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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.

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."

The Pittsburgh Steelers joined in the run on quarterbacks in the fourth round, although they didn't take the one that had been linked to them.

The Steelers selected Oklahoma's Landry Jones with the 115th overall pick. He was the fourth quarterback drafted in the first 18 picks of the fourth round.

Most had linked the Steelers to Tennessee's Tyler Bray and Miami of Ohio's Zac Dysert. Instead, the Steelers went with Jones, who was the No. 1 quarterback in the draft on ESPN's Bill Polian's board. He said Jones has a big arm and quick release who was hurt last season by the lack of a supporting cast.

This is the highest that the Steelers have taken a quarterback since drafting Ben Roethlisberger in the 2004 first round. Jones will have time to develop behind Roethlisberger and Bruce Gradkowski, who was signed this offseason.

The addition of Jones likely means the end of Charlie Batch's Steelers career. Batch completed his 11th year in Pittsburgh, which is the second-longest current tenure of any quarterback with the same team after Tom Brady.

Jones is a pure pocket passer and won't extend plays like Roethlisberger. According to ESPN Stats & Information, since the start of the 2010 season, Jones completed 27.4 percent of his passes with two touchdowns and five interceptions when forced to scramble out of the pocket.

There is also an unusual connection between Jones and Roethlisberger. Jones' wife, Whitney Hand, is a former teammate of Roethlisberger's sister, Carlee. Both played on Oklahoma's women's basketball team. Hand was drafted higher than Jones, when she was selected in the third round of the WNBA 12 days ago.

Jones is the seventh QB taken following EJ Manuel (Buffalo, first round), Geno Smith (N.Y. Jets, second round), Mike Glennon (third round, Tampa Bay), Matt Barkley (fourth round, Philadelphia), Ryan Nassib (fourth round, N.Y. Giants) and Tyler Wilson (fourth round, Oakland).

James Harrison won't bring double-digit sacks to the Cincinnati Bengals. He won't bring a familiarity with a 4-3 defense like Karlos Dansby would.

So what can Who Dey Nation expect from the ex-Steelers outside linebacker? A whole lot of attitude.

It's easy to pick apart this addition and why the Bengals should have chosen Dansby as their strong-side linebacker, from Harrison's declining sack total (six last season) to an increasing number of injuries (seven games missed due to injuries the past two seasons) to his age (he turns 35 next month). But I would like to watch someone relay this criticism to Harrison's face.

What you can't argue with is the intangibles of this deal. As everyone who has ever watched him play one down knows, Harrison is mean, tough and plain nasty. He's more than just old. He's old school. I can tell you the person who hates this deal the most is Ben Roethlisberger. He's the last person who wants to see Harrison's steely-eyed stare from across the line of scrimmage.

The Bengals have one of the better defenses in the NFL, ranking No. 6 last season. The lineup is filled with young and talented players such as Geno Atkins, Leon Hall, Michael Johnson, Carlos Dunlap and Vontaze Burfict. The Bengals didn't need a Pro Bowl linebacker. Remember, Harrison is replacing underachieving Manny Lawson, not Aldon Smith.

What the Bengals never had on defense was an edge, or at least I never sensed one. That won't be the case now with Harrison, who is carrying a chip on his shoulder as large as a Primanti Brothers sandwich (or whatever the Cincinnati equivalent would be). Harrison carries grudges. Just ask the Baltimore Ravens, who once cut Harrison and got some of his best efforts each season.

The same goes for the Steelers and Ravens this year. Harrison was cut by the Steelers after refusing to take a pay cut, and then watched the Ravens sign Elvis Dumervil while he was at the Ravens team facility. I'm quite sure Harrison will be motivated when playing those two prime-time games against Pittsburgh and those two matchups with the defending Super Bowl champions. Perhaps the Bengals will get flashes of the Harrison of old, the one who from 2007 to 2011 went to the Pro Bowl five times and was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2008.

"He hates the Steelers now, and that's somebody we need on our side," Dunlap told the Cincinnati Enquirer earlier this week.

