Team Needs: AFC North

Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals really suffered through a tough season, with injuries playing a major part in their downfall. Having said this, injuries weren’t the only reason the Bengals are drafting in the top ten for the second straight year. The defense still needs help, even though it started to show signs of life at the end of the year. I think the lack of a pass rush is fairly glaring, but they also struggle to anchor against the run. Lucky for them, they are in a great position to grab several impact players at either DT, DE, or even MLB. After coaching the North squad at the Senior Bowl, I would not be surprised one bit to see Marvin and the crew go after Boston College DT BJ Raji. Raji is one of two DT’s that I have rated as first round talent, and he’s worth the 6th overall pick. He’s big enough to help shore up their internal run defense, but he’s not purely a run stuff. For a 320+lb tackle, he has some good movement skills off the ball and can disrupt the passing game as well. The top two DE’s in the draft, Texas’ Brian Orakpo and Florida State’s Everette Brown, will also be staring them down and are worth while picks as well. Most media outlets are panning the poor pass protection the Bengals showed last year. But I will argue that the injury issue was the reason behind this. LT LJ Shelton didn’t seem healthy all year (when he played), back up Andrew Whitworth got hurt, and so did starting RT Stacey Andrews. Not to mention the bad move the Bengals made by putting OC Dan Santucci on IR prior to the season due to a high ankle sprain. That’s what the PUP list is for dummies! So if you assume all will be back healthy, and that last year’s third round pick Anthony Collins has progressed enough to contribute, I think this is less of an issue. Don’t get me wrong, if a top notch tackle like Andre Smith of Alabama slides to them, I’d be hard to pass him up to help anchor the right side of the line (whether at OG or RT). The defensive backs seem to be in good shape, but I could see them going after a SS some time within the first three rounds due to the depth and available talent. Cincinnati also faces the difficult decision of what to do with free agent WR TJ Houshmandzadeh. My guess is they re-sign him as they have enough cap space available, and he’s worth keeping around for chemistry purposes. Ocho Cinco is another matter. He’s still very talented, but he did not perform last year. Add to that his distraction factor, and it becomes harder to decide if you unload him for picks or stick with it. If someone comes calling with a mid to high 3rd round pick, I could see the Bengals pulling the trigger. They drafted a few WRs last year that should hopefully be able to contribute this year with a healthy Carson Palmer under center. Another surprise selection in the first could be USC MLB Rey Maualuga. He’s the run stuffing physical presence this defense has lacked for some time. Tight end remains an issue, as it has for several years now, but with the depth available this year it makes sense to address this near the top of round two or three.

Cleveland Browns

Boy, what a turn around from their 10-6 near playoff miss in 2007. When you lose your top three QB’s though, it’s hard to do anything, and this cost Romeo Crennel his job. The move I was very surprised with was letting go of GM Phil Savage. I still strongly believe that Savage is one of the better talent evaluators in the league, and this was the wrong decision to let him go. With Eric Mangini taking over the head master position, you shouldn’t see much change from the defense. Of course, getting some better talent on that side of the ball wouldn’t hurt either. The Browns biggest issue in 2007 was stopping the run, but that was solved through the trades that Savage made for NT Shaun Rodgers and DT Corey Williams. Those additions made a big difference in the run D, but the pass D was not good at all. The pass rush was anemic at best, so an upgrade at rush linebacker is an absolute must. The two DE’s mentioned above have the talent and ability to stand up and play this position as well, so there should be value there at the top of the first round. If management isn’t sold with either pass rusher, they can get a top shelf corner in Malcolm Jenkins. If they do take a rush LB in the first, this team still must address the CB and S position earlier rather than later. OLB isn’t the only problem with this front seven either, as this team needs another ILB for their 3-4, especially since Andra Davis is a free agent. Maualuga could again see his name called, but this may be a bit early for him to come off the board in the first. On the offensive side of the ball, the Browns are in an enviable situation of having two starting caliber quality QBs. If I’m running this team, I learn my lesson from last year and keep both, but if some team comes sniffing around Derrick Anderson with draft picks I would listen intently. Jamal Lewis really started to show his age this year, and RB needs to be a high priority for this team. Luckily there is good depth at this position, so they do not have to make it a first day priority. If the draft goes as I think it will, the first round caliber RB’s could potentially slide to the top of the second, and the Browns could find themselves with a steal. Getting a partner in crime across from Braylon Edwards would be a major help as well, but something that can be addressed after the other priorities.

