The AFC North will be as competitive as ever, especially with Aaron Rodgers under center for the Pittsburgh Steelers. But expect the division to still belong to the Baltimore Ravens who are on a mission to get to the Super Bowl.
With Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals expected to challenge for the division and the Cleveland Browns a quarterback away from making some noise, Lamar Jackson and company will be tested. When all is said and done, it could come down to each team’s 2025 NFL Draft class and which rookies are able to step into roles and solidify the team in a key area of need.
Let’s take a look at which rookies could be in position to be an X-factor on their squads.
One rookie X-factor from each AFC North team:
Baltimore Ravens – Mike Green, EDGE: The NFL may regret letting Mike Green slip to the Baltimore Ravens in the second round. A ferocious pass rusher at Marshall, Green was projected as a high first-round pick before off-the field concerns led to him slipping to a Ravens team who had no problem getting to the quarterback in 2024. Younger, faster and out to prove himself, Green will be put in the perfect position to learn from the veterans ahead of him while making the most of his opportunity as an outside rusher.
There is not a ton of pressure on Green (no pun intended) to make an impact immediately, but with his athleticism and explosiveness, he will make the Ravens’ defense just that much lethal. It is his ability to elevate the front seven that will make him an X-factor in 2025.
Cincinnati Bengals – Shemar Stewart, DE: Even if the Bengals and Trey Hendrickson mend fences and agree to a contract extension, first-round pick Shemar Stewart will be an X-factor for the Bengals in 2025. While the Texas A&M product is involved in his own contract drama with the team, he was drafted to add more pass rush and once on the field, he should be a player who causes havoc in the backfield. The Bengals would love if that were in tandem with Hendrickson, but if the veteran sack master ends up not being in the team’s future, Stewart becomes the future right now.
As a player who collapses the pocket with a quick first step and bullrush power, Stewart needs to get on the practice field and make the Bengals see the value he is asking for.
Cleveland Browns – Carson Schwesinger, LB: The Browns know what they have in first-round pick Mason Graham who won’t have as much pressure put on him playing alongside Myles Garrett. A rookie to watch for the Browns is second-round selection Carson Schwesinger who could be forced on the field right away with Jeremiah Owuso-Koramoah out for the 2025 NFL season.
A First-team Associated Press All-American in 2024, Schwesinger led college football with 90 solo tackles. Playing behind a stout defensive front led by Warren and Graham, the UCLA product will be in position to excel on the second level as an athletic open field tackler with great instincts in sniffing out big plays. If he catches on quick, the Browns may not miss Owuso-Koramoah (as much).
Pittsburgh Steelers– Kaleb Johnson, RB: Don’t think for a second that the Aaron Rodgers signing will lessen the importance of the Steelers’ run game. In fact, when Rodgers is at his best, he typically has a big, reliable running back in the backfield. Kaleb Johnson will play that role for the Steelers. With his downhill running style and ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, watch for this second-round pick to be that hammer type back the Steelers love.
Coming off a final season at Iowa in which he rushed for 1,537 yards and 22 touchdowns, Johnson will look great in black and gold. He will look even better taking handoffs from Rodgers.