There is a risk involved in adding Harrison. He has never played in a 4-3 defense and he has been on the field for 77 percent of his team’s defensive snaps since the start of the 2011 season, which ranks 56th among linebackers over that span, according to ESPN Stats & Information. In 2012, Harrison finished outside the top five in sacks as an outside linebacker for the first time in the past five seasons (he was tied for 17th). There's a reason Harrison didn't draw much interest in free agency and only had serious talks with the Bengals and Ravens this offseason.

Because of those points, this may not be a popular choice among the Bengals fan base. In a recent SportsNation poll, 48 percent of voters thought the Bengals should have went with Dansby, while only 25 percent picked Harrison. Dansby is three years younger than Harrison and has experience in a 4-3 defense.

The difference with Harrison is he comes with a mean streak and swagger than Dansby doesn't have. I'm not saying Harrison is the missing piece in the Bengals' championship puzzle. But he will make them better for at least this year, when he is intent on proving to everyone that he can still make an impact. I like this move. Or maybe I just don't want to tick off Harrison and become Target No. 2 behind Roethlisberger.

The Cleveland Browns are the first team in the division to take to the field this offseason because teams with new coaches are allowed to hold an early voluntary minicamp. The Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers have begun their offseason workout programs, but those teams won't hold on-field activities until May. Lucky for you, there's never such a wait when it comes to the wake-up call ...

RAVENS: The Ravens have been able to take risks with reclamation projects in the past because they've had such strong leaders in Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. Now, with both of them gone, Baltimore believes it can still have success with troubled players like inside linebacker Rolando McClain, who signed a one-year contract last week. "I think the guys in the locker room will be able to provide him with the proper guidance that he needs as to the way John wants his football team and football players to be," general manager Ozzie Newsome said, via The Baltimore Sun.

BENGALS: Tight end Alex Smith, who signed with the Bengals on Tuesday, believes switching from Cleveland to Cincinnati will allow him to go from the bottom of the AFC North to the top of it. "I thought the division was definitely leaning in Cincinnati's favor based on some of the roster moves that teams were doing," Smith said, via the team's official website. "Cleveland is going through another transition with a new coach (and) just seeing the way players were exiting out of Pittsburgh and Baltimore, I thought the way Cincinnati was able to keep the nucleus … they already had a nice, young talented roster, so I think being able to build off of that, you've already seen success and I expect them to run away and be even better now. Especially with the shape of the rest of the division."

STEELERS: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger told WDVE in Pittsburgh that he is "really excited" that the Steelers have matched the offer sheet for Emmanuel Sanders, which keeps the wide receiver around for one more season. “He’s a lot better than people give him credit for being,” Roethlisberger said. “He’s really smart. It’s good for the team. He’s a good teammate. He can really help. If he stays healthy, I think he can do some great things.” Roethlisberger had lobbied to keep Sanders since the New England Patriots signed Sanders to the offer sheet.

BROWNS: It's still about five months until the start of the regular season, but Brandon Weeden took the first reps at quarterback when the Browns opened their first offseason camp under new coach Rob Chudzinski. Weeden told The Plain Dealer that "this is probably the biggest time of my entire career, just because the rookie year is tough. Going into year two, you've got to show you can play." The Browns signed Jason Campbell to compete with Weeden, and there is still a chance that Cleveland could draft a quarterback. Weeden said he hasn't been told of the team's draft plans. "That's above my pay grade," he said.

Leading up to the start of the NFL draft (it's only 10 days away), the AFC North blog will evaluate each position and where it stands as a need for each division team. Let's start with the quarterbacks, which is an intriguing draft talking point in the AFC North.

The Cleveland Browns are the only AFC North team without an established starter, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see the other division teams use a mid-to-late round pick on a quarterback. While I list the Browns as having the biggest draft need at quarterback, you can make a case for the Bengals, Ravens and Steelers being No. 2.

