The AFC North had a pretty solid draft throughout the division. All the teams did good by filling their team needs, but it looks to still be a 2 team contending division( you know who they are), with the other two teams still rebuilding( you know who they are). But now i will grade these contending or rebuilding teams drafts.

Baltimore-   Draft Grade-B      pre-draft needs- WR, CB, LB, OT

The Ravens had a good draft. They did enough through free agency and the draft to be contenders again in 2009. The first round pick of OT Michael Oher was a bit of a suprise, but gives us a great young OT combo of Jared Gaither and Oher, as Ozzie Newsome always does, draft the best player availiable, and thats what he did here. The 2nd round pick of Paul Kruger was a bigger suprise, but should help the Ravens with their pass rushing schemes immeadiately. Their 3rd round pick of Ladarrius Webb was a great pick for depth, and as were the two 5th round picks of LB Jason Phillips, who could be one of the canidates to replace Bart Scott, and TE Davon Drew, who is a good recieving tight end. And 6th round pick of RB Cedric Peerman did it all at Virginia, but probably will see kost of his time on swing passes or returns.

Pittsburgh-    Draft Grade- C+          Pre-draft needs- OT, DE, WR, CB

The Steelers had a great first 3 picks, then they kind of fizzled out. The 1st round pick of DT Ziggy Hood out of Mizzou was a great pick, as he was the #2 DT on the board. Then 2nd rounder OG Kraig Urbik gives them in interior lineman they needed. Then 3rd round pick WR Mike Wallace, the blazing fast reciever out of Ole Miss gives them a good deep threat and a replacement for Nate Washington. Then the other 3rd rounder CB Keenan Lewis was a depth pick. And after that, there was a bunch of who’s? and huh’s?, such as RB Frank Summers and TE David Johnson.

Cincinatti-     Draft Grades- C    Pre-draft needs- C, OT, DE, WE

The Bengals filled their needs well. Their 1st round pick of OT Andre Smith was one of the top OT’s in the draft and will start immeadiately. Their 2nd round pick of Rey Maualuga was also a good pick, but Maualuga has some issues, and thats why he fell to the 2nd round. The 3rd round pick of GT DE Michael Johnson is a good pass rushing specialist that should help out Robert Geathers. Then they took a good TE that they needed in Mizzous Chase Coffman. The 4th round pick of C Jonathan Luigs was questionable but should be solid in the NFL. Then the next 6 picks they had in day 2 were spent on depth picks and were used horribly, as there was so much better talent on the board then what they selected.

Cleveland-  Draft Grade- B-                 Pre-draft needs- LB, S,CB, WR

The Browns had a good draft also. Their 1st round pick of C Alex Mack was a good pick, but not a huge need of that team. Then the next 2 picks were great, as they took Ohio State WR Brian Robinskie in the 2nd round and them Georgia’s WR Mohammed Massaquoi with their other 2nd rounder. That should help take the pressure of Braylon Edwards. Then their selection of DE David Veikune was a good pick that should stop the run and rush the QB. Their 4th round pick of USC LB Kaluka Maiava was questionable. Then their 6th round pick of CB Don Carey was for depth, and the other 6th round pick of CB Coye Francis was a good steal, i had him graded as a 4th or 5th round pick. Then their 7th round pick of Clemson RB James Davis was one of the best steals of the draft and could help them out in the running, passing and return game.

Thats it for for, check back tommorow for my AFC West grades.

                                        Logan Quick