AFC North NFL Draft Preview, Part 2: What the Ravens and Bengals Need Most in the 2026 NFL Draft

The AFC North closes with two teams that are not trying to figure out who they are. The Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals both know the kind of team they want to be. This draft is about staying close enough to the top of the conference to have a real say in January.

Baltimore Ravens: This Draft Has To Produce Early Help

The Ravens are built to contend, but this year the margin feels tighter.

Baltimore has 11 picks, but most of them come late in the draft. That gives them volume, not necessarily immediate help. With real needs across the roster, that puts more pressure on the early picks than usual.

The list is not small. The offensive line needs help, especially at center and guard. Wide receiver and tight end both need additions. The defensive line still needs another piece. There is room to add to the pass rush, too, along with depth at linebacker and in the secondary.

That puts even more pressure on getting the early picks right.

At No. 14, Baltimore should have options. Makai Lemon (wide receiver, USC) and Jordyn Tyson (wide receiver, Arizona State) both fit the type of receiver this offense could use. Kenyon Sadiq (tight end, Oregon) is another name that could come into play if they do not believe he will last to No. 45. On the line, Vega Ioane (guard, Penn State) would give them a plug-and-play answer if the board leans that way.

The second round opens up even more paths. Keldric Faulk (edge, Auburn) and Akheem Mesidor (edge, Miami) both make sense if the pass rush becomes the priority. The middle rounds are where Baltimore can go back to doing what it usually does well. Jake Slaughter (center, Florida), Logan Jones (center, Iowa), and Chase Bisontis (guard, Texas A&M) all fit the type of players the Ravens have developed into useful contributors before.

Baltimore has enough picks to come out of this draft with depth. The harder part is turning a few of them into players who can help immediately.

Cincinnati Bengals: This Draft Has To Fix a Defense That Slipped Too Far

The Bengals are not searching for offense.

They are trying to fix a defense that gave them too many problems last season.

Cincinnati enters this draft with a long list of needs, and most of them sit on the defensive side of the ball. Cornerback stands out at the top, especially with questions about long-term stability at the position and no clear answer in the slot. Pass rusher and linebacker are not far behind, and the defensive front still needs another wave of talent.

This is not a team that usually moves around the board. The Bengals have built a reputation for sitting tight and taking players where they are slotted rather than getting aggressive with trades. That likely keeps them at No. 10, where the pick should line up with both value and need.

Mansoor Delane (cornerback, LSU) and Jermod McCoy (cornerback, Tennessee) both make sense at the top of the draft if the board falls their way. Sonny Styles (linebacker, Ohio State) would also be in the conversation if he somehow gets there. Cincinnati has a track record of using early picks to get ahead of roster pressure, especially at positions like corner where depth and contract decisions tend to hit at the same time.

Day 2 should keep that same focus. Dani Dennis-Sutton (edge, Penn State) fits the type of pass rusher they could use in the rotation. Anthony Hill Jr. (linebacker, Texas) would bring more range and athleticism to the middle of the defense. Markel Bell (offensive tackle, Miami) is the kind of developmental swing tackle they will need behind their starters.

There are other ways to fill in around the roster later. Jaishawn Barham (linebacker/edge, Michigan) and Keyron Crawford (edge, Auburn) both fit as mid-round additions who could bring energy to the front.

Joe Burrow gives the Bengals a chance against anybody. The defense did not hold up its end often enough last season. That is why this draft should lean hard into fixing that side of the roster.