The 2025 NFL Draft has wrapped up, bringing with it a wave of storylines — none more polarizing than Shedeur Sanders' surprising fall from a projected first-round pick to a fifth-round selection. As teams across the league look to strengthen their rosters and build for the future, the draft remains one of the biggest spectacles in sports.
This year, each team in the AFC North took a distinctly different approach to their draft strategies. While it will take a few years to evaluate these draft classes truly, here’s an early look at how the Steelers' selections stack up against their division rivals.
At this moment, it looks like the Steelers walked away with the best draft class in the AFC North. Pittsburgh had a clear plan: immediately upgrade their defensive line for the future and instantly improve their run defense, then, in later rounds, avoid reaching and let the board fall to them.
Drafting Derrick Harmon in the first round was a safe pick—he should be a Day-1 starter and likely has the highest upside of any defensive lineman taken in Round 1. Without a second-round pick (traded for DK Metcalf), they rebounded in Round 3 by selecting electric RB Kaleb Johnson, a perfect fit for Arthur Smith’s running scheme.
On Day 3, they stayed disciplined: in Round 4, they added pass-rush depth with Jack Sawyer; in Round 5, they plugged the run with big-bodied DT Yahya Black; in Round 6, they secured developmental QB depth with Will Howard; and in Round 7, they added inside-linebacker depth with Carson Bruener and a slot-corner candidate in Donte Kent.
Overall, Pittsburgh got great value at every pick, stuck to its plan, fixed last year’s 299-yard run-defense embarrassment, landed a potential future RB and a dependable backup QB, and loaded up on defensive depth—earning the AFC North’s top draft class.
The Baltimore Ravens entered the draft with 11 selections, and true to form, they let talent fall to them and added multiple players who can make an immediate impact. In the first round, they grabbed Georgia safety Malaki Starks, widely regarded as the top safety in this class, instantly pairing him with Kyle Hamilton to create perhaps the league’s best safety duo.
With their second-round choice, they scooped up Marshall pass rusher Mike Green, who slid into Round 2 because of off-field concerns but has first-round talent and can contribute right away.
After those two difference makers, Baltimore’s board plan became crystal clear: fortify a struggling offensive line and shore up a secondary that underperformed last season. They added two tackles, Emory Jones Jr. and Carson Vinson, and guard Garrett Dellinger to beef up the O-line. In the defensive backfield, they took cornerbacks Bilhal Kone and Robert Longerbeam to improve depth.
While many of their later picks address depth, the Ravens’ top two selections should step into starting roles from Day 1, giving Baltimore both immediate help and long-term upside.
The Browns entered the draft holding the second overall pick, perfectly positioned to land a generational talent like Travis Hunter. They chose instead to trade down to fifth overall with the Jaguars. Missing out on a once-in-a-generation prospect stings, but Cleveland recognized its roster needs extensive work and turned that premium pick into a haul they can parlay into a franchise quarterback next year when the QB class is deeper.
With the fifth pick, they selected Michigan defensive lineman Mason Graham, universally regarded as the top interior rusher in this class. Then, with two second-rounders and two third-rounders in hand, they attacked key roster weaknesses. With their first second-round selection, they chose UCLA linebacker Carson Schwesinger, addressing serious questions about Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah's long-term health after his neck injury and shoring up a run defense that ranked among the league's worst.
Their next second-round pick was used on Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins, whom they envision as their lead back. Judkins arrives just as Nick Chubb remains a free agent, recovering from devastating knee and leg injuries, and played only eight games last season.
After that strong start, the Browns' board decisions became muddled. They spent their first third-round pick on tight end Harold Fannin Jr., a fine complement to David Njoku, but then used their second third-round pick on quarterback Dillon Gabriel, a selection that did not justify a third-round investment. In the fourth round, they took another running back, Dylan Sampson, who will pair nicely with Judkins but felt redundant after already drafting a feature back. Then, inexplicably, they grabbed quarterback Shedeur Sanders later in Round 5, further overcrowding the QB room.
Cleveland's quarterback roster now features Kenny Pickett, Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel, Shedeur Sanders, and Deshaun Watson, who will sit out the year recovering from another Achilles tear. What began as a promising class unraveled into classic Browns chaos. They added legitimate talent up front and at linebacker and running back, but by drafting two quarterbacks and an extra back, they muddied the NFL's most important room, leaving fans to wonder what exactly the front office was thinking.
The Bengals badly needed to use this draft to overhaul the league’s worst defense, but several of their selections raise questions.
In the first round, they chose Texas A&M pass rusher Shemar Stewart, a physical marvel with elite traits coveted in an edge defender, but he produced almost nothing in college and will require significant development to flourish in the NFL. That fits a recent Bengals pattern of drafting high upside athletes who are not yet refined.
In round two, they took 25-year-old linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr., a polished, ready-now defender. Selecting an older rookie felt like a reach when they could have targeted younger upside. They were followed by grabbing two offensive linemen to bolster a struggling front, then added another inside linebacker later to push competition at the second level. Finally, in the sixth round, they drafted running back Tahj Brooks to add depth to their backfield.
Addressing the defense was essential, yet Cincinnati largely concentrated on pass rush and linebackers while largely ignoring the secondary. With cornerback and safety play among the team’s biggest weaknesses, this class leaves much to be desired. The Bengals secured a few impactful pieces, but they could and arguably should have used more of their picks to strengthen all levels of that struggling defense.