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There's no question that the Cincinnati Bengals were the big winners in the Carson Palmer trade with the Oakland Raiders. The Bengals received first- and second-round selections for Palmer, who lasted two seasons and won a total of eight games.

But did the Bengals get maximum value out of those picks? Steve Muench of Scouts Inc. isn't sure about that.

Cincinnati drafted cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick with the 17th overall pick in 2012 and went with running back Giovani Bernard with the 37th overall selection last week.

Muench believes you can criticize the drafting of Kirkpatrick for a couple of reasons.

"The first is he didn’t project as a playmaker and the next pass he intercepts will be his first NFL pick," he said. "The second is he had problems staying healthy at Alabama and he’s had problem staying healthy since they drafted him. That opens the door for Janoris Jenkins argument, so they may not have gotten the max value for the pick but it’s way too early to say it wasn’t a good pick. I still think he has good fluidity, speed and instincts for a corner with his size."

The Bengals used their second pick in the Palmer trade on taking the first running back of this year's draft.

"Only time will tell but I’m not as high on the Bernard pick," Meunch said. "I like Bernard’s vision, determination and ability to contribute on third down. He’s not a great fit because of his average size and below average power. Wisconsin’s Montee Ball or Alabama’s Eddie Lacy are better overall prospects and better fits. Plus, it’s not like they need help with punt returns."

Kirkpatrick will get a chance to start this season, but he'll have to be out Terence Newman. He only played in five games last season, making a total of four tackles, because of injuries.

Bernard is expected to be the change-of-pace back behind starter BenJarvus Green-Ellis. The Bengals were looking for an explosive, big-play back who can impact the passing game. On a side note, I did get a chuckle out of the Bengals using one of the Palmer picks on a running back. The Bengals' running backs coach is Hue Jackson, who helped orchestrate the trade for Palmer in October 2011 when he was the head coach of the Raiders at the time.

It'll likely take another two to three years before the Bengals can determine whether they got the most out of those two gift picks from the Raiders.

In addition to their draft picks, the AFC North teams added about 60 undrafted players this week. Some won't make it to training camp, and a majority won't last past the final cutdown. At first glance, there doesn't appear to be a Vontaze Burfict, who turned out to be the Bengals' leading tackler last season, in this year's group.

The Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers start their three-day rookie minicamps on Friday, and the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals will hold theirs next weekend.

Here are my top five undrafted rookies to watch in the AFC North:

1. Matt Furstenburg, Ravens tight end: Athletic pass-catching tight end from Maryland who posted the second-fastest time for tight ends at the NFL combine. He lacks ideal height and saw his production drop (16 catches last season) as his college team went through six quarterbacks. Furstenburg was projected by some to go in the middle rounds.

2. Onterio McCalebb, Bengals cornerback: Former Auburn running back is making a position switch. But McCalebb is going to make the team based on his returner skills. He was the fastest man at the NFL scouting combine, running the 40-yard dash in 4.27 seconds. The big question is whether he can hold up in the NFL considering his extremely frail build. McCalebb was considered a late-round pick.

3. Braxston Cave, Browns center: Experienced, thick-bodied anchor from Notre Dame who made 35 career starts. His stock dropped because of a poor performance at the Senior Bowl. There are also durability concerns after two of his seasons ended with injuries. Cave is a mauling run blocker who hoped to go as high as the fourth round.

4. Rogers Gaines, Ravens offensive tackle: Developmental left tackle project from Tennessee State has rare size (6-foot-6, 334 pounds) but just two years of starting experience at the small school level. He'll have to add muscle in the weight room and prove he can handle speed rushers in the NFL. What stands out about Gaines is his nasty streak and massive wingspan. There was a chance he could have gone as early as the fifth round.

5. Joe Madsen, Steelers center: The four-year starter from West Virginia has good size, awareness and quickness. The biggest knock on Madsen is he'll struggle at the point of attack. He has short arms but he'll need to get stronger. Madsen was considered a seventh-round pick.

Last week at this time, teams were making their final preparations for the first round of the draft. Now, rookie minicamps are around the corner for the newest players in the AFC North. The mandatory minicamps for veterans is still a month away. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. First things first, which means the wake-up call ...

