Welcome back to the 2025-26 NFL Record Prediction series.

This time around, we will be diving into what has been known as arguably the best division in football for the past few seasons, the AFC North. Again note that these are more than likely to end up wrong with how unpredictable the NFL can be in terms of injuries, breakout players and more. 

In what could be his last season, what does Aaron Rodgers have in store for the Steelers now posed against the powerhouse Ravens?

Baltimore Ravens

After back to back unfortunate playoff endings against the Chiefs in 2024 and the Bills in 2025, how will quarterback (QB) Lamar Jackson and the Ravens bounce back?

Jackson is coming off a career year where he posted highs in passing yards, total yards, passing touchdowns (TD), total TDs and passer rating while also posting a career low in interceptions (INT) thrown. Even with all of that Jackson still could not escape the narrative that he cannot perform in the playoffs, having two game changing turnovers in the team’s divisional round loss to the Bills. That being said, to go against that narrative, Jackson put his team in a position to win at the end of the game only to be let down by his tight end (TE) Mark Andrews on a failed two-point conversion.

That’s enough doom and gloom about this Ravens offense, let us look at what they have to be optimistic about for the upcoming season. The offense led the league in total yards and rushing yards while being seventh in passing yards and third in total points scored. No way around it, this offense was elite thanks to Jackson and his weapons. 

Yet, how do they keep their rushing attack deadly? They extend the second best running back (RB) in football, Derrick Henry, on a two year, 30 million dollar contract. Now a new question comes up for extension talks, does Andrews get an extension? Purely looking at the numbers, you would probably say yes considering he just had a career high in TD catches while also being the only TE this year to put up double digit TDs. 

So why is there a question of whether they should bring him back or not? Well as mentioned earlier, Andrews not only had that crucial drop late in that game but also a fumble earlier that game. To add insult to injury, Isaiah Likely, his backup, showed a lot of promise hauling in 42 catches, 477 yards and six TDs. The only downside is Likely is also entering a contract year. 

One thing the Ravens consistently have been elite at has been their defense. With the new additions, they should be just as good if not better in 2025. While the Ravens secondary was good last year, there were a few weak points. Safety (S) Marcus Williams’ production fell off a cliff, he was released. Ar’Darius Washington stepped in well but suffered a torn achilles in May that will sideline him for the season. Cornerback (CB) Brandon Stephens had a down year as well, he left in free agency and signed with the Jets on a three year, 36 million dollar contract. 

To replace that talent the Ravens added to new CBs in free agency in former Packer Jaire Alexander and former Titan Chidobe Awuzie. Both may be injury prone and past their “prime years” but considering how loaded this secondary is they will not be asked to do as much compared to their former teams. They went the younger route in fixing the safety room by drafting Georgia S Malaki Starks at pick 27 in the first round. Starks was seen as a good safety prospect by most and should fit right in next to Kyle Hamilton. 

The Ravens did it again, they found an elite pass rush prospect later than what the consensus projected. Marshall edge rusher (EDGE), Mike Green fell right into the laps at pick 59 in the second round. Though there are character concerns with Green, the Ravens have not been a team known to stray away from his type of players. This only adding to their star studded group featuring EDGEs Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh as well as interior defensive lineman (IDL) Nnamdi Madubuike. 

Without a second thought, the Ravens will finish the season with a record well above .500 earning a playoff spot for the seventh time in the past eight seasons and the number three seed in the AFC with an overall record of 12-5 and a division record of 4-2. 

Breakout Pick: Year Five | Edge Rusher | Odafe Oweh

Cincinnati Bengals 

The Bengals defensive is just an ugly mess. 

Last season, many people agreed it was the reason the team failed to miss the playoffs and for good reason. The defense finished in the bottom 10 for total yards and points allowed. On a brighter side, the team finished seventh in forced turnovers at 25. On top of that, they also posted arguably the best pass rusher in football last year with EDGE Trey Hendrickson who finished the year with 17.5 sacks and has led the league in sacks over the past two seasons.

Hendrickson cannot do it all alone though, so the Bengals drafted Texas A&M EDGE Shemar Stewart at pick 18 in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. They also added some help on the inside by signing former Packers defensive tackle (DT) T.J. Slaton to a two year, $15.1 million contract. 

Here is where things get ugly. The Bengals organization, more-so ownership, is known for not paying their players what they have warranted or want. Hendrickson is in a contract year where EDGEs have been getting paydays with the biggest one being Browns EDGE Myles Garrett who signed a four year, $160 million contract. Hendrickson believes his production and talent warrants that type of deal. He has made it known to the Bengals that he will not play on the current contract and if not paid, he wants to be traded to a team that will.

Ok. Well, at least they have Stewart. 

Unfortunately, Stewart is also holding out. He is the only first round rookie from this past draft who has yet to sign his contract. This is due to language and issues in his contract that can void guaranteed money if he were to get into legal trouble on or off the field. An example of this could be if Stewart is facing a suspension for PEDs or gambling, the Bengals then could void that money. Due to the disagreement, Stewart is currently holding out of training camp and instead is practicing on his own at Texas A&M’s athletic facility preparing for the NFL season. 

At least there are three massive positives on the other side of the ball. QB Joe Burrow and wide receiver (WR) Ja’Marr Chase are both coming off career years where they each posted highs in yards and TDs. On the other sideline, WR Tee Higgins is also coming off a career year, posting a high in TDs. Just like last season, a lot to look forward to in this offense. 

The best part? Chase signed an extension of four years, $161 million (making him the highest paid non-QB in NFL history) and Higgins signed a four year, $116 million (making him the highest paid WR two in NFL history). 