This is the ranking in terms of needing to draft a quarterback:

1. Cleveland Browns: I don't see Cleveland taking a quarterback with the No. 6 overall pick. The Browns, though, could take one as early as the second round if they trade back in the first round and acquire a pick in the second. Cleveland has taken an up-close look at most of the top quarterbacks, from Geno Smith to Matt Barkley to E.J. Manuel to Ryan Nassib. All of the options are open for the Browns, who can draft a quarterback to compete with Brandon Weeden and Jason Campbell or select one to develop behind them.

2. Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals have Josh Johnson and John Skelton as backups to Andy Dalton. I wouldn't say they are set at quarterback. Johnson and Skelton have a combined 8-14 record as starters. The Bengals have worked out Manuel and Nassib, which shows they're doing their homework on some of the top quarterbacks in the draft. Still, it would be a surprise to see Cincinnati draft a quarterback in the first three rounds. The Bengals may take one in the middle rounds if the right quarterback is there.

3. Baltimore Ravens: This may raise some eyebrows because the Ravens have gone with Tyrod Taylor as the backup to Joe Flacco for the past two seasons. There has been a sense that the Ravens would like to upgrade the backup spot. Baltimore brought in Curtis Painter to compete with Taylor last offseason. Taylor also didn't instill confidence in a sporadic performance in the regular-season finale at Cincinnati. The Ravens have multiple picks in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh rounds. In other words, they have enough to take a flier on a quarterback.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers: The Steelers have been questioned in recent years about when they're going to draft a quarterback to develop behind Ben Roethlisberger. With Roethlisberger turning 31 last month, those questions will only increase. The Steelers created some buzz when they had dinner with quarterback Tyler Bray before attending his pro day. Pittsburgh is set at backup quarterback after signing Bruce Gradkowski this offseason. The Steelers, though, can draft a quarterback to compete with John Parker Wilson for the No. 3 spot.

In a quote that will surprise no one, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger told a Dolphins website (thefinsiders.com) that the Pittsburgh Steelers are going to miss wide receiver Mike Wallace, who signed with the Miami Dolphins in free agency.

I don't think anyone is going to dispute the Steelers are going to miss Wallace. To what extent the Steelers are going to miss him is the real issue.

Wallace led the Steelers in receiving the past three seasons. There is no one who is going to stretch the field like Wallace, who has more 40-yard receptions since 2009 than Wallace (27).

But the Steelers would have missed Wallace more in Bruce Arian's offense, which emphasized the deep passing game, than in Todd Haley's passing attack. The Steelers should still be productive with Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders, both of whom can gain yards after the catch.

In fact, Brown and Sanders each had more 20-yard receptions than Wallace last season. Brown (11) and Sanders (10) combined for 21 catches over 21 yards last season while Wallace had nine.

Some may say Brown and Sanders are more versatile receivers because they can run different routes than Wallace, who has been jokingly referred as a "one-trick pony." Roethlisberger disagreed with that label.

“Mike is way more,” Roethlisberger said. “It’s to Mike’s credit. Mike is really focused on becoming a better receiver. So he’s focused on his route running. He’s focused on running out-routes, and curl-routes, and in-routes and doing all the little things that’s required to become a great wide receiver."

Roethlisberger added, “That’s why he, to me, is one of the best in the league, because he not only has that speed -- he can run by anybody -- but he can run routes and he can get open. That’s why we’re going to miss him, and the Dolphins are lucky to have him.”

There's still a chance that Wallace won't be the only receiver to leave. If the New England Patriots sign Sanders to an offer sheet before the April 19 deadline, Roethlisberger and the Steelers are going to miss Wallace a lot more.

The Pittsburgh Steelers parted ways with their best pass-rusher in James Harrison, the anchor of their defensive line in Casey Hampton and a young promising cornerback in Keenan Lewis. The most disturbing part about this is defense doesn't rank as the the team's top concern right now, and I'm not talking about a fractured locker room, either.

When it comes to the Steelers' offense, it's Big Ben and a lot of Big Questions. Who is the starting running back? Who is the No. 1 tight end at the start of the season? Will this reshuffled offensive line live up to expectations? Can the wide receivers withstand another loss?