RAVENS: Jameel McClain is optimistic that he'll return from a spinal cord contusion he suffered last December, but the starting inside linebacker has yet to be medically cleared to resume playing. "I'm running around full speed, working out, lifting weights with no problems, nothing on my end," McClain told The Baltimore Sun. "I can do everything. Everything is positive on my end." McClain said the injury didn't require surgery. The severity and location of the injury had initially created doubt about his future.

BENGALS: Clark Judge of CBS Sports thinks the Bengals are changing their draft-day image. They are taking the best players available instead of reaching for need and players who come with baggage. Case in point: Selecting Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert in the first round. "So maybe it says something about the value of stability, with coach Marvin Lewis in place since 2003," Judge wrote. "Or maybe it says something about the influence of an improved scouting department and the impact that it has on Brown and the coaching staff. All I know is Mike Brown and the Cincinnati Bengals just got things right. Again."

STEELERS: Linebackers coach Keith Butler wanted the Steelers to draft an inside linebacker in the second round after taking outside linebacker Jarvis Jones in the first. "As I told them, last time we picked first and second with linebackers (2007 with Lawrence Timmons and LaMarr Woodley), we won the Super Bowl two years later," Butler told The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "We didn't go to it, we won it. I tried to make that argument, it didn't work. It worked for one round, but it didn't work for the second round." The only inside linebacker taken in the second round after the Steelers drafted running back Le'Veon Bell was Florida's Jon Bostic. The Steelers eventually selected Florida State inside linebacker Vince Williams in the sixth round.

BROWNS: The house-cleaning of the old regime's scouting department continued Wednesday, when director of college scouting John Spytek was fired along with two pro scouts, according to The Plain Dealer. Earlier in the week, senior national scout Pat Roberts left after the Browns did not renew his contract. Perhaps one reason why the Browns traded for two future picks is because CEO Joe Banner and general manager Mike Lombardi want to use their draft choices when they have their staff in place. Also, updating previous news items, The Plain Dealer is reporting free-agent offensive tackle Winston Justice is not visiting the Browns and the team isn't interested in Cardinals backup quarterback Brian Hoyer

When the Pittsburgh Steelers make their way on ESPN's "First Take," they offer some strong opinions about last year. They're so strong that you think the Steelers finished worse than 8-8.

Everyone remembers two months ago when wide receiver Antonio Brown described a "fractured" locker room. This time, wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders talked about how the players didn't always mesh with new offensive coordinator Todd Haley.

Sanders' comments came after Stephen A. Smith repeatedly asked him why the Steelers finished 8-8. "Offensively, I felt like we slacked and that's on us," Sanders said.

When asked if it goes back to the lack of a running game, Sanders said, "I like Jonathan Dwyer. We had a new offensive coordinator. At times, we weren't on the same page. And that's obvious."

Sanders added, "But this offseason, Ben [Roethlisberger] has been showing up every day ... and we're getting familiar with the offense and we're looking forward to this next season."

In terms of points, the Steelers improved slightly last season, going from 20.3 points per game in 2011 to 21.0 last season. The big drop-off came in the running game. Pittsburgh averaged 96.1 yards rushing per game last season, which was about 23 yards less per game than in 2011.

Last July, I thought it was the right move when the Cleveland Browns selected wide receiver Josh Gordon in the second round of the supplemental draft. A year later, the Browns look even smarter with the decision, even though chief executive officer Joe Banner refuses to admit it.

After a slow first quarter of the season, Gordon kept improving throughout the season, catching 43 passes and scoring five touchdowns in his final 12 games. He showed flashes of being the team's long-term answer at the No. 1 receiver spot.

The decision to take Gordon started with the Browns choosing running back Trent Richardson over wide receiver Justin Blackmon in the top five of last year's draft. Blackmon was suspended Tuesday for the first four games of the 2013 season for his second violation of the substance abuse policy in less than a year.

Gordon was also considered a risk after he failed multiple drug tests during his college career. Still, there's a difference between investing a first-round pick and a second-round one on a player with red flags.

I believe the Browns made the right move with Gordon because I'm not sure he lasts until the Browns' second-round pick this year. The Browns gave up the 39th pick overall in this year's draft by taking Gordon last year.

Steve Muench of Scouts Inc. told me that he would have projected Gordon to be a late first or early second-round pick.

"I don’t see him getting past 41 where Buffalo took Southern Cal wide receiver Robert Woods, so I think he would have been a top-five wide receiver in last year’s class," Muench said. "It’s just tough to find that kind of size, speed and athletic ability."

