AFC North Team Needs

North

Baltimore Ravens
Inside Linebacker
With Ray Lewis retiring the inside linebacker spot wasn't necessarily a big need, but add in that Darnelle Ellerbe is now in Miami and this went from a mild need to priority number one.  Now they could easily use pick #32 to fill this position.  Manti Te'o gets mentioned a lot for the Ravens, but Kevin Minter from LSU is a better fit and a better prospect.

Left Tackle
Michael Oher started the season at the left tackle position, however it wasn't till he moved to right tackle and Bryant McKinnie came in.  However McKinnie isn't somebody they can count on.  If they have a chance to add somebody to can play left tackle a keep Oher at right tackle is a must.  Menelik Watson could be a possibility at #32 or they could wait till the third round and take a project in Terron Amstead who is raw but has the talent to be a blindside protector.

Safety
They could still get Ed Reed back, but that isn't very likely.  But they also cut Bernard Pollard and will be looking at starting two new safeties.  Matt Elam and Jonathan Cyprien are options at #32.  But if they wait till the second or third rounds they have guys like Shamarko Thomas or Baccari Rambo.

Rush Linebacker
Baltimore is set at outside linebacker starters with Terrell Suggs and Courtney Upshaw.  But what they'll miss is Paul Kruger coming in for Upshaw on passing downs and giving them a second rusher opposite of Suggs.  Jamie Collins is a name that is rising up draft boards, but somebody like Corey Lemonier could really help them out too.

Wide Receiver
Sure Joe Flacco got the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award, but that could have easily gone to Anquan Boldin for all the clutch catches he made.  He's now a 49er and the Ravens will need to add somebody to the slot to give them those tough yards.  Somebody who could be that option is West Virginia's Stedman Bailey who would give them that quick tough slot guy to move the chains.

Cincinnati Bengals
Running Back
BenJarvus Green-Ellis was a good addition last year, but he isn't the every down back and would benefit from the Bengals bringing in an elusive speed back to complement him.  Andre Ellington, Jonathan Frankin and Kenjon Barmer could be options in the third round.  However if they chose to wait even further they could get a solid back like Stefphron Jefferson from Nevada.

Right Tackle
This need could easily be filled just by resigning Andre Smith.  If the Bengals can get something worked out that would definitely give them more flexibility in the draft.  But if Smith isn't brought back they can go to a fimilar spot to get his replacement.  DJ Fluker from Alabama would be an excellent replacement and be a plug and player starter for them and their run game.

Safety
Nate Clements was moved to safety because of poor play but he is naturally a corner.  Him and Chris Crocker are both free agents and might not be back.  However they could probably do better.   If Kenny Vacarro is available he'll likely be their choice but Jonathan Cyprien is a good second choice.    But Mike Zimmer loves those physical strong safeties, so somebody like Shawn Williams could be an option in the middle rounds.

Center
When Trevor Robinson is starting at center for you in the playoffs, there is a big issue.  Kyle Cook and Jeff Faine were both injured, but they could really benefit from getting younger here.  In the second round they could go with Barrett Jones.  However California's Brian Schwenke is emerging as one of the top centers in the draft and could really help the Bengals.

Linebacker
Cincinnati was rewarded for giving Vontaze Burfict a chance as a undrafted free agent last year and he's emerged as one of the best young linebackers in the league.  With Maualuga moving to strongside linebacker and Manny Lawson gone that opens up one starting spot. Burfict was great last year on the weakside, however he could easily be moved inside if needed.  They could add Alec Olgetree in the middle or wait and take either Arthur Brown or Khassem Greene to play the weakside and move Burfict inside.

Cleveland Browns
Quarterback
Even though Brandon Weeden was taken in the first round last year, there is no guarantee that he's considered to be the franchise quarterback.  With a new regime in town, they'll want their guy and might not feel that a 30 year old second year player is the guy.  They'll kick the tires with Geno Smith and Matt Barkley.

Cornerback
With Joe Haden on one side they have a dynamic shut down corner.  But they've haven't had anybody opposite of him that has been able to lock down the starting role.  If Demarcus Milliner falls to them they could make him their choice.  However they'll probably have to wait till day two to get somebody.   A middle round option is Leon McFadden is is vastly underrated.

