AFC North Free Agency Recap

by shake n bake on Mar 7, 2009 7:47 PM EST in Mocking the AFC North

A week into free agency and players ranging from the first 100million dollar defender, to special teamers finding have found new homes.

Baltimore Ravens

Free Agents Signed (Previous Team)	Remaining Free Agents	Free Agents Lost (New Team)
C, Matt Birk (MIN)	QB, Kyle Boller	C, Jason Brown (STL)
CB, Domonique Foxworth (ATL)	QB, Todd Bouman	S, Jim Leonard (NYJ)
LB, Ray Lewis (BAL)	WR, Terrence Copper	LB, Bart Scott (NYJ)
WR, Marcus Maxwell (BAL)	RB, P.J. Daniels	DE, Lee Vickers (NYG)
*P, Sam Koch (BAL)**	CB, Corey Ivy
*S, Dawan Landry (BAL)**	TE, Scott Kuhn
*WR, Demetrius Williams (BAL)**	WR, Marcus Maxwell
*TE, Quinn Sypniewski (BAL)**	CB, Chris McAllister (cut)
LB/DE Terrell Suggs^ (BAL)	LB, Robert McCune
CB, Evan Oglesby	FB, Lorenzo Neal
	WR, Edward Williams
	OT, Chad Slaughter
	K, Matt Stover
	TE, Daniel Wilcox

*=Tendered RFA ^=Franchised Player

The Ravens have a stack of free agents this offseason, but the big names have been settled. They kept 2 of their big 3 FA LBs, lost Center Jason Brown to St. Louis and released CB Chris McAllister. Brown and McAllister have already been replaced and the other losses and remaining FAs are depth or part time players. The McAllister to Foxworth change makes Baltimore younger and very likely healthier at one CB spot, but the other is still manned by the aged and often injured Samari Rolle and the Ravens 4th and 6th CBs are still unsigned. The situation at WR is similar. Depth leaving, and an upgrade to a starter a need. Bart Scott's exit leaves a hole in the starting D, but the Ravens excell at picking up great defenders mid-late in the draft. The Ravens' needs remain largely unchanged through the first week of free agency. CB/WR/LB the 1st round possibilities, with all 3 needing to be addressed at some point.

Cincinnati Bengals

Free Agents Signed (Previous Team)	Remaining Free Agents	Free Agents Lost (New Team)
HB, Cedric Benson (CIN)	G, James Blair (cut)	OT, Stacy Andrews (PHI)
LB, Darryl Blackstock (CIN)	CB, Marcus Washington (cut)	QB, Ryan Fitzpatrick (BUF)
WR, Laveranues Coles (NYJ)	S, John Busing (cut)	WR, T.J. Houshmandzadeh (SEA)
FS, Chris Crocker (CIN)	DL, Victor DeGrate (cut)	WR Marcus Maxwell (BAL)
HB, DeDe Dorsey (CIN)	C, Eric Ghiaciuc	S, Ethan Kilmer (MIA)
DB, Jamar Fletcher (CIN)	WR, Glen Holt
K, Shane Graham^ (CIN)	DB, Dexter Jackson (cut)
DT, Orien Harris (CIN)	LB, Corey Mays
QB, J.T. O'Sullivan (SF)	DT, John Thornton
*LB, Rashad Jeanty (CIN)**
*LB, Brandon Johnson (CIN)**

*=Tendered RFA ^=Franchised Player

The Bengals are treading water in free agency. Housh and Fitzpatrick have been replaced and the lost of Andrews doesn't change the needs since the OL needed rebuilding anyway. An OL overhaul and boosting the D with high impact players are still the needs in Cincy.

Cleveland Browns

Free Agents Signed (Previous Team)	Remaining Free Agents	Free Agents Lost (New Team)
SS, Mike Adams (CLE)	CB, Terry Cousin (cut)	S, Sean Jones (PHI)
DT, C.J. Mosley (NYJ)	DB, Travis Daniels	LB, Andra Davis (DEN)
TE, Robert Royal (BUF)	TE, Darnell Dinkins	QB, Bruce Gradkowski (OAK)
	G, Lennie Friedman	P, Mike Dragosavich (IND)
	LB, Kris Griffin	S, Steve Cargile (NYG)
	DB, Daven Holly	(Traded TE, Kellen Winslow to TB)
	LB, Willie McGinest
	LB, Shantee Orr
	DE, Chase Pittman
	RB, Jason Wright
	G, Scott Young

The Browns haven't been veryfree agency, allowing their top 2 FAs to leave, only making one resigning the first week and signing two non-big names. The Browns biggest move was trading TE Kellen Winslow to Tampa for a 2009 2nd rounder and a 2010 5th rounder. With Winslow out, and trade rumors surrounding Braylon Edwards the Browns are even more in need of offensive firepower. At the same time the defense lost two key players as well as 7 other lower-level players still unsigned.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Free Agents Signed (Previous Team)	Remaining Free Agents	Free Agents Lost (New Team)
G, Chris Kemoeatu (PIT)	QB, Charlie Batch	WR, Nate Washington (TEN)
TE, Sean McHugh (PIT)	P, Mitch Berger	S, Anthony Smith (GB)
*T, Willie Colon (PIT)**	CB, Fernando Bryant
*DB, Anthony Madison (PIT)**	TE, Jon Dekker
T, Max Starks^	T, Trai Essex
	LB, Keyaron Fox
	LB, Andre Frazier
	LB, Arnold Harrison
	QB, Byron Leftwich
	CB, Bryant McFadden
	DE, Orpheus Roye
	G, Kendall Simmons (cut)
	T, Marvel Smith

*=Tendered RFA ^=Franchised Player

The defending Champs haven't generated much FA press. A handful of re-signings, one FA signed away and the rest still waiting. The OL which was widely seen as the unit in most need of an upgrade may lose a good number of players.

Free Agent/signings info from NFL.com and ESPN.com

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