What transpired in the AFC North on opening night of the draft?
Day 1 of the 2024 NFL draft saw all but one team from the AFC North draft a player in the first round. The Cleveland Browns did not possess a Round 1 pick this year while the Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Baltimore Ravens each added a new prospect to their roster.
Let’s break down the action in the division from the opening night of the draft.
Cincinnati Bengals
Pick: No. 18
Selection: OT Amarius Mims, Georgia
The Bengals made the fifth selection of an offensive tackle in the first round with the No. 18 pick, taking Mims.
Mims is an enticing prospect at the position given his elite size (6-foot-8, 340 pounds) and athletic ability. He’s somewhat raw with limited starting experience but has the tools to be an instant impact player with greater long-term upside.
Mims’ immediate fit in Cincinnati remains to be seen given the Bengals just signed veteran right tackle Trent Brown in free agency and have Orlando Brown Jr. as their starting left tackle. The Bengals may tool with Mims’ positional versatility early on to get him on the field before he ultimately usurps Brown as the team’s long-term option on the right side.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Pick: No. 20
Selection: OT/OG Troy Fautanu, Washington
After using their 2023 first-round pick on an offensive lineman, the Steelers again are adding to their front-five with the selection of Fautanu out of Washington.
Fautanu was thought to be gone by pick No. 20 but the Steelers stopped him from sliding further. The 6-foot-4 combo tackle/guard brings impressive athleticism and versatility to the table as a prospect.
Fautanu’s skill set may best translate to the guard position in the NFL despite the fact that he started 29 games at left tackle for Washington. His size and mobility in space give him an advantage in many matchups and he should be an immediate starting-caliber player for the Steelers in Year 1.
Baltimore Ravens
Pick: No. 30
Selection: CB Nate Wiggins, Clemson
Thanks to a large run on offensive players, the Ravens had their choice of cornerback prospects to pick at No. 30 overall. They opted to take Clemson’s Nate Wiggins, marking their first Round 1 cornerback selection since 2017. Wiggins is an elite athlete who ran a 4.28 in the 40-yard dash at the scouting combine while measuring at 6-foot-1.
The 20-year-old is fast and agile enough to stick with most wideouts in coverage and has demonstrated playmaking chops as well. His leaner frame is a potential concern in run support and tackling but as his foundational tools are enticing. He should see plenty of defensive snaps early for the Ravens in the defensive backfield.