Gordon might have gone as early at No. 27 in the first round, according to Muench. That's where the Houston Texans selected Clemson wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, the second receiver to get drafted. "Hopkins is a good value and fit there, but the same can be said about Gordon. So the Texans would have had a tough choice," Muench said.

Muench thinks the Minnesota Vikings would've still gone with Cordarrelle Patterson over Gordon at No. 29 because of his ability to make plays in space, but Gordon might have been selected over Justin Hunter by the Tennessee Titans at No. 34.

Based on Muench's analysis, it looks like the Browns got the right value in using a second-round pick on Gordon, and got an additional year out of him because it was a supplemental pick. Still, the Browns' new regime isn't ready to applaud the move made by former president Mike Holmgren and general manager Tom Heckert.

Asked if he can say now whether or not Gordon was worth the second-round pick, Banner said last weekend: "My answer is the same as it was. I think Josh has a lot of potential, and we are excited about what he can do. We’re all going to see how he develops and what he can turn into. In the end, that question will answer itself, I think. We’re certainly rooting for him to prove that was a great decision.”

Two days into what had been an impressive draft for the Cincinnati Bengals, ESPN's Tedy Bruschi said, "If there was a year they can win the division, it's this year." Herm Edwards raised expectations even higher, predicting the Bengals would win the AFC North by two games.

Did the Bengals do enough this offseason to surpass the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens? The answer lies with quarterback Andy Dalton.

The Bengals can take the next step only if Dalton does. Over the course of three days in the NFL draft, Cincinnati did everything it could to help the offense and its third-year starting quarterback. In turn, it increased the pressure on Dalton to deliver in the red zone, on third downs and in the playoffs.

It started in the first round when the Bengals passed on drafting a strong safety, the team's most pressing need, in favor of taking Notre Dame's Tyler Eifert, the best tight end in the draft. Before the second round, the Bengals re-signed free-agent right tackle Andre Smith, which brought back all five starters from the NFL's second-best pass-blocking offensive line. Then, with its first pick in the second round, Cincinnati made North Carolina's speedy Giovani Bernard the first running back taken in this year's draft.

Two poor performances in the playoffs have raised questions whether Dalton is a franchise quarterback. The Bengals should be able to determine that this year after adding these playmakers.

Dalton now has another big target inside the 20-yard line with Eifert. He has an exciting checkdown option with Bernard, a luxury that Joe Flacco has enjoyed for years with Ray Rice. This is in addition to throwing to two Pro Bowl players, wide receiver A.J. Green and tight end Jermaine Gresham, and handing the ball off to grind-it-out back BenJarvus Green-Ellis.

There is no reason for this offense to rank 22nd in the NFL or flame out in the playoffs, as it did last year. I'm not the only one saying that, either.

"There shouldn’t be any excuses,” Dalton told reporters this week. “The players we already have and adding these guys is just going to make the offense better. So I expect us to take the next step. I expect us to improve from where we were last year. Time will tell, but we’ve got the right attitude going in and the way we’ve been working. I don’t expect any less.”

Right now, Dalton is a good quarterback, not a great one. He's right in the middle of the pack of NFL starters. Dalton has potential and a lot of qualities that you can't teach quarterbacks. He's smart. He has a feel for reading defenses. He has great anticipation to throw the ball even before his receiver breaks out of his route.

In his first two years, Dalton has done something that hadn't been accomplished in Cincinnati in more than three decades -- lead the Bengals to the playoffs in back-to-back years. He also has thrown 47 touchdowns in 32 career games. The only quarterbacks who have passed for more in their first two seasons in the NFL are Dan Marino (68) and Peyton Manning (52).

But in a division with Ben Roethlisberger and Joe Flacco, two quarterbacks who have combined for 19 playoff wins and three Super Bowl titles, a quarterback is going to be judged by the postseason. Dalton is 0-2 in the playoffs and is a major reason for those defeats. He threw three interceptions in his first playoff game in the 2011 postseason (including a critical pick returned for a touchdown by J.J. Watt) and failed to complete half of his throws in his second postseason game in the 2012 playoffs.

Dalton knows he has to be better than no touchdowns and four interceptions in two playoff games. He knows he has to complete more than 47.5 percent of his passes on third down. He knows the Bengals must improve from being the NFL's 16th-best red zone offense. And he knows he can't commit 20 turnovers (16 interceptions, four fumbles) and have four of them returned for touchdowns as he did last season.

