AFC North 2014 Free Agency Signings

The AFC North division features three teams that finished at least .500 record season but only represented one playoff team in Cincinnati Bengals for having 11-5 record last season. Baltimore Ravens, the last year's defending champs, failed to qualify for the post-season and still on the process to find the replacements for key players in their last super bowl run.

The Cleveland Browns change of scenery in front office and coaching staff could held them back for another year as they are currently on the hunt for another quarterback in the future in this year's draft. They have two first round picks in pick 4 and 26 and the most likely scenario is to pick the best player available at 4 and pick the quarterback of the future in 26.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have aging players at their starting key positions leading to this year's regular season. Troy Polamalu and the Steelers defense lost some of their reputations when it comes to intimidating the opponent's offense and didn't bring some takeaways for their offense which resulted to a borderline playoff contender last season.

The Cincinnati Bengals balance attack in offense and defense lead them to another playoff berth for the third consecutive time under Marvin Lewis. Andy Dalton and A.J. Green tandem seems effective for this Bengals franchise but a little help or upgrade can bring this franchise to a deeper run on the playoffs.

With that said, let's take a look at AFC North 2014 free agency additions from the free agent market.
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CLEVELAND BROWNS

The Cleveland Browns is now on the hand of head coach Mike Pettine and will be the overall in-charge of Browns turnaround this next season. Having a head coach with a defensive background experience will give this talented defensive starters to reach their potential and be a top 10 defense around the league. Let's take a look at their recent free agency signings:

Alex Mack
Billy Cundiff
Jim Dray
Ben Tate
Donte Whitner
Andrew Hawkins
Paul McQuistan
Nate Burleson
Chris Pressley

Alex Mack intrigues the public when he signed with Jacksonville Jaguars without consulting with the Browns management about his pending contract with the team. Technically, the Browns have the rights to match any offer to their center because of the transition tag they put on Mack before the free agency began. Mack will be on the Browns roster for another five years and will help Joe Thomas to anchor their offensive line in years to come.

Ben Tate is now the starting running back on paper for the Browns this coming regular season. Drafting a running back to compete with Tate will boost their offensive backfield and to forget the damage Trent Richardson left for their hometown fans.
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BALTIMORE RAVENS

The Baltimore Ravens were the super bowl defending champions last year but failed to execute the way they rolled in their last super bowl run. This is the first time John Harbaugh missed the playoffs and finished the season with an 8-8 season for the last 6 years. Expect the Ravens and Harbaugh make a quick fixes to their roster with this recent acquisitions this offseason:

Terrell Suggs
Dennis Pitta
Eugene Monroe
Jacoby Jones
Daryl Smith
Steve Smith
Justin Forsett

Terrell Suggs extension might be their best move this offseason and their worst move might have been not giving priority to their star running back Ray Rice contract extension. Ray Rice has been productive since he entered the league with the Ravens and having a backup behind him in Bernard Pierce makes Ozzie Newsome think twice about the future of Ray Rice in Ravens organization.

Steve Smith is their latest addition to their powerhouse roster and will give some leadership which vacated by Ray Lewis and Ed Reed last season. Having a proven star player to their roster will give Joe Flacco and his offensive weapons some boost of confidence to get things done next season.
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PITTSBURGH STEELERS

The Pittsburgh Steelers aging roster can be filled with some capable rookies in this upcoming draft. Player like Polamalu, Roethlisberger, and Miller are still providing the same impact they gave for the Steelers but eventual successive starters should be groomed now under their wings. Let's take a look at their free agency additions:

Jason Worilds
Troy Polamalu
Heath Miller
Cody Wallace
Will Allen
Greg Warren
Cam Thomas
Guy Whimper
Arthur Moats
Brice McCain
Darrius Heyward-Bey
Adam Podlesh

Troy Polamalu and Heath Miller were offered contracts that can make them as a Steeler for the rest of their careers. With LaMarr Woodley being released from the roster, Jason Worilds was expected to handle Woodley's role as a primary pass rusher and successive starter for their defense.

Darrius Heyward-Bey gets another chance to start for his third team in his sixth year in the league. With Ben Roethlisberger cannon arm, expect Heyward-Bey to go deep and burn his defenders next season.
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CINCINNATI BENGALS

The Cincinnati Bengals are the crown jewel of this AFC North division as they are the only playoff representative for their division last post-season. Marvin Lewis' ability to improve players to meet their full potential makes the whole Bengals roster have some depth at all positions. Here are their free agent signings in the first wave of free agency:

Brandon Tate
Jason Campbell
R.J. Stanford
Domata Peko
Danieal Manning
Dane Sanzenbacher
Sam Montgomery
T.J. Conley

The signing of Jason Campbell makes Andy Dalton on the hot seat for not creating more plays down the field. Having a competitor that has a lot of arm strength than Dalton made him more conscious about protecting the football and throwing accurate deep balls.

Sam Montgomery is the next Marvin Lewis experiment of taking troubled players to his wing and groom them to be legitimate starters in this league, see: Vontaze Burfict. Burfict and Montgomery is very common when it comes to talent and having a low reputation for the lack of work-ethic. Now that Montgomery will have an offseason together with Lewis and Burfict, he will see the ropes on how to discipline himself the way Burfict did to himself under Lewis.
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OVERALL

The Baltimore Ravens won the free agency signings throughout AFC North for taking care of their starters' future and Bengals for their high-risk, high-reward signing of Sam Montgomery. The Steelers were able to sign proven players to compete for their training camp while the Browns change their philosophy about signing big contract for unproven starters on free agency.