Rating The Rooms: AFC North Specialists
One of many largest names amongst all specialists within the AFC North over the past decade is not round, and with that departure comes a change within the heirachy throughout the division on the place.
Justin Tucker is not a member of the Baltimore Ravens and is dealing with a 10-game suspension from the NFL because of violation of the non-public conduct coverage.
With him out of the division, Chris Boswell is the clear-cut, unquestioned finest kicker within the division, bar none, whereas the Ravens are struggling to seek out a solution transferring ahead. Elsewhere within the division the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns are nonetheless trying to find consistency within the kicking and punting points of the sport.
Figuring out that, immediately 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 most effective kicker within the AFC North, he is likely to be the most effective kicker within the NFL, interval.
Final season, Boswell related on 41-of-44 area targets for the Steelers and was a first-team All-Professional, whereas additionally incomes a Professional Bowl nod. He additionally grew to become the first member of the Steelers to guide the NFL in scoring final 12 months, capping off a dominant season from begin to end that noticed him basically be the MVP of the Steelers’ offense all year long.
Whereas Boswell was dominant within the kicking sport, the Steelers needed to regulate 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 problem 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 properly, averaging 46.4 yards per punt. Now, he returns this summer season competing for the punting spot with Johnston, who reportedly seems fairly good thus far this summer season.
Together with the kicker and punter tandem, the Steelers are in a great spot 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 attempt to push Kuntz in coaching camp.
2. CINCINNATI BENGALS
Following three seasons over 80% conversion price within the NFL, Evan McPherson took a step again in 12 months 4 with the Cincinnati Bengals, connecting on simply 72.7% of his area targets, going 16-for-22 on the season. The 16 made area targets have been eight fewer than his fewest area targets made in a season within the NFL to this point.
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 12 months 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 might develop right into a standout trio down the road throughout the division.
3. BALTIMORE RAVENS
Shedding Tucker is an enormous blow, contemplating he was the most effective kicker in soccer for quite a few years and was on a Corridor of Fame tempo. The off-field investigation is ugly and has him probably with out a job within the NFL for good, on prime of his 10-game suspension in 2025.
To interchange him, the Ravens are relying on rookie kicker Tyler Loop out of Arizona. In his profession with the Wildcats, Loop related on 67-of-80 area targets, good for 83.8% conversion price. He was praised for his energy and accuracy throughout his collegiate profession, and the Ravens are banking on him choosing up the baton at kicker instead of Tucker.
Rookie undrafted free agent John Hoyland will likely be in camp to assist push Loop.
The Ravens have standout punter Jordan Stout returning for 12 months 4, coming off of a 2024 season by which he common 46.38 yards per punt on 55 punts, together with a protracted of 70 yards on the season. He is likely 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 guide 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 an enormous 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 by which he related on simply 18-of-27 area targets, good for simply 66.67%. The Browns just lately 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