What impresses me the most about Dalton is how he handles criticism. When he was getting bashed for a lack of arm strength last season, he showed swagger that's not often seen in young quarterbacks. Dalton handled the addition of these young playmakers on offense the same way.

“I don’t feel more pressure,” Dalton said. “I expect to be better this year. Regardless if we didn’t get anybody, I would still expect to be better. The more weapons we have, the better I feel.”

I get the feeling that the Bengals want Dalton to feel pressure this year, which is a different approach. Last year, coach Marvin Lewis said he didn't want Dalton to listen to criticism because the team had no doubts in him. But in March, offensive coordinator Jay Gruden set a different tone, saying Dalton has "got a long way to go."

"He’s done some great things for a second-year quarterback, won a lot of games and thrown some good touchdown passes, but we feel like he has not come close to his potential," Gruden said.

It's time for Dalton to live up to that potential. The Bengals return a top-10 defense and added talented young weapons on offense. Everything is set up for the Bengals to go from a playoff team to a Super Bowl contender. All they need is a quarterback to take them there.

The draft is over, but the praising/criticizing/analyzing part is far from over. Stop by the AFC North weekly chat Wednesday if you want to talk about Barkevious, Margus and Shamarko, which sounds more like members of an Eastern European boy band than the newest defenders in the division.

Simply click on these underlined words right here and you'll be directed to the chat. We'll kick the discussion off at 2 p.m., so clear your schedule for that time.

As always, you can send your questions about the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers at any time. See you in a couple of hours.

ESPN's Todd McShay evaluates the NFL draft for each AFC North team , giving his take on the best and most questionable picks. It's an Insider article, so you'll need a subscription to view the entire post. But here are McShay's picks and my take on them:

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Best pick: Safety Matt Elam, first round.

Questionable pick: Offensive lineman Ricky Wagner, fifth round.

My comments: I think everyone can agree that the Ravens' first two picks, Elam and inside linebacker Arthur Brown, will be impact rookies. As far as questionable picks, it's tough to criticize any of Baltimore's selections based on value. Wagner was considered a second-round pick last year but he fell after not having a stellar 2012 season.

CINCINNATI BENGALS

Best pick: Tight end Tyler Eifert, first round.

Questionable pick: Safety Shawn Williams, third round.

My comments: Eifert should be the best player drafted in the last dozen picks of the first round. The Bengals took the best player available rather than addressing a bigger need. As McShay points out, there are differing opinions on Williams, the eighth safety drafted. If he isn't starting by next season, the pick looks even more questionable.

CLEVELAND BROWNS

Best pick: Outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo, first round.

Questionable pick: Trading out of the fourth and fifth rounds.

My comments: McShay compares Mingo's explosive first step to Dwight Freeney, which is quite a compliment. Mingo is still developing as a pass-rusher, but his high ceiling makes him a legitimate top-10 pick. And while the Browns got good value in trading this year's picks for next year, McShay is right that the Browns passed on safeties and guards who could have helped a last-place team this season.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Best pick: Quarterback Landry Jones, fourth round.

Questionable pick: Outside linebacker Jarvis Jones, first round.

My comments: I feel that Jarvis Jones was the best, and not most questionable, pick. McShay believes Jones can be a star but he wonders whether he'll last beyond three or four years. Given Jones' talent and the Steelers' need for a pass-rusher, it was a move that the Steelers had to make. Yes, there's a risk. But there's also a big reward if he plays like he did on tape. I didn't expect Landry Jones to be the choice here for best pick. His inability to handle pressure in the pocket will be a problem at this level. McShay thinks Jones could become the surprise quarterback of this class.

Now that the draft is over, the AFC North blog is getting back to its usual routine. The weekly column will be posted around noon today and the chat will kick off at 2 p.m. As always, it's time to start with the wake-up call ...

RAVENS: Bryant McKinnie, who started every playoff game at left tackle for the Ravens, is continuing a two-day visit with the San Diego Chargers today after meeting and taking a physical for the Miami Dolphins. Asked how his visit with the Chargers was going, McKinnie told The Baltimore Sun in a text message: "It's cool." A source told The Sun that contract talks have yet to begin between the Chargers and McKinnie. If the Chargers did sign McKinnie, they would replace one former Ravens left tackle (Jared Gaither) with another. The Ravens still have interest in McKinnie but have penciled in Kelechi Osemele as their left tackle for right now.

