The AFC North has been won more times by the Pittsburgh Steelers than any other team since 2001. The organization has been crowned division champions 10 different times. However, only one of those titles has come in the last five years with the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals winning two apiece.
Steelers head coach, Mike Tomlin roams the grounds at then-Heinz field prior to a 2021 regular season matchup in Pittsburgh, PA. | Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (@JSKO_Photo Twitter)
It's never an easy task going up against a rival, but success in those games is key to improve playoff chances. It might just be the best division in the NFL in 2023 and going forward, but it is looking like Pittsburgh will have a strong advantage over the other three teams in the coming years.
Depending on what happens surrounding the contract negotiations with Joe Burrow and the Bengals as well as Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, all three of Pittsburgh's divisional opponents will have a quarterback locked into a lengthy and expensive contract. The Cleveland Browns already gave Deshaun Watson a massive fully guaranteed $230 million deal.
Burrow is likely to receive an extension this offseason and Cincinnati will see their favorable cap situation become a lot harder to manage. Andre Perrotta, a cap guru on Twitter, has the Bengals giving Burrow a hundreds of millions, and rightfully so.
Here's a proposed contract extension for Joe Burrow:
— Andre Perrotta (@andreperrotta13) February 9, 2023
8yrs/$408M
$142,635,000 fully GRTD at Signing $240,635,000 in total guarantees
$51M AAV
$60M Signing Bonus
2023 Cap Hit = $18,980,025 ($7,464,982 increase from currently scheduled $11.5M Cap Hit)
2023 Cash Spend= $61.01M pic.twitter.com/4BZzaqcgPm
The Bengals had a perfect situation the last two years given Burrow's dominance and rookie contract. That will get a little bit harder to manage after he cashes in and the organization is strapped for cash.
Cincinnati Bengals, quarterback Joe Burrow (#9) scrambles under pressure by Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Jamir Jones (#40) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Pittsburgh. | AP Photo / Gene J. Puskar
Jackson is a bit more complicated because of how far off he and Baltimore have been in terms of an extension. It's possible the team applies the franchise tag and gives him permission to seek a trade elsewhere if a different organization is willing to pay him. However, head coach, John Harbaugh was clear at the end of the 2022 season that Jackson will be back.
Their current cap situation isn't as flexible as Cincinnati so giving Jackson a huge deal will put them in a bit of a whole that will affect future spending a great deal. They will be focused to draft exceptionally well without much room for error.
According to Over The Cap, the Browns are currently over $13 million in the negative and Watson's staggering near-$55 million cap hit isn't going to allow them to be very aggressive in free agency whatsoever. On the Steelers' end, Kenny Pickett will be on his rookie contract the next few years before an extension is even considered, which is a huge advantage.
Steelers quarterback, Kenny Pickett (#8) gets hit by Baltimore Ravens linebacker, Roquan Smith (#18) at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA. | Credit: Fred Vuich / Associated Press
Steelers Must Take Advantage Of Pickett's Contract
Pittsburgh had the highest-paid defense in the league in 2022, but not having a huge quarterback contract on the books needs to be capitalized on while other teams in the AFC North struggle to move cash around after each season the next few years. It is the biggest advantage the Steelers are likely to have in the near future and can't be overlooked.
Do you think the quarterback contract situation in the AFC North isn't being talked about enough? Let us know in the comments below!
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