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens made one hell of a run considering they were working with only three WRs on their roster come playoff time. That is absolutely astounding and shows that this team is still dedicated to running the ball and playing top notch defense. Rookie QB Joe Flacco outperformed everyone’s expectations except for mine. Here are a couple of excerpts from last year’s coverage on what I thought of Joe Flacco:

Flacco is a guy that I think can be an elite level NFL QB if he’s given a year or two to sit and learn the speed of the game. He has everything you want in a 10+ year franchise QB.

I think he’s the best pure passing QB prospect in this draft. He has the size, arm, and field awareness to be special. The only question I have is him taking snaps under center since he worked out of a shotgun in college. His arm is far and away better than any of the other top QBs in this draft, it’s not even close.

So I was a bit off in my analysis in that he was ready to contribute right away. I was very impressed with Flacco and everyone got to see the same things I did when assessing him coming out of college. He still needs to work on his underneath throws a bit, but he has the skills to be special. Now if the Ravens can surround him with more than three NFL level WRs, he’ll have the chance to develop even quicker. The hardest thing to find is a franchise QB, and they have this now. The defense really started to wear in the AFC Championship game, and that’s because they lack depth at some positions (and are old at others as well). Signing the bevy of free agents this defense has needs to be priority #1 for this team. I have the feeling that not all of the big three guys in question are willing to take a discount though. Ray Lewis, while getting up in age, proved he still has enough to make a difference. He’s the one I’m most concerned about leaving for a place like the Jets where he can reunite with former DC Rex Ryan. Terrell Suggs is a top notch pass rusher that does nothing but produce, and they are valuable to other teams as well. But seeing his young age and advanced production at this point in his career, I say he’s the most important guy to lock up long term. Bart Scott is probably the least heralded of the three, but he’s your typical Ravens OLB. He’s versatile, he can play special teams, and he’s just a solid two-way defender. They may be able to get him for the least amount of money, but someone else is also very likely to sneak in and steal him away for more than Baltimore can offer. So it’s hard to say what this team’s needs are based on who will be back out of these guys. Depending on which ones leave, this position probably moves to the top of the needs list. Assuming they all come back, then CB needs to be their highest priority. Injuries hurt this unit, but age hurts it as well. I think picking up the best corner available in the first is probably the best thing this team can do. Youth and skill at this position will go a long way to help this defense retain its supremacy. With only three WR on the active roster at the end of the year, they definitely need to address WR sooner rather than later. A long term replacement for Todd Heap would also make a difference in Flacco’s development, as it showed when Heap was out for part of the year with injuries. I’m a big fan of Ozzie Newsome and the job his front office does, so I have no doubt they will make the right moves once again.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The 2008 NFL champions! Pittsburgh won it all this year in true Steelers fashion, using a suffocating defense to physically impose their will on their opponents. The good news for Steelers fans is that there aren’t too many pressing needs for this team. There are only a couple of big free agents they have in WR Nate Washington and CB Bryant McFadden. I think they can watch Washington go elsewhere for more money, but if the price is right, I could also see them re-signing him. If he leaves, one of my favorite players from last year in Limas Sweed is ready to step up as the third WR. Yes, I know, he had a HUGE drop in the playoffs. But people have only really seen this out of him, and have no idea just ho talented he truly is. I think he’ll make a big impact in year two. McFadden is another story all together. I don’t think he gets the credit he deserves as an outstanding, physical corner. He’s ideal for a Cover-2, and I think other front offices know this as well. I predict that he will be a more hotly contested free agent than you are hearing about right now. The Steelers have the room to re-sign him, and they should, but they may get priced out from doing so right away. Pittsburgh has always done a very good job of realizing what the true value of a player is, and if it’s past what they are comfortable paying, they let them go and draft their replacement. The major need for this team is OL. It was the only weakness on this team, other than RB (which was plagued by injuries). Picking at the end of every round will allow the Steelers to pick the best available player at each of the five OL spots. This team really needs at least one tackle, one guard, and another center. Cal’s Alex Mack would be an absolute home run if they can get him with pick #32. If not then they have options with a guard like Duke Robinson of Oklahoma, Oregon center Max Unger, or Arizona’s OT Eben Britton. If they cannot re-sign McFadden, then a corner will also move up on the list.