BENGALS: Running back Rex Burkhead spent Monday at the White House just two days after the Bengals selected him in the sixth round of the NFL draft. Burkhead met with President Barack Obama in an effort to spread awareness for pediatric brain cancer, according to the team's official website. He befriended 7-year-old Jack Hoffman nearly two years ago early in Hoffman's battle with brain cancer. "He told me he'd be on the lookout and wished me the best of luck," Burkhead said of his talk with the President. "Hopefully I'll be back if we win the Super Bowl. I wish I told him that, but there just wasn't enough time."

STEELERS: Second-round pick Le'Veon Bell was the Steelers' top-rated running back in the draft, according to offensive coordinator Todd Haley. Running backs coach Kirby Wilson looked at tape of some of Bell's toughest games. "The games where the back isn't necessarily getting those big holes, so you can see what he's really capable of doing on his own," Haley said, via The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "Because, as we know, in the NFL the holes are a lot smaller. This is a big guy that can play like a big back, and yet also can get outside some and catch the ball." The Steelers view Bell as a three-down back.

BROWNS: Third-round pick Leon McFadden, a cornerback from San Diego State, already had a connection with the Browns even before he was drafted by the team. The quarterbacks coach at San Diego State is Brian Sipe, who quarterbacked the Browns from 1974 to 1983. "He’s very talented,” Sipe told the Akron Beacon Journal. “I had to train my quarterbacks to be able to throw against him, or I should say, stay away from him in practice.” McFadden is expected to compete for the Browns' starting cornerback job opposite Joe Haden.

Some loyal readers of the AFC North blog channeled their inner Mel Kiper Jr. and graded their team's drafts. Here are some selected comments that were sent to the AFC North mailbag ...

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Gene from San Diego: I'd give the Ravens an 'A.' And I'd send Jerry Jones a bottle of my best champagne. I mean Florida safety Matt Elam was the player they wanted and so was Arthur Brown. The rest is cake. No wide receiver, but who's gonna replace Anquan Boldin late in the draft anyway?

Wilson from Baltimore: I'd give the Ravens an 'A'. Pros: Florida safety Matt Elam and Kansas State inside linebacker Arthur Brown fill the only notable holes on defense, Missouri Southern State's Brandon Williams should take over for underachieving Terrence Cody, and based on Ozzie Newsome's history, at least one of the late round picks will become a good player for them. Cons: Left tackle not addressed and wide receiver wasn't taken until seventh round. Overall, the Ravens filled needs without reaching, and LT and WR are two positions that can be addressed by adding free-agent stopgaps until the next draft.

CINCINNATI BENGALS

ZC from Cincinnati: I believe the Bengals exceeded expectations with this years draft even when their "needs" weren't met. Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert and North Carolina running back Giovani Bernard have chances to be instant impact players in an offense that seemed inconsistent at times. Although safety was a need, people tend to forget this defense was rated in the top 10. I give the Bengals an 'A'.

Eric from Cincinnati: My grade for the Bengals is B-plus. They did exactly what you're supposed to do in the draft: top three picks will all make an immediate impact and the back half of their draft added some depth with players that have great developmental potential (Texas A&M linebacker Sean Porter, Arkansas wide receiver Cobi Hamilton and Ohio State offensive tackle Reid Fragel). I don't think I can give them an 'A' because they didn't grab their safety until the third round, which could lead to another year of sub-par play at the position.

CLEVELAND BROWNS

Ben from Phoenix: My grade for the Browns is 'B'. LSU linebacker Barkevious Mingo has lots of upside and San Diego State cornerback Leon McFadden should be able to start at corner with improvement. To me, East Central defensive lineman Armonty Bryant will make or break the class. Has tons of potential but just has major character issues to resolve. Browns CEO Joe Banner has a knack for finding small school talents and translating them into NFL success. Lastly, watch out for free-agent safety Kerry Rhodes to the Browns before training camps begin.

