AFC North stock up, down at midpoint: Two players prove to be overpaid

At the season's midpoint, here's whose stock is up and down in the AFC North.

Stock up

Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback: Burrow was clearly not healthy from his calf injury through the first month of the season when the Bengals started 1-3, but it seems that he is officially back and Cincinnati looks as dangerous as ever. On the Bengals' three-game win streak, Burrow has thrown for 785 yards, eight touchdowns and just two interceptions.

The schedule doesn't get any easier with the 5-3 Buffalo Bills on deck, but Cincinnati pulled off the upset over the 49ers a week ago and is looking to continue making the rest of the league regret letting it stick around in a wide-open AFC.

Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns defensive end: Garrett is arguably leading the race for the 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He is off to a dominant start to the season on one of the best defenses in the NFL. The former No. 1 overall pick in 2017 has the third most sacks (8.5) and most forced fumbles (4) in the league.

The 27-year-old also blocked a crucial field goal in a Week 7 win against the Colts, proving he can do it all. The biggest question that remains is whether Garrett will have the opportunity to continue proving his case into the postseason. If he keeps wrecking games, it may just be enough to help the Browns get there.

Joey Porter Jr., Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback: Porter Jr., the No. 32 overall pick in 2023 and son of former Steelers LB Joey Porter, has been impressive in his limited action, and head coach Mike Tomlin finally named him a starter over struggling veteran CB Levi Wallace.

The rookie cornerback has allowed just three catches for 32 yards and recorded an interception on 14 targets, per Pro Football Focus. However, now the true test begins being a full-time starter the rest of the way. In Week 9, Porter Jr. will face All-Pro WR DeAndre Hopkins with Pro Bowl wide receivers Amari Cooper, Ja'Marr Chase and DK Metcalf following soon after. 

Stock down

Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns quarterback: Watson has not played a full game since Week 3 as he has dealt with a shoulder injury that is expected to sideline him for four to six weeks. This week will be six weeks since his initial injury, but some believe he reaggravated it in Week 7 before he was pulled from the game in the first quarter.

However, even when Watson has played, it hasn't been pretty. The $230 million quarterback has thrown for just 683 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions in four games, which surely has Cleveland beginning to regret its decision to go all in on him. Watson did practice on Wednesday, but whether he's playing in Week 9 is still unknown. If he does, how well will he even play?

Odell Beckham Jr., Baltimore Ravens wide receiver: Beckham Jr. was one of the Ravens' biggest signings of the offseason, but it's looking more and more like an overpay every week. Baltimore signed him to a one-year, $15 million contract, but he has just 14 catches for 162 yards and zero touchdowns to show for it.

It seems Father Time has finally caught up to the soon-to-be 31-year-old as well. He has suffered two season-ending ACL injuries and is on his third team in three years. Head coach John Harbaugh believes better days are ahead, telling reporters, "I just think it's gonna pop. He's going to start getting some big catches for us." But if Beckham Jr. continues to struggle, 2023 may just be his farewell tour in the NFL.

Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers running back: Harris is looking like the next failed first-round running back. He posted back-to-back 1,000+ rushing yard seasons but has yet to average at least four yards per carry in a season. The 25-year-old has just 313 yards and one touchdown on the ground in 2023.

To make matters worse, backup RB Jaylen Warren has continued to make splash plays when given opportunities. Pittsburgh has shut down any rumors of a running back controversy this year, but that may no longer be the case next season when the team must decide whether or not to pick up Harris's fifth-year option.