AFC North stock up, stock down: Late-rounders outshine first-rounders
With the second week of preseason just about in the books, teams are beginning to get an idea of who will contribute this year and who will not. Here are how six stocks in the AFC North are shaping up heading into the season:
Stock up
Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Cleveland Browns quarterback: Thompson-Robinson, Cleveland's fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, has quickly exceeded expectations. The rookie quarterback has completed 30-of-46 passes for 348 yards and two touchdowns while adding 65 rushing yards in the preseason.
Deshaun Watson is the QB1, but Thompson-Robinson has a real shot at being the Browns' QB2 by the start of the season. He must beat out quarterbacks Joshua Dobbs and Kellen Mond but he's certainly made a strong case for himself thus far. It will likely come down to Cleveland's final preseason matchup against the Chiefs on Saturday to decide who will win the backup job.
Calvin Austin III, Pittsburgh Steelers receiver: Austin III was one of Pittsburgh's biggest mysteries after being drafted in the fourth round last year and suffering a foot injury in training camp that ended his rookie season before it started. That's not the case anymore.
He finished the Steelers' first preseason game as the team's leading receiver and rusher with 96 all-purpose yards. This past weekend he proved to be a weapon Pittsburgh will use all over the field after an impressive punt return that showcased his 4.32-second 40-yard dash speed.
Andrei Iosivas, Cincinnati Bengals receiver: Cincinnati may already have the most talented wide receiver room in the NFL and Iosivas is only further proving that point. The sixth-round wide receiver has continued to impress this offseason and now has nine catches for 94 yards through the Bengals' first two preseason games.
It will be tough for Iosivas to see extended playing time with an already strong core of wide receivers in Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd. But Iosivas is certainly on his way to establishing himself as WR4 and he is one unfortunate injury away from needing to step up in one of the league's top offenses.
Stock down
Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers running back: There is a controversy brewing in Pittsburgh for who the RB1 should be in 2023. It may come as a surprise after the Steelers used their first-round pick on Harris in 2021, but he has underwhelmed in his limited preseason action while backup RB Jaylen Warren, an undrafted free agent in 2022, had a 62-yard touchdown against the Bills.
Harris has just two rushes for six yards and one catch for a loss of one yard this preseason. The third-year running back's longest career run is also just 37 yards. Warren seems to have better home run speed with some believing he'll be Pittsburgh's starting running back by season's end.
Broderick Jones, Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle: Pittsburgh traded up in the first round this year to draft Jones, who the team is hoping will be its franchise blindside blocker. However, he seems to have lost the job to Dan Moore Jr., who allowed seven sacks a season ago.
Jones' stock being down is more a product of Moore Jr.'s play than his own, but it is still a little disappointing as fans may have to wait a while to see the Steelers' 2023 first-rounder play meaningful snaps. Jones still has a couple of weeks to change his coaches' minds, but it seems Moore Jr. will get the nod to start the season.
Cade York, Cleveland Browns kicker: York, a fourth-round pick in 2022, was serviceable in his rookie year with a 75 percent field goal percentage and a long of 58 yards. However, the second-year kicker has since created a cause for concern in Cleveland.
After missing both field goals in the Browns' first two preseason games, fans were hoping he would turn things around this past weekend. It started out well as he went three-for-three but when given the chance to win the game, York missed once again, ending the game in a tie. It's time for Cleveland to bring in some outside competition.
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