An explosive offense but an ugly defense, where will this team finish this season? The Bengals will bounce back thanks to another impressive season by their offensive trio and earn the first playoff wild card spot and fifth seed in the AFC at 11-6 overall and 3-3 in the division. 

Breakout Pick: Year Three | Safety | Jordan Battle

Pittsburgh Steelers 

Mike Tomlin has yet to have a losing season as head coach of the Steelers, will that stand true again this season?

Every year, analysts, fans and other football media personalities will say the Steelers will finish under .500 for the first time in the Tomlin Era yet every season, he proves them wrong time and time again. What he has done is impressive, no one can deny it. That being said, staying in this land of mediocrity can “kill” the team. The team is never bad enough that they have a high draft pick to swing on “blue-chip” prospects but at the same time the team is never good enough to go big and win it all. 

Considering the uncertainty in the QB room, this looked to be the Steelers first losing season in some time. Instead the Steelers did something they are not quite known for by making several big splashes in the offseason. They kicked things off on March 17, 2025 by trading a second round pick for Seahawks WR D.K. Metcalf then extending him on a massive contract at five years and $150 million. The WR room looked great, George Pickens finally had a partner in crime to work with. However, Pickens was entering a contract room and the Steelers have been known to avoid paying their star WRs. 

On May 7, 2025, the Steelers traded away Pickens to the Cowboys in exchange for a 2026 third round pick plus a late round pick in 2027. Now they are back to square one in the receiving room. With the QB room still a mess, the Steelers turned to free agency on June 7, 2025 and signed future Hall of Fame QB Aaron Rodgers to a one year, $13.65 million contract. An interesting move to say the least considering on the outside looking in Tomlin’s and Rodgers’ personalities did not match. 

To fill in the need in the receiving room the Steelers traded for Dolphins TE Jonnu Smith, who will now be entering his third stint with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith after spending time with the Titans and Falcons together. Funny enough, this marks the second time Smith has been traded to an offense led by Smith. Well what were those trade details? 

The Steelers also received CB Jalen Ramsey, who had requested a trade from the Dolphins earlier in the offseason. In part of the deal the Steelers also raised Ramsey’s salary by one and half million and Smith’s contract was extended for another season for $12 million.

Unfortunately, the Steelers trade came at the cost of trading All-Pro S Minak Fitzpatrick back to the Dolphins. Fitzpatrick returns to the place that drafted him back in the first round of the 2018 Draft. That being said the secondary still looks scary and easily has the best CB trio in the NFL. In more exciting news, the Steelers did manage to extend superstar EDGE T.J. Watt. Watt now becomes the highest paid non-QB in NFL history at a three year, $123 million which puts him at $41 million per year.

All in all with a very interesting offseason, the Steelers will finish the season under .500 for the first time since 2003 at 8-9 overall and 3-3 in the division earning the nine seed in the AFC and missing the playoffs. 

Breakout Pick: Year Three | Wide Receiver | Calvin Austin III

Cleveland Browns

Maybe the most interesting QB room in the NFL.

To start things off you of course have Deshaun Watson who is expected to miss the season due to injury, just a massive miss by the Browns organization. Then in March they added two more QBs in the ageless wonder known as Joe Flacco who may be on his last leg and Kenny Pickett via trade from the Eagles, who now returns to the AFC North after being traded from the Steelers last offseason. In the draft, they added Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel in the third round and Colorado’s Shedeuer Sanders in the fifth round. As it stands it is believed one of the vets will come out on top with the starting job. 

The backfield is a mess as well. Similar to QB, the Browns drafted two RBs. They selected Ohio State’s Quinshon Judkins in the second round and Tennessee’s Dylan Sampson in the fourth round. Where things get ugly is Judkins was arrested in an alleged misdemeanor domestic battery case involving an incident on July 7, 2025 in Broward County, Florida where Judkins allegedly punched his girlfriend with a closed fist during an argument. This incident has put a pause on training camp for the young running back along with freezing all contract negotiations in place until a conclusion in the case is reached. Judkins, like many second rounders in his class, was holding out for a better rookie contract. Another decision that could soon come back to bite him.

On the brighter side of the offense, the offensive line looks to be stable again after most of the starting group suffered injuries in 2024. To help reinforce the depth behind the starting group, the team signed former Bears guard Teven Jenkins to a one year deal and former Commanders tackle Cornelius Lucas. The receiving room is lacking but does feature a star WR and TE in Jerry Jeudy and David Njoku.

The real interesting part of this team comes in the defense. Of course there is the best pass rusher in football in EDGE Myles Garrett who signed a massive extension this past offseason. Outside of him though the defensive line is young and inexperienced with two second year players in Isaiah McGuire at EDGE and Mike Hall Jr. at defensive tackle (DT). Figuring that was an issue, the team went and added Michigan DT Mason Graham at pick five overall in the draft. 

While the off-ball (LB) group is not bad, injuries got to their best player in Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah who will miss the entire 2025 season due to a neck injury he suffered in the 2024 season. Mohamoud Diabate looks to improve off a promising rookie season and now he is partnered with rookie UCLA LB Carson Schwesigner, who the Browns drafted in the second round of the draft. 

The secondary needs a bounce back desperately. CB Denzel Ward was the only returning starter who did not regress in 2024. CBs Martin Emerson and Greg Newsome had strong 2023 seasons before “falling off a cliff” in 2024. Ss Grant Delpit and Ronnie Hickman were inconsistent.

Overall, this team is a mess but the youth and talent is there for 2026 to be a big year for them with the extra first round pick they have but 2025 will not be so big, as they finish with the worst record in the AFC at 4-13, last in the conference and 2-4 in the division. 

Breakout Pick: Year Two | Edge Rusher | Isaiah McGuire