Tight End
When your head coach is a former tight ends coach, you know that this position is going to be a priority.  Jordan Cameron has a ton of potential, but he is still very raw.  Other than him they really don't have anybody that can provide any help.  Zach Ertz would be great if he falls to them in the second round but they don't have a second round pick and will have to wait for a Gavin Escobar or Joseph Fuaria in the third or fourth rounds.

Inside Linebacker
Cleveland is likely to be moving towards a 3-4 defense so they'll likely need somebody to plug and play here.  Chris Gocong is coming off of a knee injury and can't be counted on.  With D'Qwell Jackson they have an athletic middle linebacker, but they need that physical downhill run stuffer to pair next to him.  A late round option could be Will Compton who would thrive in that position.

Wide Receiver
They used their second round pick on Josh Gordon in the supplemental round.  After starting out slow he really started to pick it up at the end.  What they really need is a possession type receiver to work the middle of the field.  Greg Little was thought to be that guy, but he drops too many passes.  TCU's Josh Boyce could be somebody to fill in that role.

Pittsburgh Steelers
Outside Linebacker
The tandem of Lamar Woodley and James Harrison was once of of the most feared pass rushing duo's in the league.  However Harrison struggled with age and was cut.  They'd love for Jarvis Jones to be there at #17, but that isn't likely.  However Barkevious Mingo would be a good fall back option.  They could also target Cronelius Washington or Trevardo Williams who both fit the type of linebackers they like.

Cornerback
With Keenan Lewis now a former Steeler they need a new starter to keep William Gay at the nickel spot.  Pittsburgh doesn't have a lot of depth, so they could double up here.  In the first round they could go with Xavier Rhodes or Desmond Trufant, but players like David Amerson or Jordan Poyer could be choices on day two.

Wide Receiver
Losing Mike Wallace is one thing, but if the Steelers also lose Emanuel Sanders also that would be huge for their offense.  But even with Sanders back they'll still need to add somebody unless they want Plaxico to play a major role.  If they want a prospect similar to Wallace then Terrence Williams would be a great option in round two.  But if they want a big physical receiver they could target Keenan Allen with pick #17.

Safety
It seems like Troy Polamalu is always hurt.  Can they really trust that he'll play all 16 games and then into the post season?  They are big fans of Kenny Vacarro and could take him with their first round pick.  If he isn't there they could target Eric Reid in the second round.  Reid would give them a safety that could play both the free and strong positions.

Inside Linebacker
Sean Spence was drafted to eventually take over for Larry Foote.  However Spence hasn't shown that he can play in the 3-4 and they need somebody to pair next to Lawrence Timmons.  Manti Te'o could be their option if he falls to the middle of the second round.  Te'o would give them a physical thumper inside to go with the athletic Timmons.

NFL Power Rankings (Week 2)

1. Green Bay Packers (2-0) LW 1

2. New England Patriots (2-0) LW 2

3. New York Jets (2-0) LW 5

4. Baltimore Ravens (1-1) LW 3

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1) LW 6

6. New Orleans Saints (1-1) LW 7

7. Philadelphia Eagles (1-1) LW 4

8. Houston Texans (2-0) LW 9

9. Chicago Bears (1-1) LW 8

10. Atlanta Falcons (1-1) LW 10

11. Detroit Lions (2-0) LW 12

12. Buffalo Bills (2-0) LW 13

13. San Diego Chargers (1-1) LW 11

14. Washington Redskins (2-0) LW 26

15. New York Giants (1-1) LW 15

16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-1) LW 17

17. Arizona Cardinals (1-1) LW 14

18. St. Louis Rams (0-2) LW 16

19. Oakland Raiders (1-1) LW 18

20. Tennessee Titans (1-1) LW 23

21. Dallas Cowboys (1-1) LW 24

22. San Francisco 49ers (1-1) LW 20

23. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1) LW 21

24. Cincinnati Bengals (1-1) LW 27

25. Denver Broncos (1-1) LW 32

26. Cleveland Browns (1-1) LW 30

27. Carolina Panthers (0-2) LW 31

28. Minnesota Vikings (0-2) LW 25

29. Miami Dolphins (0-2) LW 22

30. Seattle Seahawks (0-2) LW 28

31. Indianapolis Colts (0-2) LW 29

32. Kansas City Chiefs (0-2) LW 19

NFL Power Rankings (Week 1)

1. Green Bay Packers (1-0)

While other teams were going out and spending this off-season the Packers got a lot of talent back from injury. And an already good team has gotten better and that showed in their thrashing of NFC power New Orleans.

