The AFC North has been one of the best divisions in the NFL since the turn of the century. This past season continued the trend of success with three teams advancing to the playoffs. The Pittsburgh Steelers captured the division crown after two consecutive seasons at 8-8 to reach an 11-5 overall record and division title in 2014. The Cincinnati Bengals (10-5-1) and Baltimore Ravens (10-6) battled until the final week of the season demonstrating the magnitude of quality football teams in the division.

Each AFC North teams is faced with several important decisions in 2015. The Cleveland Browns had their most successful season since 2007 and are getting closer to making a run at the division. Below are some of the big questions that are going to be asked about the AFC North in 2015.

Cleveland Browns: How does Cleveland replace Josh Gordon?

Last year the city of Cleveland watched the NFL Draft and felt confident in the offense that was being assembled. They signed running back Ben Tate who was eventually cut after ten games; Drafted Johnny Manziel with the 22^nd overall pick and to pair with one of the most dominant receivers in the NFL in Josh Gordon.

The troubles that forced the former Baylor receiver to leave school early and enter the NFL Supplemental Draft have plagued him over the course of his immensely talented and at the same time disappointing career.

Call it faith or arrogance, Cleveland passed on five successful first round receivers (Sammy Watkins, Mike Evans, Odel Beckham, Brandin Cooks and Kelvin Benjamin) knowing that Gordon was facing another suspension.

Armed with two first round picks and a ton of money available in free agency it would be wise for Cleveland to part ways with Gordon and use the picks or money on his replacement.

Cincinnati Bengals: Who will hold the clipboard in Cincinnati?

Jason Campbell is the current clipboard holder in Cincinnati behind starting quarterback Andy Dalton.  Campbell, a former first round pick, will be known as a journeyman type player.

Andy Dalton is 0-4 in the playoffs throwing six interceptions in those four games. In the teams latest playoff defeat to the Indianapolis Colts, Dalton finished with 155 yards passing and zero touchdowns. His overall career playoff passer rating is a pathetic 57.8 which should force the front office to look deeper at the back-up position.

Cincinnati has not won a playoff game since 1990 and it is increasingly apparent that Dalton needs to raise his level of play (especially the playoffs) or his time as the starter in Cincinnati will cease. Cincinnati can either use their bounty of cap space on a quality back-up or draft selection to push Dalton for his title as the starting quarterback in Cincinnati.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Where do they go without LeBeau?

Steelers’ defensive coordinator Kevin Butler said he would be sticking with the 3-4 defensive scheme made successful by his predecessor Dick Lebeau.

Under Lebeau’s tutelage, Pittsburgh’s defense was accustomed to being ranked as one of the top in the league each and every season. Butler faces an uphill challenge with an aging secondary and a lack of elite pass rushing linebackers that helped spur the Steelers’ success.

Butler said he would be “adding a few wrinkles” to the defense which may be a positive since it appears the linebackers aren’t up to the standards of year’s past. Pittsburgh anxiously awaits elite production from their last two first-round selections, linebackers Jarvis Jones (2013) and Ryan Shazier (2014).

Both Jones and Shazier battled injuries last season, but have shown flashes of being capable of upholding their first round draft status. Life without LeBeau will mark a new chapter in Pittsburgh, but Butler is a guy other teams coveted and Pittsburgh did not want to let him go. Mixing a little of the old and new in the Steelers’ defense might be a recipe for success.

Baltimore Ravens: Will the Baltimore Ravens re-sign Justin Forsett?

In the wake of the Ray Rice debacle in Baltimore, back-up Justin Forsett emerged to be a reliable weapon for the Ravens. Seldom used over his seven-year career, Forsett carried the football 235 times this past season for 1,266 yards. In his previous six seasons he carried the football a combined 347 times for 1,692 yards.

Forsett is an unrestricted free agent this season who will be turning 30 years old. The open market for young running backs was not overly welcoming last season. With a deep free agent class of running back hitting the market this season it will be interesting to see if Forsett takes a home town discount to stay with the Ravens.

It is worth mentioning that Baltimore doesn’t have a lot of money to spend on free agents. Forsett has not seen a lot of work in his career and his body is fairly fresh compared to most running backs at this point in their careers. Without a lot of money and knowing Forsett has a couple good years left on the tires the Ravens likely will attempt to re-sign their leading rusher from 2014.

Cleveland Browns: Who is their starting quarterback?

“Still very much a question mark,” was the answer that Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine gave regarding the teams quarterback situation after the season ended. The well documented failure of Johnny Manziel in his rookie season leaves the Cleveland Browns scratching their heads about their quarterback situation this upcoming season.

In Week 15, Manziel made his first start in the NFL replacing Brian Hoyer, who was the most successful Browns’ quarterback since their return to the NFL in 1999. The Cincinnati Bengals exposed Manziel for what he is in reality; A great college quarterback with little NFL upside. He wasn’t the first and he surely will not be the last.

With his series of off-field misadventures that held him back from his on the field duties in Cleveland, Manziel may have exhausted his chances to be the Browns’ quarterback moving forward.  Undersized and undisciplined, Manziel wasted a perfect opportunity to galvanize a passionate fan base with his lack of preparation and dedication to being a professional.  His lack size comparable to Michael Vick but no where near his athletic ability combined with a thick headed cranium like Ryan Leaf. Cleveland should realize it is time to pull the plug and move Manziel.

It was comical that the Browns benched Brian Hoyer for the unproven rookie quarterback in Manziel. In doing so, first-year head coach Mike Pettine lost his locker room after the announcement was made that Manziel would make his debut against the Cincinnati Bengals. If Manziel’s desire to party equaled his passion to earn a starting job in the NFL the Browns might not be in a bad spot, but that is not the case in Cleveland.

Hoyer is not the answer long-term, but he provides this blue collar type of team a leader. The issue with Hoyer is that he is an unrestricted free agent and returning to Cleveland likely comes with the knowledge that Manziel is no longer on the Browns’ roster.

“The sample size on Manziel wasn’t very big and wasn’t very encouraging,” Pettine said. “I’m not writing off his behavior as acceptable — it is unacceptable,” Pettine said. “Especially, we said that we hold the quarterback to a higher standard than everybody else. That just comes with the territory, the position. Has his behavior been disappointing? Absolutely.”

This is the time of year when the rumor mill begins and trade partners emerge. Cleveland should find a partner before the floor bottoms out on Manziel.