Tom from Nicaragua: I think the Browns deserve a 'C.' I would have loved to see them package their last three picks to and maybe a middle rounder from next year to move up into the second like the deal Minnesota Vikings did with the New England Patriots. I don't think those last three picks will make a difference like a second-round one would. Also, I don't like no veteran corner being signed, but there are a couple still. Quentin Jammer is a starter over Buster Skrine. I know it's just a band aid, but for one year, he would work.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Jacob from Philadelphia: I think my Steelers deserve an A-minus for their draft grade, and here's why: The first round doesn't need to be addressed (anytime you can grab the player who led FBS at sacks, forced fumbles and tackles for a loss and he plays at your greatest position of need). I also love the selection of Michigan State running back Le'Veon Bell as he is one of the few three-down backs in the draft and, if coached up to play a bit more physical, he could be a fantastic back. Plus I love the pick of Syracuse safety Shmarko Thomas, and Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones could turn out to be a great backup. My biggest concern is that while we drafted a few wideouts, including a burner, we still don't have a big physical presence who can play the ball outside the numbers. But other than that, I loved the draft.

Drafting Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones means the end of Charlie Batch's lengthy run with the Steelers. To suggest the Steelers are grooming Jones to replace Ben Roethlisberger in a couple of years is wrong.

But that didn't stop Batch from speculating it.

"(U)ltimately, I think this isn't about replacing me," Batch told The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "Big picture, maybe they're thinking, 'Can we develop Landry Jones to be the starter? Maybe two years from now, he could be our guy for the next 10 years.' We don't know. But with the contracts for quarterbacks these days, he'd certainly be a heck of a lot cheaper than Ben at age 34 or 35 or 36."

No, this was about replacing Batch and Byron Leftwich. The Steelers knew it was time to get younger at the backup quarterback spot. General manager Kevin Colbert didn't use a fourth-round pick on a quarterback thinking he was going to be the starter in Pittsburgh in 2015. This isn't like the Green Bay Packers drafting Aaron Rodgers in the first round in 2005, when they had a 36-year-old Brett Favre.

Batch will likely be proven wrong by this time next year. Roethlisberger, 31, is in line for a new contract because his salary-cap number in 2014 is nearly $19 million. That deal could ensure that Roethlisberger ends his career as a Steeler.

It's hard to accuse the Steelers of thinking about life after Roethlisberger when they're doing so many things to extend his career. They've invested two picks in the first and second rounds into their offensive line to better protect him. They're also trying to go to a more short passing game to limit the amount of hits on him.

Of course, Roethlisberger's style of play doesn't lend him to age as well as Peyton Manning. But it's not like Roethlisberger is showing any signs of slowing down with his play. He threw 17 touchdowns and four interceptions last season before getting injured.

So why did the Steelers draft Jones? It's definitely an investment. If Roethlisberger would suffer a career-ending injury, the Steelers would be in better shape for the future having a young quarterback like Jones over an aging veteran like Batch or Leftwich. The Patriots selected Ryan Mallett in the third round in 2011, when Tom Brady was 33, and it's not like New England is preparing to make a change in quarterback anytime soon. In fact, the Patriots are looking to trade Mallett for a second-round pick.

While many have been giving their opinion on whether Jones will eventually replace Roethlisberger, I find it fascinating that the Steelers drafted Jones in the first place. The Steelers used the 115th overall pick on a quarterback they didn't have any contact with until they called him on the phone Saturday to let him know he was their selection. Colbert acknowledged there's a chance Jones "will never play" for Pittsburgh, but he didn't want to pass up one of the most accomplished passers in NCAA history.

"When you have a franchise QB like we do, you don't get a lot of opportunities to add a young quarterback into the mix," Colbert said. "It's a critical position. You better keep adding young folks to that spot."

Free agency has winded down, the schedule is out and the draft is over. Sounds like it's time to see where all of the teams measure up against one another. Here's an AFC North recap of the April edition of the NFL post-draft Power Rankings, where the Seahawks remain at No. 1:

BALTIMORE RAVENS

ESPN Power Ranking: No. 8

My ranking: No. 5

2012 record: 10-6

Comment: In my rankings right after the first wave of free agency, I had the Ravens at No. 11 because they had lost seven starters from their Super Bowl team. Since that time, the Ravens added pass-rusher Elvis Dumervil, Michael Huff as well as two potential starters in the draft (safety Matt Elam and inside linebacker Arthur Brown). There's still a major question mark at the No. 2 wide receiver spot, but the Ravens have been impressive in rebuilding their defense. That's why I moved them to No. 5, which is higher than any other voter. NFC East blogger Dan Graziano has the Ravens at No. 10, their lowest ranking.

