During this year’s free agency cycle and 2026 NFL draft, all four AFC North teams made significant moves to add talent to their rosters. While more additions are still possible over the next few months, everyone’s core players are mostly set ahead of the 2026 season.
How do the different positional groups in the division stack up to one another? Let’s rank the AFC North squads by position, continuing with the defensive line.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers
Starters: Cam Heyward, Keeanu Benton, Derrick Harmon,
Depth: Sebastian Joseph-Day,
Yahya Black, Esezi Otomewo
The ageless wonder Cam Heyward, now 37 years old, earned yet another All-Pro selection last season. Despite a drop in pass rushing production, Heyward was still PFF’s No. 1 graded defensive lineman with a 90.4 mark. He started all 17 games and will look to get the best of father time once again in 2026. Keeanu Benton posted career-best numbers in sacks, tackles, tackles for loss and quarterback hits in 2025, and could take another step forward in his fourth season. Pittsburgh’s first-round pick last year, Derrick Harmon, is also a young starter with the potential for an ascension this year. Harmon only made eight starts in 12 total appearances in his rookie season and showed some flashes amidst usual ups and downs of a first-year player.
2. Cincinnati Bengals
Starters: Dexter Lawrence II, Jonathan Allen
Depth: B.J. Hill, T.J. Slaton Jr., McKinnley Jackson, Kris Jenkins Jr.
The Bengals made a big splash this offseason by trading for Dexter Lawrence II, in exchange for the No. 10 overall pick in the 2026 draft. Lawrence has been one of the league’s premier defensive tackles in the 2020s, earning three Pro Bowl selections and two All-Pro nods. He’s coming off his least productive season since his rookie year in terms of sacks (0.5), quarterback hits (8), tackles (37) and other categories, but still graded out as PFF’s ninth-best player at the position. Cincinnati also signed veteran Jonathan Allen in free agency, whose entering his 10th career season. In 125 starts, Allen has 45.5 sacks, 129 quarterback hits and has made the Pro Bowl twice. Fellow 31-year-old B.J. Hill is a solid rotational piece behind them in the interior.
3. Baltimore Ravens
Starters: Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones, Calais Campbell
Depth: Broderick Washington Jr., John Jenkins, Aeneas Peebles, Rayshaun Benny
The Ravens reunited with veteran Calais Campbell after the draft, signing him to a one-year deal. Like Heyward in Pittsburgh, Campbell is an ageless wonder, as he continues to be impactful and productive entering his 19th career season. Campbell should provide an immediate boost to the Ravens’ defensive front, especially if Nnamdi Madubuike is not healthy to begin the 2026 season. Madubuike is recovering from a significant neck injury and his status is the biggest swinging factor in how good this group can be. Either way, Travis Jones could continue to develop into one of the better defensive lineman in the league after a career-best season in 2025. Jones stepped up in Madubuike’s absence and graded out as the No. 7 overall defensive lineman per PFF.
4. Cleveland Browns
Starters: Mason Graham, Maliek Collins
Depth: Kalia Davis, Mike Hall Jr., Sam Kamara, Adin Huntington
The Browns did not add any new starters at defensive tackle this offseason. They’ll be expecting a big sophomore jump from Mason Graham, last year’s No. 5 overall draft pick out of Michigan. Graham didn’t make a huge statistical splash in his rookie season but looked the part of an impactful interior defender, improving as the year progressed. Maliek Collins will be returning for his second season in Cleveland after recording a career-high 6.5 sacks in 2025 despite playing only 12 games. The eight-year veteran also had 13 quarterback hits and 15 pressures, earning a PFF grade of 74.5 that ranked 13th overall at the position. Mike Hall Jr. is entering his third season as a depth piece behind them and the Browns also signed Kalia Davis from the San Francisco 49ers.
