4 key position battles to watch in the AFC North

All 32 NFL training camps open this week, meaning thousands of players will be competing for roster spots and playing time.

Here's a look at some of the toughest decisions coaches will have to make in the AFC North.

Position Battles
AFC: East | North | South | West
NFC: East | North | South | West

Ravens - Tight end

Crockett Gillmore vs. Ben Watson vs. Dennis Pitta vs. Maxx Williams

The Ravens possibly have the deepest tight-end group in the league with three proven starters and the top-ranked player at his position from the 2015 draft class.

Pitta had great chemistry with Joe Flacco before missing the entire 2015 season with a career-threatening neck injury and will begin camp off the PUP list. Gillmore was surprisingly productive as an unknown starter with the Ravens last season, while Watson had a career year with the Saints at age 34. Williams did alright as a rookie, but didn't show the consistency his team was searching for from their second rounder.

PICK: Watson

Bengals - No. 2 receiver

Brandon LaFell vs. Brandon Tate vs. Tyler Boyd

The Bengals said goodbye to their second and third receiving options this offseason leaving a big gap in the team's depth chart.

Tate automatically moves up the chain due to his knowledge of the Bengals system after spending five seasons with the team, but his two catches through the 2015 season don't bode well. LaFell comes over from New England where he didn't see many targets last season, but scored seven touchdowns in the previous year. Boyd is definitely the most intriguing option, coming into his first camp as a second-round pick better suited for the slot than what teams typically look for in an outside option.

PICK: Boyd

Browns - Quarterback

Josh McCown vs. Robert Griffin III

Truth be told, pretty much every Browns player outside of Joe Thomas, Gary Barnidge, Joe Haden, and Danny Shelton will be in some sort of position battle. Griffin caused quite a stir when he signed in Cleveland this offseason, but he's going to have to beat out the incumbent McCown to regain a starting role.

McCown, a 13-year NFL veteran, started all eight games he was healthy for last season and has endeared himself to teammates. Griffin is certainly the popular pick. He's drawn praise from head coach Hue Jackson, has chemistry with recently-reinstated receiver Josh Gordon, and plenty of athletic upside. The question remains: Did Griffin learn from his mistakes in Washington?

PICK: Griffin

Steelers - No. 2 Cornerback

Ross Cockrell vs. Artie Burns vs. Senquez Golson

The Steelers' search for confidence and consistency from a pair of starting cornerbacks has gone on for years now. Pittsburgh is looking at another secondary shake up after deciding not to return cornerbacks Brandon Boykin and Cortez Allen.

Cockrell started seven games for the Steelers last season as part of a below-average group, making two picks and 11 pass deflections. Speedster Burns was drafted 25th overall with high expectations out of Miami as the only first-round corner drafted by the Steelers since 1997. Golson, a former unanimous All-American, was a second-round pick in 2015, but missed his rookie season due to shoulder surgery.

PICK: Burns