2024 Midseason Team from the AFC North

• The Ravens the offense is well represented: Baltimore features the division’s best quarterback, running back, receiver, tight end and more.

• No division is blessed with the edge rusher riches of the AFC North: TJ Watt and Myles Garrett leave some room for other talented pass rushers.

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Expected reading time: 4 minutes

We’re halfway (or close enough) through the season, so PFF will dive into each division and present the best players at each position so far. Next up is the AFC North, where the Baltimore Ravens lead with eight picks.

QUARTERBACK: Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

Such is life that our two-ranked quarterbacks come from the AFC North: Jackson and Joe Burrow. Jackson just edges out the brilliant Burrow because of his running ability — his 79.7 PFF grade in rushing is eighth among quarterbacks — with the pair both passing the ball better than any other quarterback and ranking in the top two in passer rating.

RUN BACK: Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens

No surprises here. And Najee Harris has run the ball for the Steelers, Henry continues to amaze, averaging a ridiculous 6.3 yards per carry. Could Eric Dickerson’s 2,105-yard rushing record be in jeopardy?

WIDE RECEIVER: Zay flowers, Baltimore Ravens; George Pickens, Pittsburgh Steelers; Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals

Only the Browns are not represented here, as each team presents a threat to the top. T-shirt Higgins may feel resentful about missing out, but playing time (just 236 snaps this year) is the difference here despite having the top grade when he’s on the field.

TIGHT END: Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens

Early in the season, Andrews wasn’t even in the top two tight ends on his team. But he’s gotten more and more involved as the season has gone on, and the former Oklahoma Sooner has rounded into form. Since Week 5, Andrews’ overall grade of 78.7 ranks sixth among qualifying tight ends.

LEFT TACKLE: Ronnie Stanley, Baltimore Ravens

Stanley has been the dominant left tackle in this division for quite some time now. His overall grade of 75.3 is the best of any AFC North offensive tackle and his best grade since 2020. Thanks to the Steelers’ Dan Moore Jr. for improvement as his overall grade of 74.1 is the best of his career.

LEFT WEIGHT: Joel Bitonio, Cleveland Browns

Bitonio had a rough 2023 by his standards and is enduring a similar 2024 with a 66.3 overall grade. Nevertheless, a tough year for him is still above average, and that means he gets a crack here.

CENTER: Tyler Linderbaum, Baltimore Ravens

This is a division with two excellent centers in Linderbaum and Zach Frazierwith both grades above 80.0 overall. Frazier will hope to get back on the field soon, and if he can play as well as he did in the past, he will push Linderbaum all the way.

RIGHT WEIGHT: James Daniels, Pittsburgh Steelers

Daniels was one of the standout guards in the entire league, earning a 92.9 overall grade before suffering a torn Achilles in Week 4. He remains the highest-rated guard in football.

RIGHT TACKLE: Jack Conklin, Cleveland Browns

This game at right tackle wasn’t particularly strong, especially since Conklin looked like a player working his way back from injury and didn’t reach the level we’d expect from him. Still, he’s posted a 70.3 overall grade, allowing just nine touches this season.

EDGE DEFENDER: TJ Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers; Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns

You’re a little spoiled for choice in this division when it comes to edge rushers, especially when you consider that the excellent Trey Hendrickson and his 90.5 pass-rushing grade can’t break into it. His problem is that Garrett wins too much (26.3% of all pass rushes) and that Watt has both graded better rushing the passer (90.9 grade) and been exceptional against the run (93.2 mark) . All three are elite players.

DEFENSIVE INTERIOR: Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers; BJ Hill, Cincinnati Bengals

Heyward is having as good a year as any interior lineman with his 91.0 overall grade, making this a simple pick at the top. It was harder to pick a partner for him with Hill (74.2 overall rating) right on the edge Travis Jones and Dalvin Tomlinson.

LINEBACKERS: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Cleveland Browns; Logan Wilson, Cincinnati Bengals

In a down year for the Browns, Owusu-Koramoah continues to shine with some elite work in the run game; his 91.7 run-defense grade ranks fourth among all defensive players with 100-plus run-defense snaps. Like Owusu-Koramoah, Wilson has been superb against the run, posting a 90.1 run defense grade.

CORNER BACK: Marlon Humphrey, Baltimore Ravens; DJ Turner, Cincinnati Bengals; Mike Hilton, Cincinnati Bengals

As good as this division is, it has issues at cornerback. With an overall grade of 80.4, Humphrey is the highest rated. In the end we went after it DJ Turner II over Denzel Ward in a close race as his 67.3 coverage grade exceeds Ward’s 65.2 mark.

SECURITY: Kyle Hamilton, Baltimore Ravens; Minkah Fitzpatrick, Pittsburgh Steelers

Hamilton and his screen-killing self have the highest grade of any safety in the division, excelling at just about everything, culminating in an overall grade of 83.9. Fitzpatrick hasn’t had quite the same impact in terms of splash plays, but his play has been impressive nonetheless – with grades of 69.9 or better in coverage, run defense and tackling.

KICKERS: Chris Boswell, Pittsburgh Steelers

POINTS: Corey Bojorquez, Cleveland Browns

KICK RETURNS: Calvin Austin III, Pittsburgh Steelers

SPECIAL TEAMS: Winston Reid, Cleveland Browns

It feels strange not to have Justin Tucker in here, but he’s not the player he once was – making just 15 of 19 kicks – and Chris Boswell has the third-highest mark of all kickers to go along with a miss on the year. Reid gets the nod with his 86.4 special teams grade on his 186 special teams snaps.