Players retained, acquired, and gone for all AFC North teams

The 2025 NFL league year is well underway, and while the first wave of NFL Free Agency is dying down, another wave usually kicks up before the NFL Draft. The third, and mostly final, wave of free agency occurs after the draft when players look for teams who can provide them the best chance to play in the upcoming season.

But with just about two weeks into the league year it is important to take a look at the players who were acquired, retained, and lost within the AFC North. Some teams acquired players via trade, many kept their own free agents, and there were some key losses along the way.

In this article I’ll outline the players who were signed, one way or another, and key losses for the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals, and Pittsburgh Steelers. So, let’s get to the AFC North news…

Baltimore Ravens

Retained

LT Ronnie Stanley: 3 years, $60 million
FB Patrick Ricard: 1 year
OL Ben Cleveland: 1 year
WR Tylan Wallace

Signed

QB Cooper Rush: 2 years, $12.2 million
WR DeAndre Hopkins: 1 year, $6 million
LB Jake Hummel

Biggest Losses

Patrick Mekari (OL)
Brandon Stephens (CB)
Malik Harrison (LB)

Cincinnati Bengals

Retained

WR Ja’Marr Chase: 4 years, $161 million
WR Tee Higgins: 4 years, $115 million
DL B.J. Hill: 3 years, $33 million
TE Mike Gesicki: 3 years, $25.5 million
EDGE Joseph Ossai: 1 year, $7 million
OL Cody Ford: 2 years, $6 million
LB Oren Burks: 2 years, $5 million
CB Marco Wilson: 1 year, $1.52 million
TE Tanner Hudson: 1 year
LS Cal Adomitis: 1 year
EDGE Cameron Sample: 1 year

Signed

DT Tedarrell Slaton: 2 years, $15.1 million
RB Samaje Perine: 2 years, $3.8 million

Biggest Losses

Alex Cappa (OG)
Sheldon Rankins (DT)
Sam Hubbard (DT)

Cleveland Browns

Traded for

QB Kenny Pickett from Eagles

Retained

EDGE Myles Garrett: 4 years, $160 million

Signed

DT Maliek Collins: 2 years, $20 million
OT Cornelius Lucas: 2 years, $10 million
EDGE Joe Tryon-Shoyinka: 1 year, $4.75 million
LB Devin Bush: 1 year, $3.25 million

Biggest Losses

Dalvin Tomlinson (DT)
Juan Thornhill (S)
James Hudson III (OT)

Pittsburgh Steelers

Traded for

WR DK Metcalf from Seahawks, then agreed on 5-year, $150 million contract

Signed

CB Darius Slay: 1 year, $10 million (Read more)
QB Mason Rudolph: 2 years, $8 million (Read more)
LB Malik Harrison: 2 years, $10 million
RB Kenneth Gainwell: 1 year, $1.79 million (Read more)
TE Donald Parham Jr.: 1 year, $1.17 million
OC Ryan McCollum: 1 year, $1.1 million
DB Brandin Echols
Juan Thornhill: 1 year
WR Ben Skowronek: 2-year

Biggest Losses

Justin Fields (QB)
Najee Harris (RB)
James Daniels (G)

Be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the rest of free agency, and the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft.