Youth Movements – AFC North

Even the most casual NFL fan is more than aware of the young superstars like Desean Jackson and Chris Johnson. These players have dominated both opposing teams and post game highlight reels very early in their careers. These superstars are not the only young players that are changing games on Sundays, however. The NFL is a rich with young talent, and much of goes largely unnoticed. 

For the next few weeks, we’ll be writing about the top young talent that you may or may not have heard of in each division. The focus is going to be on players that under 26 years old, and haven’t yet been named to the Pro Bowl, though many have developed into Pro Bowl level talents.

The AFC North is one of the most intriguing divisions in the league. It’s home to two of the top teams in the NFL with Baltimore and Pittsburg, a team that appears to be on the upswing in Cleveland, and a team rife with controversy in Cincinnati. Both the Browns and Bengals need a solid young foundation to catch up to the Ravens and Steelers. Which team has the upper hand?

1. QB Joe Flacco, Baltimore– Flacco has steadily improved since the Ravens drafted him in 2008, and as he heads into his 4th season can be considered one of the top quarterbacks in the league. He has started every game of his career, and has become the leader Baltimore hoped he would be. He posted a 93.6 QB rating in 2010, and with the addition of WR Torrey Smith, Flacco will have his sights set on having a Pro Bowl season in 2011.

2. RB Peyton Hillis, Cleveland– After amassing less than 400 yards in eight starts in the first two years of his career, Hillis exploded onto the scene in 2010. In 14 games, he ran for 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns. A hero to fantasy football players everywhere, he rode that wave onto the cover of Madden 2012. The next step for Hillis? Prove that 2010 wasn’t a fluke.

3. WR Mike Wallace, Pittsburgh– Wallace blossomed into an elite deep threat in 2010, scoring ten touchdowns and averaging a whopping 21 yards per catch. His performances have led some to debate whether or not he is the top deep threat in the league. While he may not be there yet, another season with his 2010 numbers could solidify his hold on that title.

4. RB Rashard Mendenhall, Pittsburgh– Mendenhall had an outstanding season in 2009, running for 4.6 yards per carry and cementing his spot as the starting running back for the Steelers. He took a small step back as the full time starter in 2010, where he saw his average drop to just 3.9 yards per carry. In spite of that, he has proven himself to be a reliable starter for Pittsburg, and will look to return to his 2009 form next season.

5. CB Joe Haden, Cleveland– One of the Browns first steps in rebuilding their secondary was drafting Haden in the first round of the 2010 draft. While he will forever be compared to Devin McCourty, (he was drafted ahead of the Patriots’ Pro Bowler) Haden had a very good rookie season himself. He started seven games, grabbed six interceptions, and has become a leader both on and off the field for the Browns.

6. OT Michael Oher, Baltimore– It’d be hard to find a 2009 rookie that entered the league with more fanfare than Oher. A movie, book, and interviews around the country led to Oher being perhaps the most well known offensive lineman in the country before he ever played a snap in the NFL. He spent his rookie year playing primarily at right tackle, but moved to left tackle due to injuries in 2010. Oher showed he has the capability to being a solid left tackle, but will need to be much more consistent in 2011.

7. QB Colt McCoy, Cleveland– Cleveland planned on having the former Texas Longhorn learn from the sidelines in 2010, but injuries forced McCoy into starting eight games. He only threw for six touchdowns, but completed 61% of his passes and showed some promise. He doesn’t have a great arm, but the Browns’ move to a west coast offense should play right into McCoy’s talents in 2011.

8. WR Jordan Shipley, Cincinnati– Playing behind Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens, one would expect that Shipley would see fewer passes than he would like. But in spite of having only four starts, Shipley still managed to catch 52 catches for 600 yards. Shipley also proved himself to be extremely reliable, going the entire season without a drop. It’s that kind of consistency that will make Shipley an often looked to target in 2011.

9. DT Ziggy Hood, Pittsburgh– It took an injury to Aaron Smith for Hood to get on the field, but he made the most of the opportunity. Hood had 20 tackles and three sacks during his nine regular season starts. His performance in the postseason, where he had two sacks, was a driving force in propelling the Steelers to the Super Bowl. Hood will have to fight for a starting gig in 2011, but he figures to win at least a larger share of playing time.

10. TE Jermaine Gresham, Cincinnati- The rookie tight end showed great promise in 2010 as both a blocker and a receiver for the Bengals. He started ten games, and played in the first 15 before missing the final game due to injury. He caught 52 passes (a Bengals’ rookie record), which was good for 3rd on the team. Gresham will head into 2011 as the undisputed starter for Cincinnati.

Honorable Mention:
LB Rey Maualuga, Cincinnati
DE Carlos Dunlap, Cincinnati
CB Eric Wright, Cleveland
S Tom Zbikowski, Baltimore