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AFC North: All-Time 53-man roster and depth chart

By A.J. Fagerlin

FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 20: Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens high-fives teammate Ed Reed #20 on the field prior to the 2013 AFC Championship game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on January 20, 2013 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 20: Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens high-fives teammate Ed Reed #20 on the field prior to the 2013 AFC Championship game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on January 20, 2013 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 16: Antonio Brown #84 of the Pittsburgh Steelers reacts after a 17 yard touchdown reception in the first quarter during the game against the New England Patriots at Heinz Field on December 16, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 16: Antonio Brown #84 of the Pittsburgh Steelers reacts after a 17 yard touchdown reception in the first quarter during the game against the New England Patriots at Heinz Field on December 16, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

Wide Receivers

Starters

Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers

Although no longer with the team or in the division, Brown is already arguably the best receiver in the division’s history. In just nine seasons, Brown’s career numbers are comparable to Hall of Fame receivers who played 12 or more seasons.

Brown had been incredible for the Steelers, earning First Team All-Pro honors four consecutive seasons and catching over 100 balls each of his last six years with the team. He has seven seasons of well over 1,000 yards receiving and four seasons of double digit touchdowns as a wide receiver.

Paul Warfield, Cleveland Browns

Warfield played in Cleveland from 1964 to 1969 and them again in 1976 and ’77. He totaled an impressive 85 touchdowns in his career and  led the Browns 1964 championship team in receiving his rookie season.

Warfield is a Hall of Famer, 8-time Pro Bowler, 2-time All-Pro, and 2-time Super Bowl champion with the Miami Dolphins between stints with the Browns.

Hines Ward, Pittsburgh Steelers

Hines Ward may be the most underrated wide receiver of all-time. With all of the great receivers who have played in Pittsburgh over the years, Ward leads the franchise in receiving. He has exactly 1,000 receptions in his career and totaled 1,2083 yards and 85 touchdowns.

Not only are his receiving stats impressive, but Ward had a reputation for being one of the best blocking wide receivers of all-time. He was a 4-time Pro Bowler, 2-time Super Bowl champion, and spent all 14 seasons with the Steelers.

Reserves

John Stallworth, Pittsburgh Steelers

Lynn Swann, Pittsburgh Steelers

Stallworth and Swann were both drafted in 1974 and both ended up with Hall of Fame careers with the Steelers. Both receivers at Bradshaw’s disposal helped the Steelers dominate in the ’70’s, winning four Super Bowls.

Stallworth played 14 seasons to just 9 for Swann, but both were 3-time Pro Bowlers and 1-time First Team All-Pro. Despite being drafted three rounds apart (first round for Swann and fourth for Stallworth), the two Pittsburgh receivers had eerily similar, and very impressive, careers.

Chad Johnson, Cincinnati Bengals

Chad Johnson (or Ochocinco) was tough to guard for opposing AFC North defenses throughout his career in Cincy. Many know Chad for his outlandish personality, but he really was one of the best receivers in the league in the mid-2000’s. 1,1059 receiving yards, 6 Pro Bowls, and 2 First Team All-Pro selections are no joke.

A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals

Green brings a modern touch and some added athleticism to this deep receiving corps. Green has now played eight seasons for the Bengals and has managed to score 63 touchdowns despite some injury trouble throughout his career.

Most recently, Green tore some ligaments in his ankle at training camp and is expected to miss 6 to 8 weeks. Even with missing time, Green has been super productive and continues to be one of the few bright spots of the recent Bengals teams.

Honorable Mentions

Isaac Curtis, Cincinnati Bengals

Cris Collinsworth, Cincinnati Bengals

Curtis played for the Bengals in the ’70’s and ’80’s and began his career with four consecutive Pro Bowl seasons.

Similar to Curtis, Collinsworth began his career with three consecutive Pro Bowl seasons of his own. He played just eight seasons in the NFL, but managed four 1,000 yard seasons and was more of a modern-day slot-type receiver before his time in the ’80’s

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