The AFC North is up next in our sophomore series that began this week at TDN. It was an impressive group of rookies last season in the Division that figures to shift the landscape in the coming years with two quarterbacks making the list.

I don’t want to get weird but when Mayfield took the field in Week Three against the Jets and replaced Tyrod Taylor, what ensued is one of the most magical sports moments I’ve ever experienced. Watching Mayfield lead the Browns who were down 14-0 with a bumbling offense to a 21-17 victory, giving Cleveland its first win in 19 games was chilling.

Three Browns made my list and "honorable mention" cases can certainly be made for LB Genard Avery and WR Antonio Callaway. I'm also very high on Austin Corbett who can settle into a guard position in Year Two after being bounced around between tackle and guard as a rookie. Cleveland won the 2018 NFL Draft and are primed to become a contender after years decades, as a cellar-dweller.

Mayfield proceeded to pass for 3,725 yards in 2018 and set a new NFL rookie record for passing touchdowns in a season with 27. He was a seven-time Rookie of the Week award winner and he looks primed to be one of the faces of the NFL for years to come. Mayfield was arguably the league’s best rookie regardless of positions in 2018.

Denzel Ward, CB, Cleveland Browns

The Browns took some heat for drafting a smallish corner with pick No. 4, but after the way Ward performed in his rookie season, nobody is questioning the selection now. His career got off to a blazing start, picking off Ben Roethlisberger twice in Week 1 and was a standout the rest of the way.

Ward finished his rookie season with 53 tackles, 11 pass breakups and three interceptions in 13 games. His dominant season landed him Pro Bowl Honors as a rookie.

Jessie Bates, S, Cincinnati Bengals

Bates was a second-round pick but he certainly performed like a first-round talent during his impressive rookie season for Cincinnati. Starting all 16 games, Bates tallied 111 tackles, seven pass break ups and three interceptions.

Thriving in deep zones, Bates' is providing Cincy with a true ballhawking centerfield while filling against the run extremely well. Bates is looking like one of the early steals of the draft.

Nick Chubb, RB, Cleveland Browns

Despite not receiving more than three carries in a game until Week Seven, Chubb finished in the top-10 of the entire league in both rushing yards and yards per carry. A dominant runner in the SEC, Chubb looked like he was still playing in college with the way he dashed and plowed through NFL defenses.

Being Cleveland’s lead back from Day One in 2019 could put him in contention for a rushing title.

Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens

Toss your conventional measures out the window when it comes to Jackson, he’s capable of quarterbacking a highly challenging offense to defend. While he didn't exactly dice up secondaries in traditional ways, Jackson’s mobility opened up so many opportunities in both the run and pass game which lead to Ravens' victories.

Jackson became Baltimore’s starter for the last seven games of the season, leading the Ravens to a 6-1 close to the season and was the only rookie to lead his team to the postseason. An offense featuring a supporting cast more suited to execute stylistically in ways that play to Jackson’s strengths, Baltimore’s offense promises to be appointment television in 2019.



