One of many greatest names amongst all specialists within the AFC North over the past decade is now not round, and with that departure comes a change within the heirachy throughout the division on the place.
Justin Tucker is now not a member of the Baltimore Ravens and is dealing with a 10-game suspension from the NFL attributable to violation of the non-public conduct coverage.
With him out of the division, Chris Boswell is the clear-cut, unquestioned greatest kicker within the division, bar none, whereas the Ravens are struggling to search out a solution shifting ahead. Elsewhere within the division the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns are nonetheless trying to find consistency within the kicking and punting facets of the sport.
Realizing that, at this time let’s look into the ultimate place installment of my Rating the Rooms: AFC North collection right here at Steelers Depot, ending up with the specialists.
1. PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Not solely is Chris Boswell the perfect kicker within the AFC North, he could be the perfect kicker within the NFL, interval.
Final season, Boswell linked on 41-of-44 subject targets for the Steelers and was a first-team All-Professional, whereas additionally incomes a Professional Bowl nod. He additionally turned the first member of the Steelers to steer the NFL in scoring final 12 months, capping off a dominant season from begin to end that noticed him primarily be the MVP of the Steelers’ offense all year long.
Whereas Boswell was dominant within the kicking sport, the Steelers needed to alter at punter early within the season. After signing Cameron Johnston in free company to shore up the punting place, the Steelers appeared to repair the difficulty on the place, however Johnston was misplaced for the season within the fourth quarter of the season opener after being rolled into on a punt.
That led to the Steelers bringing in Corliss Waitman, who held down the job the remainder of the season and performed nicely, averaging 46.4 yards per punt. Now, he returns this summer time competing for the punting spot with Johnston, who reportedly seems fairly good to date this summer time.
Together with the kicker and punter tandem, the Steelers are in a great place at lengthy snapper with Christian Kuntz, who’s again for his fifth season with the Steelers. Kuntz has had some good moments with the Steelers, however he’s been inconsistent lately, and the Steelers now have one other lengthy snapper on the roster in Tucker Addington to try to push Kuntz in coaching camp.
2. CINCINNATI BENGALS
Following three seasons over 80% conversion charge within the NFL, Evan McPherson took a step again in Yr 4 with the Cincinnati Bengals, connecting on simply 72.7% of his subject targets, going 16-for-22 on the season. The 16 made subject targets had been eight fewer than his fewest subject targets made in a season within the NFL so far.
He nonetheless has an enormous leg and stays traditionally correct, however he must bounce again in 2025, particularly with the Bengals pushing for a playoff spot as soon as once more.
At punter, Ryan Rekhow returns for an additional 12 months with the Bengals after impressing as a rookie, averaging 49.1 yards per punt, permitting the Bengals to show over the place to him full-time, ending the Kevin Huber period. Rekhow has a monster leg, recording an 80-yard punt final season.
Pittsburgh-area native and former Pitt Panthers lengthy snapper Cal Adomitis is again for Yr 4 with the Bengals, whereas underfed rookie free agent William Wagner out of Michigan will compete with him.
The Bengals have a younger crop of specialists that would develop right into a standout trio down the road throughout the division.
3. BALTIMORE RAVENS
Shedding Tucker is a large blow, contemplating he was the perfect kicker in soccer for numerous years and was on a Corridor of Fame tempo. The off-field investigation is ugly and has him probably and not using a job within the NFL for good, on prime of his 10-game suspension in 2025.
To switch him, the Ravens are relying on rookie kicker Tyler Loop out of Arizona. In his profession with the Wildcats, Loop linked on 67-of-80 subject targets, good for 83.8% conversion charge. He was praised for his energy and accuracy throughout his collegiate profession, and the Ravens are banking on him selecting up the baton at kicker rather than Tucker.
Rookie undrafted free agent John Hoyland will probably be in camp to assist push Loop.
The Ravens have standout punter Jordan Stout returning for Yr 4, coming off of a 2024 season during which he common 46.38 yards per punt on 55 punts, together with a protracted of 70 yards on the season. He is without doubt one of the higher punters within the sport and is poised to take a step ahead because the chief of the group.
Lengthy snapper Nick Moore returns for his fifth season with the Ravens and is simply two seasons faraway from a second-team All-Professional accolade with the Ravens.
4. CLEVELAND BROWNS
The reigning punting yards chief within the NFL returns for an additional 12 months in Cleveland as Corey Bojorquez is again to steer the specialists for the Browns. On 89 punts final season, Bojorquez averaged 49.29 yards per punt, together with a booming lengthy of 84 yards. He additionally downed 36 of his 89 punts contained in the 20-yard line.
He has a large leg and might constantly flip the sphere.
The issue for the Browns resides at kicker, the place Dustin Hopkins is again in camp with the Browns however is coming off of a season during which he linked on simply 18-of-27 subject targets, good for simply 66.67%. The Browns not too long ago introduced again Andre Szmyt to compete with him in coaching camp in an effort to enhance the place.
Lengthy snapper Rex Sunahara is the chief within the clubhouse to win the job out of camp, whereas undrafted rookie free agent Brent Matisick will battle him in coaching camp after spending the previous few years at TCU.
2024 AFC North Specialists rankings:
No. 1 – Baltimore Ravens
No. 2 – Pittsburgh Steelers
No. 3 – Cincinnati Bengals
No. 4 – Cleveland Browns
