The AFC North is always a bloodbath, but this upcoming season feels like the intensity has ratcheted up a notch. Outside of Baltimore, every team in the division is desperate to prove others wrong and put to bed a lot of narratives from the outside. The Steelers are going all in on the Aaron Rodgers experience, loading the team with veteran talent in hopes of making it past the Wild Card round. The Bengals have so many questions on the defensive side of the ball, but an offense with the most dangerous QB-WR combo in the sport can make anything work. Then there’s Cleveland, who has one foot in 2025 and another in the 2026 draft class.
How can these breakout players help each team hit their goals? Check it out below.
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens: CB Nate Wiggins
This exercise is trying to stay away from former first rounders, but this one is obvious. Wiggins showed flashes in his rookie campaign, leading the Ravens in passes defended and finishing 17th among all defenders in EPA per target (min. 30 targets). Wiggins is sticky in coverage but if he can turn those PBUs into interceptions, he could take a big leap in 2025. He only had one interception last year, but outside of that production he has all the tools to win on the outside in Baltimore.
Cincinnati Bengals: CB DJ Turner
Choosing a breakout player for a Bengals team that needs SOMEONE on defense to step up might be a bit difficult, but I can’t help watching their defense and thinking that Turner is very close to becoming something special. He was second on the Bengals in PBUs, but was first among all high volume defenders in EPA per target. His athleticism really stands out in coverage, but in Al Golden’s man-heavy scheme it could get highlighted even more.
Cleveland Browns: WR Cedric Tillman
The Browns need anyone to step up at receiver next to Jerry Jeudy, and it feels like Tillman has the inside track for that. His work has been limited at times due to the fact that there hasn’t been a soul with a live arm back there throwing him the ball (you can make the argument that there STILL isn’t a soul with a live arm at QB), but Tillman is a different style of receiver than what the Browns have on the roster, being more of a contested catch guy on the outside. If he can provide any consistency at the boundary WR spot, it should help the entire offense out.
Pittsburgh Steelers: RG Mason McCormick
I almost went with the man next to McCormick on that offensive line, center Zach Frazier. However, I feel like he’s already broken out and is on track to be one of the best centers in the game. McCormick still is under the radar, but when you watch him play his game is anything but quiet. He is the definition of ‘playing to the whistle’, finishing every rep with power and a mean streak that just fits the Pittsburgh Steelers. I also think he does well on zone runs, cutting off defensive tackles or getting across the face of defenders. He’ll need to iron out some inconsistencies in pass protection, but his improvement could see him become a breakout star on this offense.
