. Watt
Devin Bush
Joe Haden
Minkah Fitzpatrick, Javon Hargrave and Bud Dupree
T.J. Watt
Bud Dupree, Devin Bush, Javon Hargrave and T.J. Watt
Head Coach Mike Tomlin
Cameron Heyward
Mark Barron
Mason Rudolph
Kameron Kelly
Javon Hargrave
Mason Rudolph
Cameron Sutton
T.J. Watt
CLEVELAND BROWNS: The Browns have made Andrew Berry, 32, the youngest general manager in NFL history (per The Athletic).
One of the first orders of business was to clarify the organization's position on analytics.
Berry emphasized Cleveland would have a "scouting-centered front office.
"We also are going to incorporate information, research and insights into our decision making," Berry said. "We would be silly not to push on every area that can give us a competitive advantage make decisions."
Berry added the Browns "are not going to be defined by one approach or one area. Anywhere that we can gain an advantage on our competitors, we are going to really put the pedal to the floor.
"If there's anything that I want to be defined by it's aggression. We want to aggressively acquire talent because that is the name of the game from an NFL front office perspective, and we are going to explore every avenue that enables us to do that."
Take a look at the best photos from the Week 13 matchup against the Browns. The Steelers defeated the Browns 20-13
Alejandro Villanueva
Benny Snell Jr.
Devlin Hodges
Joe Haden
A 2019 regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, December 1, 2019. The Steelers defeated the Browns 20-13.
Bud Dupree, Cameron Heyward, Javon Hargrave and T.J. Watt
Nick Vannett
Matt Feiler, Devlin Hodges and David DeCastro
Javon Hargrave
Jordan Berry
A 2019 regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, December 1, 2019. The Steelers defeated the Browns 20-13.
A 2019 regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, December 1, 2019. The Steelers defeated the Browns 20-13.
Benny Snell Jr.
Matt Feiler, David DeCastro, B.J. Finney, Ramon Foster and Alejandro Villanueva
Johnny Holton
Devlin Hodges
Vance McDonald
A 2019 regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, December 1, 2019. The Steelers defeated the Browns 20-13.
Devlin Hodges
Vance McDonald, David DeCastro and Ramon Foster
Javon Hargrave and Tyson Alualu
Mike Hilton
Head Coach Mike Tomlin
Javon Hargrave
Vance McDonald
Bud Dupree and Cameron Heyward
A 2019 regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, December 1, 2019. The Steelers defeated the Browns 20-13.
Cameron Sutton
A 2019 regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, December 1, 2019. The Steelers defeated the Browns 20-13.
Cameron Sutton, T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree
Benny Snell Jr. and Devlin Hodges
Head Coach Mike Tomlin
Devlin Hodges
Devlin Hodges
Bud Dupree, Cameron Heyward and Joe Haden
Joe Haden and Bud Dupree
Benny Snell Jr.
Minkah Fitzpatrick and Cameron Heyward
Bud Dupree, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Vince Williams
Bud Dupree and Terrell Edmunds
Bud Dupree, Cameron Heyward, Javon Hargrave, Vince Williams and Tyson Alualu
Mike Hilton
Bud Dupree
James Washington
Benny Snell Jr.
Cameron Heyward and Vince McDonald
Benny Snell Jr., Trey Edmunds and Zach Banner
Benny Snell Jr.
Chris Boswell and Jordan Berry
Jaylen Samuels
Benny Snell Jr.
Cameron Sutton
David DeCastro
James Washington
Matt Feiler
James Washington and Deon Cain
Jaylen Samuels
Jaylen Samuels
Terrell Edmunds
Alejandro Villanueva
Devlin Hodges
Tevin Jones
Cameron Heyward
James Washington
Kerrith Whyte
Vince Williams
Johnny Holton
Terrell Edmunds and T.J. Watt
Chris Boswell and Jordan Berry
James Washington, Vance McDonald and Devlin Hodges
James Washington
Cameron Heyward
Kameron Kelly
Cameron Heyward and Bud Dupree
Devlin Hodges
T.J. Watt
James Washington
Devlin Hodges
Minkah Fitzpatrick
Devin Bush
Jaylen Samuels
Joe Haden
Javon Hargrave
Steven Nelson
Devlin Hodges
Cameron Heyward and T.J. Watt
T.J. Watt
Benny Snell Jr.
T.J. Watt and Mark Barron
Devin Bush, Mike Hilton and Terrell Edmunds
A 2019 regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, December 1, 2019. The Steelers defeated the Browns 20-13.
B.J. Finney
A 2019 regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, December 1, 2019. The Steelers defeated the Browns 20-13.
Vince Williams
T.J. Watt
Kerrith Whyte
Vance McDonald
Devlin Hodges
T.J. Watt
Joe Haden
Joe Haden
Steven Nelson, Vince Williams and Bud Dupree
Cameron Heyward
Devlin Hodges
Anthony Chickillo
Devin Bush
T.J. Watt
Devlin Hodges
T.J. Watt
Kerrith Whyte
Kerrith Whyte
Jaylen Samuels
James Conner
Tyson Alualu, Devin Bush and T.J. Watt
James Washington
T.J. Watt and Terrell Edmunds