2. New England Patriots (1-0)

Tom Brady is up to his old tricks again. Throwing all over the poor Dolphins secondary. However Billicek has to be concerned that Chad Henne was able to throw all over their secondary. Maybe they shouldn't have cut two of their top safeties.

3. Baltimore Ravens (1-0)

Their manhandling of the Steelers has to put the rest of the AFC on notice. Forcing 7 turnovers against a good defense is quite the feat. If their offense continues to improve we could be seeing the AFC favorites.

4. Philadelphia Eagles (1-0)

After shacking some early game jitters the Eagles took control of the game and showed the explosive offense we've thought they'd have all along. Look for the Eagle to continue to struggle at times as they get use to all their new parts.

5. New York Jets (1-0)

The Jets were able to escape week 1 with a win over a team that they should have dominated. However I'm still not sold on their offense. They have to get better on both sides of the ball if they want to back up their head coaches lofty expectations.

6. Pittsburgh Steelers (0-1)

Pittsburgh was clearly not as focused as the Ravens were this off-season and it showed in their week 1 match up. The Steelers have never been tossed around like that before. But look for this game to be a wake up call and the old Steelers should return soon.

7. New Orleans Saints (0-1)

In a very active off season, the Saints looked to have improved their defensive line and at running back. However it wasn't enough to beat the defending Super Bowl Champions. If the Saints want to make it back to the Super Bowl they are going to have to start generating more takeaways which they didn't do against the Packers.

8. Chicago Bears (1-0)

How old does their defense look now? Their offensive line which has been a issue for the past couple of years looked much better and Cutler only got sacked 5 times but the line played well enough for Matt Forte and Devin Hester to make the big plays that help them get the win. This looks like a team that could make it back to the NFC Title game for a second straight year.

9. Houston Texans (1-0)

With Peyton Manning out the Texans have the chance to make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. What also helps out is that the Texans finally have a defense that can win a game for them. Wade Phillips is showing why he is one of the best defensive minds in football.

10. Atlanta Falcons (0-1)

The Falcons continue their slide that started last season. The offense got away from what it does the best (running the football) and the defense is having trouble tackling. Atlanta put all their eggs in the basket for this season, so they need to get things fixed before it gets worse.

11. San Diego Chargers (1-0)

One of the biggest issues the Chargers had last year was their special teams units. So what happens this year? 1st kick off of the year gets returned 101 yards and they lose their kicker to an ACL injury. However behind the strong play of Mike Tolbert they were able to come back and win the game.

12. Detroit Lions (1-0)

Detroit has a lot of hype going into this season and winning on the road is a great place to start. QB Matt Stafford showed what he is capable when healthy. The big thing is whether the offensive line is good enough for him to stay healthy.

13. Buffalo Bills (1-0)

This is my dark horse sleeper of the year. I absolutely loved their draft and believe those picks will help their defense out tremendously this season. Add in that Ryan Fitzpatrick might make Chan Gailey look like a genius for trusting in him.

14. Arizona Cardinals (1-0)

Kevin Kolb is going to be the key to this season. But if he keeps playing like he did in week 1 then this team has a shot to make it back to the playoffs. However the defense can't give up that many point.....especially to teams like the Panthers and a rookie QB.

15. New York Giants (0-1)

Normally I'd be a lot harder on the Giants for losing that game, but with all the injuries they've had this season its going to be rough. Teams are going to eat their depleted defense up all season long. That and Eli Manning throwing picks.

16. St. Louis Rams (0-1)

The Rams looked like they were about to knock of the "Dream Team" but injuries to Sam Bradford and Stephen Jackson halted the offenses production and the defense simply couldn't make a stop. Bradford looks like he'll be fine, but the Rams cannot afford to lose Stephen Jackson to injury. He is too valuable to them.

