Final Draft Recap: AFC North

Baltimore Ravens

43rd Overall (from Miami through Denver) -- Sergio Kindle, DE/OLB, Texas
57th Overall -- Terrence Cody, NT, Alabama
70th Overall (from Seattle through Philly and Denver) -- Ed Dickson, TE, Oregon
114th Overall (from Denver) -- Dennis Pita, TE, BYU
156th Overall -- David Reed, WR, Utah
157th Overall (from Arizona) -- Arthur Jones, DT/DE, Syracuse
194th Overally -- Ramon Harewood, OT, Morehouse

Well Baltimore likely found three guys who will contribute immediately if Sergio Kindle doesn't have to have microfracture surgery. Kindle and Kruger will form a nice rotation with Terrell Suggs and Jarrett Johnson. Kindle's initially responsibility will be to keep Johnson fresh. Terrence Cody will be worked in as both a nose tackle and will see some time at defensive end more than likely with both Kelly Gregg and Trevor Pryce nearing the ends of their careers. And either Dickson or Pitta will claim the starting tight end job this upcoming season from Heap. They were my #2 and #3 TE's respectively, so it seems that Baltimore is counting on one of them to beat the other out. Baltimore also may have gotten two late round steals in Arthur Jones and Ramon Harewood. Jones needs to stay healthy for a full season and Harewood is a major project. He's only played organized football for four years.

Grade: B+
Reasoning: I think they got at least four future starters here, but I don't think any of them are going to turn into big time players.



Cincinnati Bengals
21st Overall -- Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma
54th Overall -- Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida
84th Overall -- Jordan Shipley, WR, Texas
96th Overall (Compensatory Selection) -- Brandon Ghee, CB, Wake Forest
120th Overall -- Geno Atkins, DT, Georgia
131st Overall (Compensatory Selection) -- Roddrick Muckelroy, LB, Texas
152nd Overall -- Otis Hudson, OG, Eastern Illinois
191st Overall -- Dezmon Briscoe, WR, Kansas
228th Overall -- Reggie Stephens, OL, Iowa State

Well the Bengals have no problems bringing in guys that regular fans can recognize. Several of those players have played in national championship games in recent years. In fact, the Bengals went all BCS schools save for Otis Hudson. Gresham is a good choice if he's actually utilized as Carson Palmer needs more weapons in the passing game as the Bengals have struggled to find a receiver to compliment Ochocinco the way Houshmandzadeh and Chris Henry did. The Bengals likely will be disappointed in Antonio Bryant, but Gresham should be fine as a No. 2 or No. 3 in the progression.

The Bengals have added, in back-to-back years, defensive ends who have the talent to be drafted in the Top 5, but both are perennial underachievers. Michael Johnson and Carlos Dunlap. If Cincinnati got one or both to live up to their potential the pass rush would be disgusting. Imagine trying to defend Julius Peppers off of both ends...that's what this would be like. But like I said they are big underachievers.

Geno Atkins adds great depth to an already deep interior line. Brandon Ghee should be a nickel/dime corner and adds insurance in case the Bengals can't come to an agreement with Jonathan Joseph who enters the final year of his contract. I'm not a huge fan of Jordan Shipley, but those in the know think he's going to be the next Wes Welker. I'm not sure if those people really are in the know.

Grade: B
Reasoning: It's a high-risk, high-reward draft. The Bengals have a tendency to do that a lot.



Cleveland Browns
7th Overall -- Joe Haden, CB, Florida
38th Overall -- T.J. Ward, S, Oregon
59th Overall (from Dallas through Philly) -- Montario Hardesty, RB, Tennessee
85th Overall (from New England through Oakland) -- Colt McCoy, QB, Texas
92nd Overall (from New York Jets) -- Shawn Lauvao, OT/OG, Arizona State
160th Overall (from New York Jets) -- Larry Asante, SS, Nebraska
177th Overall -- Carlton Mitchell, WR, South Florida
186th Overall (from Carolina) -- Clifton Geathers, DE, South Carolina

Well Cleveland's draft certainly was interesting. Haden was the right choice at seven. The only other legitimate option was Spiller, but it's a deep running back class and Haden is the cream of the crop of man corners. T.J. Ward was a reach and I think that Abram Elam or possibly even Sheldon Brown if he moves to free safety will hold him off. Montario Hardesty is a great pick to go with Harrison and Hillis in a committee with Hardesty likely taking the brunt of the load. I don't love Shawn Lauvao in a man blocking scheme and he's likely moving inside to guard. Colt McCoy I think is a career back-up, but he's in the best place for success under Mike Holmgren who is teaching Brian Daboll the West Coast Offense. Clifton Geathers is a project, but a downright steal in the 7th as he has the potential to be a very good 3-4 DE in the mold of Chris Canty.

Grade: B+
Reasoning: I see four future starters who are going to be really good: Haden, Hardesty, Asante, and Geathers. McCoy and Lauvao will also likely find themselves starting eventually, but I don't see either succeeding. Mitchell is a total project and Ward has too much competition at safety.




Pittsburgh Steelers
18th Overall -- Maurkice Pouncey, C/G, Florida
52nd Overall -- Jason Worilds, DE/OLB, Virginia Tech
82nd Overall -- Emmanuel Sanders, WR, Southern Methodist
116th Overall -- Thaddeus Gibson, OLB, Ohio State
151st Overall -- Chris Scott, OT/OG, Tennessee
164th Overall (Compensatory Selection) -- Crezdon Butler, CB, Clemson
166th Overall (Compensatory Selection) -- Stevensen Sylvester, LB, Utah
188th Overall -- Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Georgia Tech
195th Overall (from Arizona) -- Antonio Brown, WR, Central Michigan
242nd Overall (Compensatory Selection) -- Doug Worthington, DT/DE, Ohio State

The Steelers, like I thought, were bluffing on Roethlisberger and just trying to send their 28 year old franchise quarterback a message. The Steelers reloaded again in this draft acquiring Maurkice Pouncey in the first who should start from day one and is one of the better interior line prospects in years. Jason Worilds, Thad Gibson, and Stevensen Sylvester were all added to bolster the pass rush, as one of them will be expected to inevitably replace James Harrison and at least be a situational rusher behind Harrison and Woodley. Jonathan Dwyer is a low-risk, high-reward gamble in the 6th, but he's had weight issues throughout his entire career. Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders could both find playing time in Pittsburgh, and both have a big upside.

Grade: B+
Reasoning: Did they have to grab three pass rushers? Great pick with Emmanuel Sanders in the third. He could be a big steal as a slot receiver this year with Ward at flanker and Wallace at split end.