By: Bill Washinski
SteelerNation.com
With all of the speculation about the future of quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, and how the Pittsburgh Steelers need to find the quarterback of the future, upon closer examination the rest of the AFC North have questions at the position themselves.
The Baltimore Ravens are already talking about a new contract for Lamar Jackson and you can bet the unanimous winner of the 2019 NFL MVP won't come cheap. The Ravens are certain to sign Jackson to a sizeable deal, the dilemma is there is a reason that no QB whose running game eclipses their passing game has won a Super Bowl. The beating taken from getting hit is not all that different from running backs, and one leg injury can downgrade his "elite" speed to "great" speed. To make a comparison, Willie Parker was set to secure the NFL rushing title in 2007 until he broke his leg on his first carry in a Week 16 game vs. the St. Louis Rams. Parker was never the same after the injury, as the injury resulted in the loss of that extra gear and he never topped 1,000 yards again. While advocates of Jackson are quick to point out he led the NFL in TD passes in 2019 with 36, one year does not a QB make: Blake Bortles had 35 TDs in his 2nd season. The fact is Jackson has not established that his passing game is at an elite level. Jackson is likely going to seek a deal as close to Patrick Mahomes as possible, which could leave the Ravens in salary cap hell when he inevitably becomes less of a threat in the running game and must beat a team fearing his arm but not his legs.
The Cleveland Browns must make a decision on Baker Mayfield soon as well, and while the Ravens decision is more certain, the same cannot be said about the inconsistent Mayfield. Will the Browns open up the checkbook for Mayfield? A large consensus still has doubts about Mayfield's ability. It's almost like a Joe Flacco type situation, where the team's uncertainty prevented them from following up with a big contract until Flacco won his gamble with a Super Bowl win. The Browns may let him go similar to how the Tampa Bay Buccaneers let Jameis Winston walk despite being only the 8th QB with 5,000 yards passing in a season or it may lead them into a Kirk Cousins franchise tag type territory.
Joe Burrow has the highest ceiling in my personal opinion of the three, or it might be more accurate to say had the highest ceiling before the gruesome and unfortunate injury. It's possible that he may never be 100% again. And even when he does come back, he has to overcome the notoriously bad Cincinnati Bengals front office. The Bengals managed to waste the prime years of Carson Palmer and there is no reason to expect they will do any better for Burrow.
What are your thoughts on the AFC North Division rivals? Leave a comment below.
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