With the NFL trade deadline rapidly approaching, we are sure to see an influx of moves around the league. Some notable names have already found new homes. The Pittsburgh Steelers missed out on All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams as he joined the New York Jets, while former Browns WR Amari Cooper will be playing with Josh Allen and the Bills.
Not every team AFC North won't be content to sit on their hands and do nothing before the trade deadline. The Ravens and Steelers are on track to make the playoffs, while the Bengals need a spark to get hot before being buried further in the AFC standings.
These teams are far from perfect. Here's one move every team in the AFC North should make before the deadline.
Pittsburgh Steelers: trade for WR Christian Kirk
Davante Adams is no longer an option and the Browns were never going to trade Amari Cooper within the division. While their may not be a needle-moving wide receiver available via trade, the Steelers should be asking around to see who could be on the block.
One name that would be a great fit is Jaguars wide receiver, Christian Kirk. The veteran receiver combined for nearly 1,900 receiving yards in 2022 and 2023 in Jacksonville, but he's off to a slow start in 2024 -- earning under 50 yards per game.
Kirk's skill set would be an excellent pairing with George Pickens, and the well-rounded veteran could open things up over the middle of the field for Pittsburgh's offense. Meanwhile, the Jags are a 1-5 football team -- tied for the worst record in the NFL. At this point, they may be willing to take a Day 2 draft pick from the Steelers in exchange for Kirk.
Baltimore Ravens: trade for S Andre Cisco
Speaking of the Jaguars unloading players, Andre Cisco is a name that is drawing some buzz. The Baltimore Ravens should be the first team calling. While Kyle Hamilton is proving to be one of the best safeties in the game, the combination of Marcus Williams and Eddie Jackson has been hard to stomach. These aging safeties simply aren't getting the job done and have been liabilities in the secondary.
Enter Cisco, a ball-hawking 24-year-old safety who is dangerous on the back end of the defense. Cisco will become an unrestricted free agent after the 2024 season. Instead of letting him walk away for nothing next offseason, the Jags could trade him for draft capital that could help rebuild their shattered roster in 2025.
Cleveland Browns: trade for WR Diontae Johnson
With Amari Cooper out the door, the Browns need to find a way to keep their passing game relevant -- even in what feels like a lost season. Whether they like it or not, Cleveland is tied to Deshaun Watson because of his fully guaranteed contract, and they need another option in the passing game.
A team with even less hope, like the Panthers, could be willing to unload one of their wide receivers. Diontae Johnson would be an intersting fit alongside Jerry Jeudy in Cleveland's offense. This would give the Browns a pair of receivers who can create separation.
It seems counterintuitive to trade away Cooper only to trade for a WR in return, but Johnson won't cost as much as they earned from the Cooper trade, and Cleveland could come out of this net positive in draft capital.
Cincinnati Bengals: trade for S Tyrann Mathieu
Joe Burrow and the Bengals can rack up points with the best of them. Their offense has proven it can go toe-to-toe with other teams. But one thing they can't do is stop a nosebleed on defense. This team could use help at all three levels of their defense, but finding one good safety could be enough to give them a fighting chance this year.
Geno Stone has been a nightmare in Cincy's secondary, and he's been one of the biggest weaknesses on the team in the first half of the season. Trading for a player like Tyrann Mathieu could salvage a season of Joe Burrow in the prime of his career and give their defense a fighting chance to compete.
The Saints would have to be willing to sign off on this, but Mathieu is an aging safety who only has one more year on his contact after this season. The draft capital could be more important to New Orleans if they fall too far behind the divisional race before the NFL trade deadline.