2025 NFL Draft Wish List: AFC North

Our 2025 NFL Draft wish list series continues with the AFC North. Despite the fact the Browns took a (huge) step back in 2024, the Bengals failed to make the playoffs again, and the Steelers did what the Steelers always do, this remains one of the toughest divisions in football.

So what is on our fantasy wish list for these teams entering the 2025 NFL Draft? Let’s run through it.

I’ll also make this clear again: This is a fantasy football wish list. We might mention some defensive picks here and there, but this will mostly focus on offense.

2025 NFL Draft Wish List: AFC East

Baltimore Ravens

First pick: 1st round, 27th overall
Total first-rounders: 1
Total selections: 11

The Ravens have the most picks in the NFL draft with 11. They don’t have a ton of holes, and it’s most likely that the Ravens go defense-heavy in this year’s draft. They need rushers, secondary depth and big men on both the offensive and defensive lines after losing some pieces in free agency.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) celebrates his touchdown with tight end Mark Andrews (89) in the first half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Baltimore, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

In other words, it’s not lining up to be the most exciting draft from a fantasy football perspective. The Ravens are reloading for 2025 with Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, Zay Flowers, Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely and Rashod Bateman again. It seems likely the Ravens feel they already addressed their need at WR after signing DeAndre Hopkins

I’m not going to spend a lot of time with a wish list of things that are a) unlikely and b) even if they did happen, wouldn’t matter too much for 2025. For example, it might be fun for the Ravens to select an RB in Round 2 like Quinshon Judkins or Kaleb Johnson. But that would really only be fun for dynasty players.

Or maybe they select one of the big WRs in Round 2, like Jayden Higgins (6-foot-4). He would break the mold of what Lamar has typically had at his disposal. But would he see the field much in 2025?

So we’ll go with the boring answers here: Give us some OL help in the first round. The fantasy goodness in Baltimore runs through Lamar and Derrick Henry. We should be rooting for them to reload the offensive line as fast as possible.

Pittsburgh Steelers

First pick: 1st round, 21st overall
Total first-rounders: 1
Total selections: 6

Pittsburgh only has six overall picks, only two in the first three rounds. The biggest need is at quarterback, but at No. 21 overall a splash through the draft is unlikely. There are some rumors are that Shedeur Sanders might drop — but all the way to 21 feels unlikely. But if this is our “wish” list — that would be our top wish. That the Steelers somehow land Sanders.

The other, more realistic, wish is that Aaron Rodgers signs with the Steelers and they can plug some other needs — like RB, now that Najee Harris is out of town. Could Ashton Jeanty fall all the way down to 21 overall? Again, it seems unlikely, but that would be the most-fun scenario for fantasy purposes in Pittsburgh.

NFL.com published a mock draft over the weekend with Omarion Hampton going to Pittsburgh at No. 21. Hampton’s been all over the place in mocks — with some having him go on Day 2 — but No. 21 to Pittsburgh has been a popular pick for a while. This would be on our fantasy wish list, too, since Jaylen Warren doesn’t seem like the kind of RB Pittsburgh wants to be a three-down back all year.

The other popular mock is Jaxton Dart to the Steelers at 21. In fact, that’s what FTN’s Mike Randle predicted in his mock draft 2.0. Randle argues this pick makes sense even if Rodgers signs with the Steelers. It’s hard to argue with that logic. That might be the best outcome for fantasy hopefuls — if we’re taking a long-term view of this team.

Cincinnati Bengals

First pick: 1st round, 17th overall
Total first-rounders: 1
Total selections: 6

The No. 1 and No. 2 fantasy wish list for the Bengals already came true this offseason: Retain Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins

The other pieces fell into place as last year played out: Get Joe Burrow a TE (Mike Gesicki looks great in this offense) and replace Joe Mixon (Chase Brown is Him).

This Bengals wish list is going to be short. We want to see Burrow get more help on the OL. The Bengals are almost guaranteed to go defense-heavy in this draft so that they stop losing games 44-40, but that’s no fun for fantasy purposes. Can our wish list be that the Bengals actually trade away even more defenders so that their offense just always has the ball? Thanks.

Cleveland Browns

First pick: 1st round, 2nd overall
Total first-rounders: 1
Total selections: 10

Stop me if you’ve heard this before: The Browns are in a great position to rebuild with an early pick and 10 overall picks in this year’s draft.

The Browns need basically everything that makes fantasy points go vroom. They need a quarterback. They need wide receivers. They need a running back. The good news: They might be able to pull it all off in this year’s class!

SAN ANTONIO, TX - DECEMBER 28: Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) throws a warm up pass before the football game between BYU Cougars and Colorado Buffalos on December 28, 2024, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire) — SAN ANTONIO, TX – DECEMBER 28: Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) throws a warm up pass before the football game between BYU Cougars and Colorado Buffalos on December 28, 2024, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire)

The ideal Browns draft goes Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders at No. 2, WR Emeka Egbuka at No. 33 and RB Kaleb Johnson in Round 3 at 67 overall.

That would retool all three primary positions of need back-to-back-to-back. Is that going to happen? Probably not. Is that the fantasy wish list? Absolutely.

Our Jeff Ratcliffe comps Johnson to Arian Foster in the 2025 Rookie Fantasy Scouting Guide. After saying goodbye to Nick Chubb, landing a player with that type of ceiling in the third round would feel really good.

As for Emeka Egbuka? Ratcliffe comps him to one of the league’s top breakout WRs from 2024. Jerry Jeudy is still only 25 (26 when the season starts), and he had by far his best season with the Browns in 2024.

Give this Browns team some more young offensive weapons — let the defense give up 435 points again (fifth most in the NFL) — and you have a team that might be golden for fantasy. A Wal-Mart version of the Bengals, if you will.