What the rest of the AFC North did on opening night of the 2024 NFL Draft while the Browns watched

It is now Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft and the Cleveland Browns will get in on the action tonight after having no first-round pick last night.

While the Browns were not picking, the rest of the AFC North was as the Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Baltimore Ravens all added talent.

Let’s get into what the rest of the division chose to do.

Cincinnati Bengals take Georgia OT Amarius Mims at No. 18 overall

The Bengals opted to protect their franchise a bit more with their first-round pick. Mims is a high-ceiling pick that has a chance to be special for the Bengals, though there is a catch to it.

Mims likely won’t play right away unless there is an injury to Trent Brown, their projected starter at right tackle. In free agency, the Bengals saw Jonah Williams walk and that’s when they brought in Brown. Thought there could be some competition, the Bengals brought Brown in for a reason and that’ll allow Mims to develop.

The Bengals made the right choice here in my opinion, they know that no quarterback has been sacked more than Burrow since he entered the league. Developing your own offensive line talent is key and Cincinnati is on track to do that.

Pittsburgh Steelers take Washington OT Troy Fautanu at No. 20 overall

There was talk that the Steelers wouldn’t even make this pick and would end up with San Francisco 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk. The good news for the rest of the AFC North is that it did not happen.

It was easy to see the Steelers going cornerback with this selection and they were right there on the board. I’m eating in the trenches is always a good idea, especially in the AFC North. Despite discussion about whether Fautanu would be a guard or tackle, the Steelers view him as a future starting tackle for them.

Last draft it was Broderick Jones out of Georgia that the Steelers took in the first round. They should be set with two talented tackles on rookie contracts for the next few years.

Baltimore Ravens take Clemson CB Nate Wiggins at No. 30 overall

I was a little surprised that the Ravens did not go offensive line here after losing three starters in the offseason. Instead, it appears that Baltimore went best plainer available on their board and ended up with a talented cornerback.

The need for another piece in the cornerback room was there and the Ravens got a good one. Wiggins figures to be the eventual starter across from Marlon Humphrey at some point, perhaps even right away if he takes the job from Brandon Stephens.

Baltimore could have gone edge rusher here as well after losing the all too familiar Jadeveon Clowney in free agency. Either way, I’m a fan of the pick even if there were bigger needs.