CINCINNATI BENGALS

ESPN Power Ranking: No. 9

My ranking: No. 9

2012 record: 10-6

Comment: The Bengals really solidified themselves as a top-10 team this month. Cincinnati added linebacker James Harrison, re-signed offensive tackle Andre Smith and put together one of the best drafts in the league. Tight end Tyler Eifert and running back Giovani Bernard bring big-play ability to the offense. Everyone has the Bengals in the top 10 except for the NFC West's Mike Sando (No. 11) and NFL columnist Ashley Fox (No. 12).

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

ESPN Power Ranking: No. 16

My ranking: No. 15

2012 record: 8-8

Comment: The Steelers couldn't do much in free agency because of their salary-cap limitations. Pittsburgh was able to retain restricted free-agent wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders and extend RFA nose tackle Steve McLendon's contract. The Steelers also addressed needs with their first four picks in the draft with outside linebacker Jarvis Jones, running back Le'Veon Bell, wide receiver Markus Wheaton and safety Shamarko Thomas. Fox had the Steelers ranked the lowest at No. 18, while John Clayton had them the highest at No. 10.

CLEVELAND BROWNS

ESPN Power Ranking: No. 28

My ranking: No. 29

2012 record: 5-11

Comment: The Browns had the biggest fall in the rankings, dropping three spots since the one last month. This is what happens when a last-place team like the Browns only draft two players in the first five rounds of the draft. The perception of the Browns would be different if they had used their fourth-round pick on a wide receiver and their fifth-rounder on a free safety. The only teams ranked lower than the Browns are the Raiders, Bills, Jaguars and Jets.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin stopped short of tabbing first-round pick Jarvis Jones as a starter, saying he will have to compete for the outside linebacker job.

"I think it's a daunting task for rookies to start in any system and play and perform well," Tomlin said. "Obviously it is difficult when you have established veteran players like we have with a lot of continuity. We are not going to close the door on [Jones] or anyone else on earning an opportunity, and that is what this is about -- people taking advantage of opportunities. So he'll be given that."

Recent history says Jones won't start for the Steelers. Since the Steelers selected Heath Miller eight years ago, only one first-round pick (center Maurkice Pouncey) was an immediate starter for Pittsburgh.

The reality of the Steelers' situation is that there should not just be one, but two rookies starting immediately. Jones and Michigan State running back Le'Veon Bell, Pittsburgh's top two picks in this year's draft, have to be considered favorites to win jobs this summer. If they don't, it would be a disappointment, especially when they address two of the team's biggest needs.

A big reason the Steelers finished 8-8 last season (beyond yet another Ben Roethlisberger injury) was the inability to force turnovers and the inconsistency of the running game. Jones is a defensive playmaker, whether it's forcing fumbles like James Harrison so often did or pressuring the quarterback into throwing an interception. He'll have to beat out former second-round pick Jason Worilds, who has 10 sacks in three seasons.

There has been a debate on if the Steelers reached for Bell in the second round because he wasn't even ranked among the top five running backs in this draft by Mel Kiper Jr. ESPN's Todd McShay had Bell ranked as the fourth-best back in this class. But the Steelers wouldn't have made him the second back drafted if they thought he would sit behind Jonathan Dwyer and Isaac Redman.

Pittsburgh doesn't use picks on this position often. Since 1990, the Steelers have drafted two running backs in the first two rounds: Rashard Mendenhall in 2008 and Bell this year.

"Running back is a position, probably more so than most, that you have a chance to come in and make an impact," offensive coordinator Todd Haley said about Bell, via The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "Obviously, there's a lot of work ahead of him. He's a young guy, but he's coming from a pro-style offense. A lot of the runs will be very similar to the runs that he was running. So I expect him to get into the mix and be a factor."

There's a chance that Pittsburgh Steelers rookie wide receiver Markus Wheaton could press Emmanuel Sanders for playing time. There was no chance that the Baltimore Ravens were going to take wide receiver Quinton Patton in the fourth round. And then there is new Browns wide receiver Davone Bess, who is happy he received a second chance. For more on this chatter about wide receivers, continue reading today's wake-up call ...

RAVENS: General manager Ozzie Newsome said the team wasn't planning to draft Louisiana Tech's Patton in the fourth round, where the San Francisco 49ers picked him right before Baltimore went on the clock. “Did one receiver get taken when we were set to take the guy? No, that did not happen at that point,” Newsome said after the draft, via the team's official website. The only receiver drafted by the Ravens was Elon's Aaron Mellette in the seventh round. “Were there receivers in every round that we considered? Yes,” Newsome said. “As far as Aaron, when we got to that point in the draft, he was our highest-rated guy, and that’s why we decided to take him."

