It’s a holiday weekend here at The Athletic — we’re referring, of course, to the return of the AFC North Whiparound. Each week during the regular season (and occasionally during the offseason), our AFC North writers tackle the pressing questions and biggest storylines around the division. Today, we’re discussing changes in a new-look division, 53-man roster surprises and the state of the QB groups. A year ago, this division featured the NFL’s two longest-tenured coaches — Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens are two of the three AFC North teams with first-year head coaches — Mike McCarthy (Pittsburgh) and Jesse Minter (Baltimore), as well as the Cleveland Browns’ Todd Monken. What are the most significant changes under the new regimes? And for the Cincinnati Bengals, what does Zac Taylor need to change to remain the longest-tenured coach in this division?Mike DeFabo (Steelers): The Steelers drafted Mason Rudolph in 2018 with the hope he could be Ben Roethlisberger’s successor, yet they didn’t even employ a quarterbacks coach. This offseason, a franchise that’s still looking for the long-term answer under center finally shifted priorities toward the league’s most important position. Pittsburgh pivoted from its mold of young, defense-minded coaches to hire McCarthy in large part because of his offensive reputation. The new coach has taken an incredibly hands-on and detailed approach to fundamentals in his Quarterback School. The decision to keep four quarterbacks (though controversial) highlights the renewed emphasis on the position.Jeff Zrebiec (Baltimore Ravens): Most of the changes under Minter have been more subtle, such as different practice times and shorter and slower-paced practices. The Ravens’ decision-makers made clear when they hired Minter they weren’t looking for him to overhaul the way Harbaugh and the organization operated. It was more about Minter’s making a few tweaks and putting his own touch on some things; he’s done that. If you ask the players, the most significant change has been the coaching staff’s putting more of an emphasis on the details. The Ravens have spent a lot of time drilling and discussing situational football and refining the way certain skills are taught and coached. There’s just been a different vibe altogether — that’s neither unexpected nor is it a shot at Harbaugh and the previous staff. It’s just felt like a fresh start for everybody. Change can be energizing, and that’s been the feeling around the team facility.Is 2026 the Cincinnati Bengals' best offense under Joe Burrow?Robert MaysPaul Dehner Jr. (Bengals): As much as continuity ruled the offseason from a coaching staff perspective, the changes on both sides of the ball quickly became the storyline. On defense, the new personnel up front have them leaning into the five-down linemen base defense that failed miserably when attempted last year because they didn’t have the players to pull it off. On offense, Taylor and offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher’s implementation of the under-center offense to find more explosives in the run and play-action pass game has been notable. How quick and successful will the implementation of these initiatives be, or how anxious will Taylor be to pivot to old ways?Zac Jackson (Browns): For the Browns, the changes are more notable in personnel. Myles Garrett is gone. The Browns actually drafted NFL-quality wide receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston. There’s a nice group of talented young players, a new offensive scheme and, in Deshaun Watson, a starting quarterback whom nobody outside the building thinks has any chance to succeed. Clearly, Monken thinks he and Watson can make it work to some extent. But Watson publicly acknowledged he doesn’t know whether he can deal with the negativity, and his entire tenure has been a wreck to this point. How good can he be after nearly two years away? And what do the Browns actually hope to accomplish this year? We’ll start to see next weekend.Cut day has come and gone. The initial 53-man rosters are finalized, and the depth charts are coming into focus. What was the biggest summer surprise for your team when it came to a player or position battle?DeFabo: Four quarterbacks stole the headline on cutdown day, but the more surprising move was the Steelers placed safety DeShon Elliott on injured reserve. The 29-year-old safety was limited to just five games last year because of injury. Even though he played in the second preseason game, his recovery from a hyperextended knee and hamstring tear is ongoing. That’s a significant blow. The depth at this position group was already a question mark behind Elliott and Jaquan Brisker, an offseason addition who fits best around the box. Next man up? Seventh-round rookie Robert Spears-Jennings or 32-year-old Rayshawn Jenkins. The Steelers could also tap into Jalen Ramsey’s versatility (at least in the base defense), even though they ideally prefer him to play the nickel corner position.Zrebiec: The Ravens have never subscribed to the importance of keeping a third quarterback on the initial 53-man roster; just once in the previous five years have they started the season with three. It was notable they bucked that trend this year. It was even more surprising who spurred the change in plans: Joe Fagnano, a 25-year-old undrafted free agent. He initially was a walk-on at Maine, where he spent parts of four years. He transferred to UConn and started parts of three seasons for the Huskies. He wasn’t even in the Ravens’ initial college free-agent class. He was due to try out for the Ravens at their rookie minicamp, alongside Heisman finalist Diego Pavia. The Ravens signed them on the eve of the minicamp, but Fagnano didn’t get a signing bonus. He outlasted Pavia, who was cut before training camp, but Fagnano was barely getting practice reps behind veterans Lamar Jackson, Tyler Huntley and Skylar Thompson through the first two weeks of camp. However, Thompson got hurt, and Fagnano starred in the preseason, leading all quarterbacks in passing yards and finishing fourth in passer rating. The Ravens had multiple teams reach out to them with interest in Fagnano, but they opted to make him the most unlikely member of their 53-man roster.