Here I am going to focus on the current draft needs and my projected picks for the AFC North in the first two rounds of the 2012 NFL Draft. I am going to start with the team with the highest draft pick and work my way down to the lowest.
Cleveland Browns
Needs: Wide receiver, running back, offensive guard, offensive tackle, cornerback,
The Browns offense under Pat Shurmer is pass-oriented, but they don't have a legit #1 receiver to throw the ball to. They also need a corner across from Joe Haden because Sheldon Brown isn't a reliable starter anymore. They need help at both guard positions and right tackle. I also don't trust Montario Hardesty to stay healthy and effective for 16 games.
First round pick, #4 Overall: Morris Claiborne, CB LSU - I don't think that the Browns feel that Justin Blackmon fits what they want to do on offense, and taking a running back this high also doesn't fit their offensive philosophy. Last season, the other three teams in their division made the playoffs. They get to face Ben Roethlisberger, Joe Flacco, and Andy Dalton twice a season at quarterback. Claiborne makes sense as he would bolster the pass defense and possibly give the Browns two shutdown corners. In a league so predicated on the pass, being able to stop it is a huge advantage.
First round pick, #22 overall: Kendall Wright, WR Baylor - This guy is fast. And while I personally think that Justin Blackmon would fit their offense just fine, I don't think the Browns feel the same way. Wright can blow the top off of a defense with his speed, and he can also use that speed to gain yards after the catch on shorter routes. I think the Browns plan on seeing if Colt McCoy can be the quarterback to lead the Browns to the playoffs in the near future this season, but he needs a receiver that is a #1 talent, something the Browns don't currently have on their roster. Wright would give them that caliber of a receiver, so this is a sink-or-swim year for McCoy. If he doesn't show a good amount of improvement this season with Wright at receiver, the Browns will be in the market to replace him next offseason.
Second round pick, #37 overall: Amini Silatolu, OG Midwestern State - The Browns currently have Jason Pinkston and Shawn Lauvao slated to play their two guard positions. If they go into the season without bolstering at least one of those two positions, they might get Colt McCoy killed. Silatolu is the best guard available and would be better at one of the two guard positions.
So in the first two rounds the Browns take care of cornerback, wide receiver, and offensive guard. I think that's a pretty good first two rounds for a team with as many holes as the Browns have.
Cincinnati Bengals
Needs: Cornerback, offensive guard, running back
The Bengals stud cornerback Leon Hall might not be available to start the season with an Achilles injury and Nate Clements is getting old and inconsistent. They could use an upgrade at offensive guard to help the run game and protect quarterback Andy Dalton. They also could use another running back, BenJarvus Green-Ellis isn't a long-term answer at the position.
First round pick, #17 overall: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB Alabama - With Hall recovering from an Achilles injury, Nate Clements getting older, and Adam "Pacman" Jones just not being good...the Bengals could use Kirkpatrick to start the season on Hall's stead and then take over for Clements once Hall comes back from his injury. He does have some character concerns, but the Bengals don't care much about character if the player has talent.
First round, #21 overall: Kevin Zeitler, OG Wisconsin: The best pure guard available, the Bengals find a guy to open holes for their running backs and protect Andy Dalton. Zeitler comes from a program known for their running game, and Zeitler was a big part of that. He's a great pick for the Bengals at this point in the first round.
Second round, #53 overall: Lamar Miller, RB Miami: Miller is a real steal this deep into the second round. Yes, the Bengals signed BenJarvus Green-Ellis but he doesn't have the home run ability that Miller has. Any time that you give this guy the ball, he can take it to the house. He's could possibly even win the starting job in training camp with some long runs in the preseason. He also doesn't need 20+ carries to get going, allowing the Bengals to skew their offense more towards the passing game if they'd like to.
In the first two rounds the Bengals take care of their biggest needs, which should make them a threat for the division crown and/or a wild card spot again this season.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Needs: Offensive guard, inside linebacker, defensive tackle, cornerback
The offensive line is still not all that good. They aren't the worst offensive line in the league, but Ben Roethlisberger makes them look a whole lot better than they actually are. Ben just turned 30 years old last month, he can't constantly play with injuries like he has for most of his career. They need to protect him better. The Steelers also need an inside linebacker to replace James Farrior who was a salary cap cut. They also lost William Gay in free agency, though they didn't really seem all that interested in resigning him...a later round corner to develop for depth is needed.
First round, #24 overall: Dont'a Hightower, ILB Alabama - This guy was born to play linebacker for the Black & Gold. He could even possibly start this season for the Steelers, because I believe he is already that much better than Larry Foote who is currently penciled in to play the position manned by Farrior since 2002. Last season, the Steelers gave up 4.0 yards a carry and finished 8th in rushing defense which isn't bad but below the standard that the Steelers have set for themselves. They gave up just under 100 yards a game and 7 rushing touchdowns in the regular season, which is just unacceptable in my opinion. This is why Hightower has to be the Steelers first round pick.
Second round, #56 overall: Kelechi Osemele, OG Iowa State - The Steelers released Chris Kemoeatu this offseason on what was not just a salary cap cut...but getting rid of a player who wasn't mentally strong enough to be a starter in the NFL. Too many dumb penalties at the worst possible times, especially unnecessary roughness penalties because his mean streak was just too long. He was benched twice for poor play and penalties in 2011. So now the Steelers two guards are Doug Legursky and Ramon Foster. Legursky is also the backup center, so if Pouncey were to be hurt again this season, we'd be very thin at guard. Osemele would compete for a starting spot at the position and bolster the depth of the interior line.
The Steelers would take care of their two biggest needs in the first two rounds. If the Steelers don't take a guard in the second round, I can see them taking a nose tackle (even if it's a bit of a reach). Casey Hampton is coming off of a torn ACL and could start the season on the Physically Unable to Play List (PUP List).
Baltimore Ravens
Needs: offensive guard, center, inside linebacker, outside linebacker
The Ravens were considered free agent losers as players left the team and they failed to sign players to replace them. Their biggest loss was Ben Grubbs, their offensive guard. He went to New Orleans and the Ravens failed to sign a replacement for him. They also have to get running back Ray Rice under a long-term deal, he's currently franchise tagged by the team. Quarterback Joe Flacco also wants a long-term deal. The Ravens have said it's a priority to sign both players long-term not only to keep them, but to get them more salary cap space. They also could use a backup center/center of the future with Matt Birk being on the cusp of retirement. And also, an inside linebacker for depth and possibly to become Ray Lewis' replacement because he can't keep playing forever. They could also use depth at outside linebacker and someone to push Paul Kruger for playing time.
First round, #29 overall: Peter Konz, C Wisconsin - He could play guard this season learning from one of the best in the game, Matt Birk. Then he could take over for Birk when he retires, and be the immediate backup at center in case Birk were to get injured during the season. It really fills two needs with one pick. The Ravens could use a later pick on a guard for depth.
Second round, #60 overall: Vinny Curry, OLB Marshall - Their starter from last season Jarret Johnson, left in free agency for the San Diego Chargers. He had only 40 tackles and 2.5 sacks. Paul Kruger couldn't beat him out for the starting job, so the Ravens might look for depth and someone to push Kruger. Vinny Curry could be that guy. Another pass rusher across from Terrell Suggs would make the Ravens defense that much more fierce. They drafted Sergio Kindle to do this in 2010, but they he fell down some steps and fractured his skull. In two seasons he's only played in two games and hasn't recorded a statistic.
The Ravens fix their guard/center issue with one pick and then bolster their pass rush with their second round pick. Not bad for the defending AFC North Champs.
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