Ben Roethlisberger remains a top-five quarterback in the NFL, but there's a question mark even with a two-time Super Bowl winner. Can he stay healthy for an entire season? The Steelers can't realistically think about putting together a winning season, much less a playoff one, if Roethlisberger is wincing in pain again for a third straight December. Not with what has gone on the past few months.

Mike Wallace, the team's leading receiver for the past three seasons, signed with the Miami Dolphins, and restricted free agent Emmanuel Sanders, the receiver who is expected to replace Wallace, could get an offer sheet from the New England Patriots next month. Heath Miller, the starting tight end and team most valuable player, doesn't have a timetable to return after tearing his ACL in the second-to-last game. Rashard Mendenhall, the team's only proven workhorse running back, went to the Arizona Cardinals. Left guard Willie Colon was released and left tackle Max Starks isn't expected to be re-signed.

Remember last year at this time when the main issues surrounding the offense was when Wallace would report, who would step up at running back and how long it would take before Roethlisberger was introduced to offensive coordinator Todd Haley? It's a more serious time for the Steelers' offense now. Whether or not Pittsburgh can provide viable answers to all of these questions will go a long way in determining the Steelers' fate this season -- a rebound from an 8-8 season or a return to another season of mediocrity.

“I don’t want to say it’s a transition phase because I feel like I’m still here and ready to rock and roll," Roethlisberger told The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette earlier this month. "I feel like I’m in my prime and ready to play great football."

Roethlisberger is right that his play often dictates the success of the offense. Before his rib injury last year, he was having an MVP-type season with 16 touchdowns and four interceptions. The Steelers were ranked 13th in scoring at that point. But his absence, coupled with his average play when he returned from the injury, caused the Steelers to finish 22nd in scoring, the worst of the Roethlisberger era and two spots ahead of the Cleveland Browns.

With a healthy Roethlisberger under center, the Steelers won't panic or concede this is a rebuilding season -- and they rightfully shouldn't. Pittsburgh's offense won't suddenly turn into Jacksonville, Arizona or the New York Jets if Roethlisberger is breaking free from pass-rushers and strong-arming throws in the end zone. There should be concern over the supporting cast, however. Four established starters (Wallace, Mendenhall, Starks and Colon) are gone or not expected to return and Miller could miss the start of the season. The Steelers, who are currently $2.5 million under the cap, can't really do much at this point to answer most of these questions.

Here's a position-by-position look at what could lie ahead for the Pittsburgh offense ...

Running back: Ahmad Bradshaw, who is visiting Pittsburgh on Wednesday, is clearly the Steelers' best option this year if he has recovered from foot surgery because there's no immediate starter in the draft. Jonathan Dwyer and Isaac Redman aren't the answer after they produced the Steelers' worst rushing season in nine years.

Wide receiver: The Steelers would be in trouble if they lost Sanders to the Patriots. With only role players left in free agency, Pittsburgh would be forced to turn to the draft to find another playmaker at receiver. If Sanders remains, which I predict will ultimately happen, he'll team with Antonio Brown for one of the quickest receiver tandems in the league.

Tight end: The Steelers are hoping to know by next month when they can expect Miller to return. This is the time when the Steelers need to think about drafting Miller's future replacement. He turns 31 during the season and will make $6 million in 2014, the final year of his contract. The top tight ends in the draft are: Notre Dame's Tyler Eifert (first round), Stanford's Zach Ertz (first or second round), Florida's Jordan Reed (third round) and Cincinnati's Travis Kelce (third or fourth round).

Offensive line: Pittsburgh is looking for some return on its investment. The Steelers have used two picks in the first and second rounds on this projected starting lineup: left tackle Marcus Gilbert, left guard Ramon Foster, center Maurkice Pouncey, right guard David DeCastro and right tackle Mike Adams. The hope is Gilbert can protect Roethlisberger's blind side and the right side (which has a combined nine starts) can hold up for an entire season.

