Ravens

Biggest question: How will the offense perform with once again, limited receiving weapons? I am going to answer my own question very quickly here, the offense will perform well. That’s mainly because they have a game-changing QB in Lamar Jackson. Anonymous scouts can diss Lamar all they want but when the man is healthy he is a no doubt top ten NFL QB. Those types of guys are hard to find; if you have one from year to year, you are at a massive advantage. Rashod Bateman disappointed his rookie season, but it’s too early in a young career to be down on the promising Minnesota prospect. He is going to have the volume and opportunity to emerge as a weapon for this offense. JK Dobbins is another major question mark as he will start camp on the PUP list and according to multiple reports may not be ready for week one. The Raven’s true enemy is health, because if the roster stays out of the infirmary, this is probably a team fighting for a one seed in the AFC.

Bengals

Biggest questions: Can the passing attack survive injuries and find depth throughout the season? Hard to diss on the group made of Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd, it’s a great group that will produce. The issue is if the injury bug catches any of them what is behind those three for the Bengals? Morgan Stanley and Trenton Irwin are two fringe special team players. The Bengals really lack any discernable depth at wideout and this could be a massive problem for the team. It was tough finding other questions on the roster though, even if Jesse Bates doesn’t play a few weeks (I don’t think that will be the case) the defense is still loaded with talent and very deep. The Bengals did enough to keep me from worrying about the offensive line, so other than wide receiver I really don’t have many questions about a roster that should once again be contending for the playoffs.

Browns

Biggest question: What does this roster look like without Deshaun Watson leading the way at Quarterback? A suspension is coming for Watson, a man who at points this off-season faced as many as thirty civil lawsuits regarding sexually predatory behavior with massage therapists. Let’s put the abhorrence of the Browns QB decision aside for a moment though. Even with Watson is this team a Super Bowl team? Really? The receiving core looks to be thin and is counting on a major contribution from Purdue talent David Bell in his rookie season. As well as the oft-injured Amari Cooper. The Browns do not have the weapons to inspire supreme confidence. The strength of the offense comes in the running attack and behind a well-put-together offensive line that will be much better this year if the group collectively stays healthy, a challenge for the Browns last year. The defense lacks a true secondary all-star pass rusher aside from Myles Garrett. Jadeveon Clowney has yet to put up a double-digit sack year in his career, though last year was one of his best accumulating nine sacks on the year. The linebacking group looks solid and Denzel Ward remains one of the better corners in the AFC. The Brown’s defense certainly looks ready to contend, but will the offense with Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones leading the way, be enough to get the Watson era to a title in a window that looks like the AFC will remain the most loaded conference for the next ten years.

Steelers

Biggest Question: Can Chase Claypool be a one for Kenny Pickett? I’ll just answer the question right here, yes he can. When the wideout said he believed he could be a top-three receiver in the league this off-season, I actually did not laugh him off like most of the internet. Kenny Pickett will have a better arm than late stage Ben and everything about Claypool screams X receiver, from his superb size to his otherworldly speed and body balance. I am a huge fan of Claypool I believe he and this offense will be a top-half group this year. Oh not to mention they have Diontae Johnson and Georgia standout and soon-to-be Steelers star, because that’s just how this works folks, George Pickens, the offense is going to be fine. The Steelers with the loss of Stephon Tuitt have more questions on defense now. I don’t see the Steelers as a playoff team, mark that down as something stupid I wrote in July that will look terrible when the Steelers ride into December with eight wins already to their names.