BENGALS: Running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis is getting a familiar vibe when hearing the Bengals' plans of putting first-round pick Tyler Eifert on the field at the same time as Jermaine Gresham. Green-Ellis played for New England, where the Patriots used frequently used tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez as a tandem. "Long story short, if you have two tight ends and they are both big guys and you don't feel like you have to cover them with DBs, it actually brings more people in to the box," Green-Ellis said, via the team's official website. "If you have two guys and you feel like one of them is really a receiver then you approach it differently."

STEELERS: The Steelers used a third-round pick on Wheaton, just like they did four years ago with Mike Wallace. Wheaton, who averaged 13.2 yards per catch, doesn't bring the big-play numbers, but the Steelers think he comes more well-rounded than Wallace, who signed with the Dolphins in free agency. "I saw Mike as more of an outside receiver, outside the numbers," offensive coordinator Todd Haley told The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "This guy has played the slot a bunch when he wasn't outside. He is a little wider base [than Wallace], a little more running back build, in my opinion. The speed comparison -- it's hard for anyone to run faster than Mike, but this guy does play fast."

BROWNS: Bess doesn't believe he would be the same man today if he hadn't endured the misery from his past. Ten years ago, Bess spent 15 months in juvenile detention and lost his scholarship to Oregon State after he gave some friends a ride in his car after they had robbed a store. “Those heartaches, those tough times, those experiences in my cell molded me into the man I am today. At the time, being a young adolescent, I didn’t understand it. But being older now, I’m so thankful of those moments," Bess said in a conference call, via the Akron Beacon Journal. “My whole thing was going back, not only into the inner city, but abroad or wherever, and teaching, not only kids, but whoever, everybody, that there is a best route."

Let's break down the Pittsburgh Steelers' 2013 draft:

FIRST-ROUND SPOTLIGHT: This is the second straight year when the Steelers' coveted prospect fell to them in the bottom half of the first round. Last year, it was guard David DeCastro. Last week, it Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones. The Steelers' pass rush was a major question mark heading into this draft. LaMarr Woodley was coming off a disappointing season, and underachieving Jason Worilds was stepping in for James Harrison, who was released after refusing to take a pay cut. The addition of Jones lessens the loss of Harrison. He could make a Von Miller-like impact.

IN HINDSIGHT: The Steelers have done well with selecting wide receivers in the third round recently: Mike Wallace and Emmanuel Sanders. So, it's tough to criticize Pittsburgh for selecting Oregon State wide receiver Markus Wheaton in the third round. But the Steelers passed on two tight end prospects by using the 79th overall pick on Wheaton, Florida's Jordan Reed (85th) and Michigan State's Dion Sims (106th). Tight end becomes a more pressing need if Heath Miller isn't full recovered from knee surgery by the start of the season.

BEST VALUE: Safety Shamarko Thomas, Syracuse. Some draft experts had Thomas pegged to go much later than the fourth round. But he's intense, aggressive, vocal and thrives on contact. In terms of how the Steelers play, this is great value for a defensive back who fits Pittsburgh's style of play and likely will be called upon to start next season. Ryan Clark is an unrestricted free agent next year. The Steelers wanted him so much that they traded a 2014 third-round pick to get Thomas in the fourth round this year.

TOP LATE-ROUND PICK: DE-DT Nick Williams, Samford. The seventh-round pick (and last one by the Steelers) was projected by some to go in the middle rounds. Williams led all defensive tackles in the 40-yard dash (4.84 seconds) and vertical jump (33 inches) at the NFL scouting combine. The reason he fell is because he looks extremely unpolished on tape. The Steelers will have to be patient in developing him, but he has the size and quickness needed to succeed at this level.

SOMEONE WHO DIDN'T LIKE THIS DRAFT: Jonathan Dwyer. He had a chance to establish himself as the Steelers starting running back last season. Now, he may not make the team. After drafting Michigan State's Le'Veon Bell in the second round, Pittsburgh reportedly started shopping Dwyer. My guess is this would be the same end result for Dwyer whether the Steelers drafted a running back or not. The Steelers seemed to have everything set up to sign free agent Ahmad Bradshaw if they failed to draft a running back in the early rounds.