AFC North: Biggest question for each team in 2021

Cleveland Browns: Has the defense adequately filled its holes from a year ago?

Joe Woods will begin his second year as the defensive coordinator for the club. This past season, the Browns made their first playoff appearance since 2002 and won a postseason game for the first time since 1994.

But the club’s albatross was a defensive unit that was substandard. Hence general manager Andrew Berry did quite the job acquiring talent via free agency. The headliners were seven-year pro Jadeveon Clowney and former Rams’ defensive backs John Johnson III and Troy Hill.

The franchise also used their first two picks in April on cornerback Greg Newsome II (1-Northwestern) and linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (2-Notre Dame).

The biggest issue was the inability to stop is to stop opposing quarterbacks from racking up big numbers. This despite the fact that the team owns one of the best pass rushers in the league in Myles Garrett. Woods’ unit will be tested in Week 1 in a playoff rematch with the Chiefs.

Cincinnati Bengals: Will the team’s offensive line finally emerge as a team strength?

There seems to be plenty of promise in the Queen City when it comes to the quarterback situation. The Bengals used the first overall pick in 2020 to grab Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow, who led LSU to a national championship in his final season.

But the talented youngster not make it all the way through his rookie campaign after suffering a knee injury in Week 11 at Washington. The offensive line has deteriorated over the years and remains a work in progress. The team used three of its 10 draft picks this year to address these trenches.

A year ago, Cincinnati ranked 24th in the league in rushing and the team surrendered a disappointing 48 sacks.