Taking stock of the AFC North -- a Myles Garrett-l...
Key takeaways
- Jackson pumped both fists and exclaimed: "I was like, 'Yes!
- The one team that's returning its head coach -- the Cincinnati Bengals -- has revamped its defense.
- "It's a transition year for the division, I would say," Ravens coach Jesse Minter said.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
ESPNBen Baby Close Ben Baby ESPN Staff Writer Ben Baby covers the Cincinnati Bengals for ESPN. He joined the company in July 2019. Prior to ESPN, he worked for various newspapers in Texas, most recently at The Dallas Morning News where he covered college sports. He provides daily coverage of the Bengals for ESPN.com, while making appearances on Sports Center, ESPN's NFL shows and ESPN Radio programs. A native of Grapevine, Texas, he graduated from the University of North Texas with a bachelor's degree in journalism. He is an adjunct journalism professor at Southern Methodist University and a member of the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA).Follow on X, Jamison HensleyCloseJamison HensleyESPN Staff WriterJamison Hensley is a reporter covering the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011, covering the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens beginning in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association Maryland Sportswriter of the Year award in 2018, and he authored a book titled: Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore Ravens. He was the Ravens beat writer for the Baltimore Sun from 2000-2011.Follow on X, Daniel OyefusiCloseDaniel OyefusiESPNDaniel Oyefusi covers the Cleveland Browns for ESPN. Prior to ESPN, he covered the Miami Dolphins for the Miami Herald, as well as the Baltimore Ravens for The Baltimore Sun.Follow on X, Brooke PryorCloseBrooke PryorESPN Staff WriterBrooke Pryor is a reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN who has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2019. She previously covered the Kansas City Chiefs for the Kansas City Star and the University of Oklahoma for The Oklahoman.Follow on XMultiple AuthorsJun 29, 2026, 06:00 AM ETEmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsAt the end of the Baltimore Ravens' minicamp, quarterback Lamar Jackson couldn't hide his excitement when asked about his reaction to Myles Garrett no longer being in the AFC North.
Jackson pumped both fists and exclaimed: "I was like, 'Yes! I don't have to see him!'"
This has been an offseason of change in the usually stable AFC North, from the Cleveland Browns sending Garrett, a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, to the Los Angeles Rams in a blockbuster trade to the departure of two of the longest-tenured head coaches (Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh). The one team that's returning its head coach -- the Cincinnati Bengals -- has revamped its defense.