17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-1)

Much like the rest of the teams in their division, they lost their game. However they did put up a fight and still look like a team that could challenge for a playoff spot. But the secondary is going to have to do a better job then they did against the Lions.

18. Oakland Raiders (1-0)

What a pillow fight on Monday Night Football. Maybe it was the rain, but both the Raiders and the Broncos looked awful. Luckily Darren McFadden plays for the Raiders and he had a monster game. If he can stay healthy for once, he could challenge for the league rushing title.

19. Kansas City Chiefs (0-1)

So sad for the Chiefs. They exceeded everybody expectations last year with great play from their rookies, had another solid draft class, and then brought in a bunch of free agents to fill their holes. But it was all for not because they got blown out at home to the Bills. Plus it got worse when start safety Eric Berry is out for the season with an injury.

20. San Francisco 49ers (1-0)

What a way for Jim Harbaugh to get his first victory. Ted Gin Jr. saved the day with two returns for touchdowns in a game where Seattle was starting to make a comeback.

21. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-0)

When they cut David Garrard the week leading up to their first game I didn't think they'd have a shot. However behind a strong running game and a defense that held all world RB Chris Johnson in check. Don't expect big things from the Jaguars, but their win is commendable.

22. Miami Dolphins (0-1)

Good news is that the offense looked better and more explosive than previous years. Chad Henne's 416 yards 2 TDs and only 1 INT tells a lot. But the bad news is that the defense couldn't stop a JV team. The Dolphins got no pressure on Brady and he torched their secondary. If they want to be competitive they are going to need to fix those issues.

23. Tennessee Titans (0-1)

With the Colts down the Titans have a shot to win their first conference title in a while. However a loss to the Jaguars is not a great place to start. Somebody needs to step up on offense to take the load off of Chris Johnson who is going to be slow after holding out all of training camp.

24. Dallas Cowboys (0-1)

It actually looked like the Cowboys were going to pull off a big victory over the Jets, but then Tony Romo did what Tony Romo always does. Fail in the clutch. The Cowboys hype has them challenging for the playoffs, but reality will be more like last year. Right around the bottom of the league.

25. Minnesota Vikings (0-1)

The Vikings played better than I thought they would, but they are still an old team that didn't get better over the off season. I also found it funny during the FOX broadcast that they referred to the Vikings o-line as elite. When will people realize that this team isn't as good as they were two years ago?

26. Washington Redskins (1-0)

By starting Rex Grossman it looked like the Redskins were going to tank the season so they could get Andrew Luck. However in their opener against the Giants they went out and won. Maybe the players didn't get the memo from the front office?

27. Cincinnati Bengals (1-0)

Marvin Lewis said that this team would be better than last year. Maybe he wasn't blowing smoke when he said that. Their win against the Browns was a good first step. We'll see if they can continue it.

28. Seattle Seahawks (0-1)

Poor special teams was the culprit of their loss against the 49ers. In a conference that is up in the air, you can't loose games like that. Getting Sidney Rice and Robert Gallary back will do a lot for an offense that seemed to struggle....or maybe that was just Tarvaris Jackson.

29. Indianapolis Colts (0-1)

I know that without Peyton Manning that the Colts would struggle. But nobody saw them quitting already. If Manning doesn't come back this season its going to be brutal in Indianapolis and the Colts will more than likely be picking in the top 10.

30. Cleveland Browns (0-1)

Their loss to the Bengals is a big blow. For a team that many thought would be improved, took a big step back. What is worse is that Colt McCoy looked awful. However they face off against the Colts next week and have a chance to get back on track.

31. Carolina Panthers (0-1)

Cam Newton has exceeded every body's expectations with how good he has played so far. But this is still a very flawed team and will be competing for the #1 overall pick.

32. Denver Broncos (0-1)

The Broncos are a better team than they were last year, but they still have some major issues on their team. Mainly along the defensive line. Losing that game against the Raiders was just flat out ugly. I wasn't high on this team after the draft and their first game confirms my suspensions.