The AFC North is one of those divisions where any of these teams can take the title, two teams are known for their defensive and the other two for shootouts.
Cincinnati Bengals 2008 Draft Picks
After a disappointing year, the Bengals needed to fill some positions, mainly defensive tackle and another receiver. The didn’t do well and were hoping to draft Sedrick Ellis who slipped to New Orleans and Derrick Harvey who the Jaguars stole. They ended up with Pat Sims from Auburn. The upside is that they ended up with one of the best outside linebackers available in Keith Rivers from USC. He will definitely make an impact like a Patrick Willis from San Francisco. I am confused as why the Bengals took Jerome Simpson so early. Even a Marques Colston was drafted in the later rounds and more talented receivers like Limas Sweed and Desean Jackson were available. He has good size but he better run great routes and have major impact to be drafted this early. I do give the Bengals for getting Andre Caldwell, who will fit in as a slot receiver catching balls underneath, and taking a chance on 6′5 receiver Mario Urrutia who is a little slow but could become a sleeper.
Cleveland Browns 2008 Draft Picks
Coming off a great finish to the 2007 season and still stocked with young talent the Browns needed to fill the linebacker position and add another playmaker to the secondary but only with the 4th through 7th round picks. The team was able to draft inside linebacker Beau Bell from Las Vegas who is one of those players that never quits on a play and a great tackler. It is interesting why teams like the Browns do not take a gamble on some of the possible sleepers like Ali Highsmith or Vince Hall but do draft unknown defensive end Alex Hall from ST. Augustine’s, which is a school I never heard of.
Baltimore Ravens 2008 Draft Picks
The Ravens concern for the last couple of years has been offense and the quarterback position is the team’s weakest point with an aging McNair guiding the ship with no clear replacement. Thus, the Ravens first pick would have to be a quarterback and they drafted Joe Flacco from Delaware. I have not seen any of his games, just a few highlights but it is hard to compare him to a Matt Ryan in that he hasn’t faced tougher competition. It is a small jump from Div I-AA to say the Big East but it is a steeper climb to the NFL especially for the quarterback position on a team that truly struggles on offense. I do root for small school players and hope Flacco will be a Tony Romo with better reading skills. The team also added talent to the runningback position by adding Ray Rice who can develop into a very great player. He has the speed and shiftiness to go all the way. The Ravens also drafted good on defensive by adding inside linebacker Tavares Gooden who has athletic talent and can run side-line to side-line and safety Tom Zbikowski, who I think is an oustanding player. Gooden and Zbikowski are both no quit players with talent and their mental game should be improved by the Ravens talented staff. The Ravens did quite well in the 2008 draft but I would have liked them to draft another playmaking receiver as well.
Pittsburgh Steelers 2008 Draft Picks
The first four draft picks by the Steelers were outstanding in my view. They got quality players on both offense and defense. The Steelers took Illinois runningback Rashard Mendenhall with their first pick and he will be a great compliment to Willie Parker for a nice one-two combo. The Steelers also managed to get Limas Sweed, the 6′3 receiver from Texas with good speed and hands. They also drafted outside linebacker Bruce Davis who is 6′2 and can move for his size. If Davis can pick up more natural instinct he will be another good linebacker in the Steeler system. The Steelers also needed young talent for the offensive line from losing Pro Bowler Alan Faneca and offensive tackle Tony Hills is a 6′5, 309 pound guy that should help fill in the spot.