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Biggest Offseason Question For Each AFC North Team

By Eric Robinson

Nov 20, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden (23) and Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) during the game at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden (23) and Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) during the game at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 13, 2017; Ownings Mills, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (29) practices during the first day of minicamp at Under Armour Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick McDermott-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 13, 2017; Ownings Mills, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (29) practices during the first day of minicamp at Under Armour Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick McDermott-USA TODAY Sports /

Baltimore Ravens: How much will the defensive rookies show this offseason?

When it comes to general managers around the league, Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome is often mentioned consistently in the upper-tier. With his draft pedigree over the years, his resume is impossible to overlook.

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So this year’s draft may be one his most important in quite some time. With his team entering a unique stage of missing the playoffs and transitioning from notable veterans, Newsome set forth to add key weapons on what has been the defiant stamp of the team over the years: the defense.

Defensive tackle Chris Wormley, cornerback Marlon Humphrey, and edge rushers Tim Williams and Tyus Bowser are four of the better defenders from this year’s draft. All were taken within the first three rounds and all will likely be counted on to contribute this season. Of the four, Humphrey and Williams are from the University of Alabama factory and both are at two positions that in need of an upgrade. Veteran outside linebacker Terrell Suggs will be handing off the pass rushing mantle really soon and a combination of Willams/Bowser present two hopeful cornerstones for the future.

The rookies will be looked upon to see the field and be useful contributors in year one. How much the team gets from them may determine the difference between another mediocre season and the playoffs.

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