In addition to the questions about the roster, there's one that focuses on the Steelers sideline: the relationship between Roethlisberger and Haley. The Ravens showed last season how finding the right chemistry between a coordinator and quarterback can spark a magical run. A week after the Ravens made the switch from Cam Cameron to Jim Caldwell, Roethlisberger publicly criticized Haley's playcalling following an overtime loss at Dallas. Roethlisberger later apologized, but this only fueled speculation of an ongoing rift between them.

“I think that being familiar and continuing to gain understanding is what's going to make us successful not only offensively but as a team," coach Mike Tomlin said last week of the Haley-Roethlisberger relationship. “I think that process is unfolding. Both guys are geared towards winning, and they're unselfish from that standpoint. I'm excited about watching it continue to grow.”

Many thought Haley was the answer in getting the Steelers' offense back on track. A year later, the Steelers are facing a bigger challenge and bigger questions on offense.

For the past two years, ever since Ben Roethlisberger turned 30, the Steelers have been questioned on when they would draft a quarterback to develop behind the two-time Super Bowl winner.

Based on a tweet from ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, this could be the year: "Worth noting: Steelers' braintrust had dinner with Tennessee QB Tyler Bray before attending his Pro Day."

Bray surprisingly left Tennessee with a year of eligibility remaining. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper once said that Bray could've been a first-round pick if he had stayed in college another year. Now, Bray is projected to go in the third or fourth round.

There's no question that Bray has an NFL arm. He can make all the throws, including the deep out. The ball flies out of the hand of the 6-foot-5 Bray. NFL Films' Greg Cosell believes Bray has the "best arm talent" in the draft.

Bray also has the confidence to fit the ball in tight windows. Some have compared Bray's gunslinger mentality to Roethlisberger, but he doesn't have the same improvisational skills.

There is some concern about Bray's maturity and work ethic. He had a couple of incidents last summer, including a reckless boating charge that was dismissed and a citation for vandalism for throwing beer cans on parked cars.

Earlier Wednesday, I was asked on the chat whether the Steelers would take a quarterback in the draft. After the Steelers signed Bruce Gradkowski to a three-year deal this offseason, it looked like the Steelers wouldn't take a quarterback until the late rounds. But, if this report about Bray is any indication, the Steelers could take a quarterback earlier than many expect.

While no AFC North team can match the exodus going on in Baltimore, the Pittsburgh Steelers are having turnover with their roster as well.

Wide receiver Mike Wallace signed with Miami. Running back Rashard Mendenhall went to Arizona. Outside linebacker James Harrison and guard Willie Colon were released. There's a good chance that cornerback Keenan Lewis, nose tackle Casey Hampton and offensive tackle Max Starks won't be back, too.

In total, seven starters could be gone. But Steelers president Art Rooney II sort of shrugged when asked about this year's changes.

“I don’t view it as dramatically different than other years,” Rooney told The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “The recent history is, we face decisions like this almost every year in terms of making decisions on players who made key contributions. I always say, every year is a new jigsaw puzzle and you have to put together the pieces the best way you can and shaping contracts is a big part of that."

Should Rooney be more worried? It depends on your faith in those replacing the starters.

Can Antonio Brown put up the same numbers without the threat of Wallace? And is Emmanuel Sanders a No. 2 wide receiver in the league? Will Cortez Allen step up at cornerback like Lewis did this past season? Can Steve McLendon take over for Hampton for a full season? Will Marcus Gilbert be able to hold down the left tackle spot?

The Steelers will make additions over the next month. Pittsburgh should bring in another running back, whether it's in free agency, the draft or perhaps both. The Steelers might use their first-round pick on an outside linebacker so they don't have to put Jason Worilds or Chris Carter in Harrison's old spot.

Team officials and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger scoff at the notion that the Steelers are rebuilding. But this is a team in transition with a lot of questions to answer.

