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 linebacker.
1. Baltimore Ravens
Starters: Roquan Smith, Teddye Buchanan
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Depth: Trenton Simpson, Carl Jones, Jay Higgins IV
The Ravens made no additions to their core linebacker group this offseason. That speaks to their confidence in Roquan Smith to have a bounce-back season and Trenton Simpson to play a starting role, if needed, as Teddye Buchanan recovers from a torn ACL injury. Smith, 29, was PFF’s 20th highest-graded player at the linebacker position in 2025 and while earned a third consecutive Pro Bowl selection. His overall performance left some to be desired, though, for his standards. Buchanan was emerging as a steady contributor in his rookie season and, before suffering a torn ACL in December, had seized the starting role from Simpson early in the year. Simpson has been an up-and-down defender for his career so far but could have a breakout season in a new defensive scheme. He still possesses high-level athletic tools and has shown playmaking ability in a spot-starter capacity.
2. Cleveland Browns
Starters: Carson Schwesinger, Winston Reid, Quincy Williams
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Depth: Nathaniel Watson, Justin Jefferson, Easton Mascarenas-Arnold
Last year, early second-round pick Carson Schwesinger proved to be a rookie sensation. Schwesinger was a leading defensive force for the Browns and stuffed the stat sheet with 156 total tackles, two interceptions, 11 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in almost 1,000 snaps. His performance now has him already widely regarded as one of the league’s top off-ball linebackers. The Browns signed veteran Quincy Williams in free agency to replace Devin Bush, who started 27 games for the team over the past two years. The rest of this group is comprised of recent draft picks or incoming rookies who are not yet proven defensive contributors. The onus will be on Williams to provide a steadying force and Schwesinger to make a second-year ascension to elite status.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
Starters: Patrick Queen, Malik Harrison
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Depth: Cole Holcomb, Payton Wilson, Jamin Davis
Patrick Queen is returning for his third season as a starter in Pittsburgh, having exceed 1,000 snaps in each of the past two years in 34 games. Queen had another productive statistical season in 2025 but analytically did not grade well once again. His PFF grade (44.0) ranked 78th among all linebackers. Alongside Queen is fellow former Raven Malik Harrison, who signed with the Steelers last year and started nine of 11 appearances. Harrison, 28, had 41 combined tackles and was PFF’s 58th highest-graded linebacker. Reserve Cole Holcomb was re-signed to a two-year deal this offseason and will enter his third season with the Steelers. Holcomb has started 11 of 22 games for Pittsburgh since 2023 but only played 645 total defensive snaps.
4. Cincinnati Bengals
Starters: Barrett Carter, Demetrius Knight Jr., Oren Burks
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Depth: Joe Giles-Harris, Shaka Heyward, Liam Anderson
The Bengals drafted a pair of linebackers in last year’s draft who immediately stepped into significant defensive roles. Demetrius Knight Jr. started 14 games and Barrett Carter started 12 games, while each playing just shy of 800 snaps and recording 106 tackles. Knight ranked No. 83 and Carter ranked No. 85 at the position in PFF grade, indicating both players have room to grow to become more efficient and consistent. Returning as well is veteran Oren Burks, who started nine of 17 games last year in his first season with the Bengals. Burks only played 340 defensive snaps compared to 385 on special teams, which with his career averages. This group’s ability to improve and play cohesively will be a determining factor in the Bengals being able to turn around their defensive woes in recent years.
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