Draftaganza! - AFC North

This is the second in a series of eight posts from Adam analyzing the 2010 NFL Draft and what it means for each franchise.

Big Ben Roethlisberger is a moron and likely compromised the Steelers’ chances of beating out the Ravens or the Bengals for the division title.  The Bengals were solid last year but sputtered down the stretch and looked out of place in the playoffs.  The Ravens defense is aging, and while the offense has improved, the identity of this team is in flux.  Are they a dominant defense, an explosive offense, both or neither?  I think ultimately the Ravens have the most players and had a nice draft and they will end on top of this division.  The Browns suck.

Baltimore Ravens

2.11 Kindle, Sergio, DE, Texas

2.25 Cody, Terrence, DT, Alabama

3.06 Dickson, Ed, TE, Oregon

4.16 Pitta, Dennis, TE, BYU

5.25 Reed, David, WR, Utah

5.26 Jones, Art, DT, Syracuse

6.25 Harewood, Ramon, OT, Morehouse

I thought Kindle could have gone much higher and was kind of rooting for the Niners to take him in the first round.  Kindle and Terrell Suggs form a terrifying pass rushing team.  And with Ray Lewis and Haloti Ngata joining this tandem, this represents an elite front seven.  If Terrence Cody can be in reasonable shape he can also be a unique force for this team.  On potential, this is one of the best front sevens in years.  The Ravens also get two weapons in Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta.  Todd Heap is aging and could use some complementary players.  Pitta is an excellent pass catcher and reminds me of a Dallas Clark-type talent.  Add this young talent to Ray Rice and you've got something.  They also add Anquan Boldin who is a Pro Bowler when healthy but he often has trouble staying on the field.  Donte Stallworth makes his comeback with the Ravens as well.  Joe Flacco is entering that barometer third year and should be ready to become a perennial near-Pro Bowl player.  If Boldin is right, this team could be Super Bowl level.  Their cornerbacks are a concern and Ed Reed has really been banged up.

Cincinnati Bengals

1.21 Gresham, Jermaine, TE, Oklahoma

2.22 Dunlap, Carlos, DE, Florida

3.20 Shipley, Jordan, WR, Texas

3.32 Ghee, Brandon, CB, Wake Forest

4.22 Atkins, Geno, DT, Georgia

4.33 Muckelroy, Roddrick, LB, Texas

5.21 Hudson, Otis, OG, Eastern Illinois

6.22 Briscoe, Dezmon, WR, Kansas

7.21 Stephens, Reggie, OL, Iowa St.

The Bengals drafted very well based on talent available and need.   The Cincinnati defense was good last year, but down the stretch their offense was totally inert.  Gresham is a huge talent at tight end and instantly makes Chad Ochocinco and Carson Palmer better.  Shipley can be a very good slot receiver right away, and with those two picks the Bengals have given Palmer two great middle-of-the-field targets.  Carlos Dunlap can be a nightmare pass rusher if he is motivated and focused, but this is a guy who once got pulled over drunk while parked at a stoplight, the perfect Bengal.  Brandon Ghee is very talented and joins an elite, young corner tandem of Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph.  This team should really be able to cover.  I think the Bengals did enough to make this team a threat to win the division if Carson Palmer can get back to his Pro Bowl level.  I think Dezmon Briscoe is another nice addition with a 6th round pick. 

Cleveland Browns

1.07 Haden, Joe, CB, Florida
2.06 Ward, T.J., FS, Oregon
2.27 Hardesty, Montario, RB, Tennessee
3.21 McCoy, Colt, QB, Texas
3.28 Lauvao, Shawn, OT, Arizona St.
5.29 Asante, Larry, SS, Nebraska
6.08 Mitchell, Carlton, WR, South Florida
6.17 Geathers, Clifton, DE, South Carolina

Joe Haden is going to be very good, mark it down.  He is a tremendous athlete, a big personality, has the confidence necessary to play the humbling cornerback position, and he likes to hit.  He will be an All-Pro within three years.  TJ Ward is a solid player that may start instantly at safety, so with their first 2 picks the Browns really rebuilt their secondary.  Montario Hardesty is going to be a good-to-very good back in this league.  He has good size, above average speed, and great wiggle.  He is a natural runner.  He has had some knee injuries but if he can stay healthy he can be the real deal.  Colt McCoy completed 78% of his passes in his junior year, which is a great sign no matter when, where, or in what system you play in.  He is a good athlete with nice mobility and a decent arm.  If he is groomed well, protected, and eventually given weapons, he can thrive in this league.  This is a draft that may look better and better as the years go by, but for now, the Browns are still on the bottom of the heap.

Pittsburgh Steelers

1.18 Pouncey, Maurkice, C, Florida
2.20 Worilds, Jason, DE, Virginia Tech
3.18 Sanders, Emmanuel, WR, Southern Methodist
4.18 Gibson, Thaddeus, DE, Ohio St.
5.20 Scott, Chris, OT, Tennessee
5.33 Butler, Crezdon, CB, Clemson
5.35 Sylvester, Stevenson, LB, Utah
6.19 Dwyer, Jonathan, RB, Georgia Tech
6.26 Brown, Antonio, WR, Central Michigan
7.35 Worthington, Doug, DT, Ohio St.

Pouncey is physical, talented, and versatile and will help this o-line immediately.  Jason Worilds is solid and will likely be a contributor especially once he gets into that Steeler system.  Thaddeus Gibson might be a better player than Worilds and should bolster this defense as well.  Jonathan Dwyer was a projected first rounder, so he is a great value in the 6^th, and could form a very nice tandem with Rashard Mendenhall.  Still, this is a team with aging veterans, a leadership void with Big Ben literally screwing away his future, and will see a dip in explosiveness with Santonio Holmes gone.  This team will struggle this year, and may be on the way down for the next 5-10 years.