2015 NFL training camp preview: Will AFC North be a 3-team race again?

No division in the NFL was more competitive than the AFC North last season, with all four teams being in the hunt for the division crown or a playoff berth for a good portion of the season. Eventually, the Cleveland Browns fell off, but the other three teams were just as competitive through Week 17. So competitive, in fact, that all three of them made it into the postseason.

The Pittsburgh Steelers won the division in the end, but lost out to the Baltimore Ravens in the Wild Card round. And while the Cincinnati Bengals fell to the Indianapolis Colts in the postseason, all three of those AFC North teams might have gotten a bit better this offseason. There's still some uncertainty in Cleveland, especially with Josh McCown at the quarterback position, but seeing all four teams immediately competitive at the start of next season wouldn't be unexpected.

Player you'll be buzzing about: RB DeAngelo Williams -- This might seem like an odd choice, considering Williams is 32 and we already know what kind of player he is. But he should be effective for his new team, especially at the start of the season when he'll be starting while Le'Veon Bell serves a suspension.

What to watch: Pittsburgh has a ton of talent at the outside linebacker position, but it's unclear how all of that talent will see the field. James Harrison, Arthur Moats, Jarvis Jones and Bud Dupree should all play, and training camp should show us what the breakdown could be as far as snaps are concerned. Plus, there's going to be a punter battle! Punter battles are fun! Realistically, the Steelers have few starting spots up for grabs and it's all about execution at this point.

Most important position battle: Cornerback -- William Gay is a starter, but after him it's unclear where things go. Cortez Allen will be in the mix, along with Antwon Blake, Senquez Golson and Doran Grant.

Player you'll be buzzing about: Tight end John Peters -- Honestly, this signing could wind up going nowhere, but Peters did come from nowhere in the first place and could take advantage of the Bengals' subpar tight end situation.

What to watch: Can Andy Dalton actually get the Bengals past that playoff hurdle? They keep looking so good during the season and they keep coming up just short in the postseason. The Bengals had a solid offseason, and seeing if the new pieces actually fit -- and whether Marvin Lewis can actually fix the issues at hand -- is the most interesting bit.

Most important position battle: Linebacker -- The Bengals brought back Rey Maualuga, but also added A.J. Hawk. One of these players might be able to grab a starting spot outside.

What to watch: The Ravens have few spots open on the roster, but they're all of key importance. There's the battle at receiver, the battle at tight end and the battle at free safety. Dennis Pitta was one of the top tight ends in the league when healthy but he's injury prone, and rookie Maxx Williams is an intriguing prospect. Kendrick Lewis and Matt Elam will compete for the starting role at free safety.

Most important position battle: Wide receiver -- The Ravens let Torrey Smith walk in free agency and added Breshad Perriman in the first round of the NFL Draft. But beyond Steve Smith, nothing is settled at the position. Marlon Brown, Kamar Aiken and Michael Campanaro are among those battling.

What to watch: Johnny Manziel is the guy to watch, right? That's who everyone will be talking about -- but realistically, Manziel isn't a candidate to start and folks should instead be focused on how the rest of Cleveland's offense is adjusting. Josh McCown will be the starting quarterback, the Browns will try to get Terrelle Pryor situated at receiver and rookie running back Duke Johnson will try to claim the starting role. All three which highlight the more entertaining storylines.

Most important position battle: Wide receiver -- Josh Gordon is a lot of wasted potential at this stage. The team brought in Brian Hartline and Dwayne Bowe, and then there's Andrew Hawkins. Those are good players to pay attention to, but it is unclear where they'll play.