It’s the offseason. A time for trades, signings, releases and rumors.
In the AFC North, it’s the land of tough decisions.
The Baltimore Ravens might have the most extensive group of high-profile free agents in the league. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns are projected to be over the salary cap. The Cincinnati Bengals are the one team with ample cap space, putting them in a good position over the coming months.
But what’s the right move for each team? In some cases, it’s obvious. In other cases, it’s anything but.
So let’s dive into each situation, and look at what we should expect in the AFC North.
Baltimore Ravens
Jessica Rapfogel/USA TODAY Sports
One move they should make: Retain Justin Madubuike at all costs.
The Ravens have a litany of decisions to make, and few will be easy.
This offseason, Baltimore has a slew of players hitting free agency, including Odell Beckham Jr., Kevin Zeitler, Geno Stone, Gus Edwards, J.K. Dobbins, Patrick Queen, Jadeveon Clowney and others. And while losing any of them would be a hit to the AFC North champions, the one player they can’t afford to lose is Madubuike.
After posting 12.5 sacks in a breakout campaign, Madubuike is set to hit the free agent market for an enormous payday. However, the Ravens can use their franchise tag to retain negotiating rights, something that should be a no-brainer for general manager Eric DeCosta.
The only issue? Baltimore is tight against the salary cap with only $7.3 million in projected space. DeCosta will have to be nimble and creative over the coming months to keep the Ravens from suffering a mass exodus.
Cincinnati Bengals
Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer/USA TODAY Network
One move they should make: Use the franchise tag on Tee Higgins.
The Bengals have no excuse to not retain Higgins, even if it’s only to eventually trade him for draft picks.
Cincinnati comes into the offseason with the fourth-most cap space in the league, trailing only the Tennessee Titans, Washington Commanders and New England Patriots. While Joe Burrow signed his massive extension last year, his big money hasn’t kicked in. Ja’Marr Chase is now extension eligible, but also remains cheap.
For GM Duke Tobin, this is an easy call. Higgins struggled through a down season in 2023, posting 42 catches for 656 yards and five touchdowns, but he remains an elite talent. Giving him a tag projected around $20.5 million is smart business. If Higgins isn’t amenable to a long-term deal, Tobin can always trade him, picking up a high pick or two to help replace his talents.
Considering the Bengals’ cap situation, tagging Higgins is the obvious move.
Cleveland Browns
Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports
One move they should make: Extend, trade or release Nick Chubb.
This is the ugly side of the business, but it’s also reality.
Chubb has been one of the league’s best backs over the past six years. Before a gruesome knee injury cut his 2023 campaign short, Chubb had played five seasons and never rushed for fewer than 996 yards, with three campaigns eclipsing 1,250 rushing yards.
However, Chubb has one year left on his deal, counts $15.8 million against the cap for a team already projected over the threshold, and is 28 years old coming off multiple torn ligaments.
If GM Andrew Berry believes in Chubb as a piece for the next two to three years, he should extend the star back at a reasonable number to lower his 2024 cap hit. If Berry believes Chubb might be on the downside, he could try and trade him and his $11.775 million base salary. As a last resort, he could release Chubb and save $11.825 million.
In a perfect world, the Browns could see how Chubb responds from the injury and make a decision in 12 months. But the NFL is far from a perfect world.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Ron Chenoy/USA TODAY Sports
One move they should make: Sign Russell Wilson.
The Steelers are projected to be over the cap, and therefore have some tough decisions ahead. One of the easiest should be signing Wilson once the Denver Broncos decide to release him.
No, Wilson is not the player he once was with the Seattle Seahawks. He’s also not the player we saw in 2022. Last season, Wilson was competent, throwing for 3,070 yards and 26 touchdowns against eight interceptions. At 35 years old, Wilson should be able to help a team, and few playoff-caliber clubs need more help under center than the Steelers.
Furthermore, Pittsburgh can sign Wilson for the veteran’s minimum considering he’s still being paid a fortune by the Broncos, who are likely going to move on before his five-year extension kicks in. The Steelers can add Wilson on a short-term, cheap deal and immediately upgrade over Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph.