The Steelers upgraded their backup quarterback spot by agreeing to terms on a three-year contract with Bruce Gradkowski, according to NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Pittsburgh wanted to get younger at that spot after Charlie Batch (38 years old) and Byron Leftwich (33) both struggled filling in for Ben Roethlisberger. The Steelers were able to do that with Gradkowski, who turned 30 in January, and didn't sacrifice on experience. Gradkowski has played seven years in the NFL and this is his third stop in the AFC North after a short stint in Cleveland and a two-year run as Andy Dalton's backup in Cincinnati.

With Gradkowski, the Steelers aren't expected to bring back Batch or Leftwich, both of whom are free agents. Batch completed his 11th year in Pittsburgh, which is the second-longest current tenure of any quarterback with the same team after Tom Brady.

This was a move the Steelers had to make, especially after Batch and Leftwich combined for one touchdown and five interceptions last season.

Gradkowski is a better backup than his 6-14 record as a starter would indicate. Two years ago, Gradkowski led the Bengals to a come-from-behind win over the Browns after replacing an injured Dalton. Last preseason, Gradkowski threw three touchdowns and no interceptions for a 96.0 passer rating.

The backup quarterback position is an important one for Pittsburgh considering Roethlisberger's history. Roethlisberger has missed five games over the past five seasons because of an injury. He was sidelined three games last year with a shoulder/rib injury and missed a game in 2011 because of an ankle injury.

It's now less than a week away from the official start of free agency. Can't you just feel the tampering already? Actually, teams can negotiate with potential free agents beginning Saturday this year, but the deals can't be signed until Tuesday. For now, let's see what the wake-up call has in store ...

RAVENS: The Ravens are expected to address Joe Flacco's contract prior to the 2016 season, when the fourth year of his record deal has a $28.5 million salary-cap hit. "Depending on the salary cap, that's what will determine when we get to the fourth year, what they're going to have to do," Flacco's agent, Joe Linta, told The Baltimore Sun. "We really viewed this as sort of a three-year deal to make sure the first three years Joe was paid accordingly with the top guys in the league." Flacco will earn $62 million in the first three years of his six-year contract.

BENGALS: Sirius XM Radio tweeted that Dashon Goldson, the 49ers safety and soon-to-be free agent, is interested in playing for the Bengals. Before you picture the two-time Pro Bowl defender in a Bengals jersey, Goldson started out the radio interview by saying San Francisco is "home" and hopes it works out with the 49ers. Still, when told that the Bengals would be a good fit for him, Goldson said, via The Cincinnati Enquirer, "They’ve got a good football team down there. They’re on track and they’ve got a good quarterback and receivers. I will have to consider all my options and we’ll have to see whose interested in me.”

STEELERS: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that he has fully recovered from a sprained right shoulder and dislocated rib that affected his play late in the season. "Not one person in this locker room ends the season 100 percent," he said. "I didn't end the season 100 percent but I felt healthier and better than I have in a long time. I'm working out earlier this year. I took one week off, one week. I have no issues." Roethlisberger did acknowledge for the first time that he didn't have the arm strength to make sideline throws -- which led to key interceptions against the Cowboys and Bengals in December -- after he came back from those injuries.

» NFC Eight in the Box: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Welcome to Eight in the Box, an NFL Nation feature that will appear each Friday during the offseason. This week’s topic: How each AFC North team needs to address the quarterback position.

Baltimore Ravens: The biggest issue with Baltimore is whether it will reach a long-term deal with Joe Flacco by Monday or use the franchise tag on him to keep him off the free-agent market. If the Ravens use the tag, it will likely be the exclusive one to stop Flacco from negotiating with other teams. It's safe to say the Super Bowl MVP will remain the Ravens' starter in 2013. There is more uncertainty with the backup spot. Tyrod Taylor has been Flacco's backup the past two seasons, but there was a sense that Baltimore tried to upgrade the spot when it signed Curtis Painter last offseason. It wouldn't be a surprise if the Ravens used a late-round pick on a quarterback or signed a veteran free agent to compete with Taylor again. The backup quarterback position hasn't been an important spot for the Ravens because Flacco hasn't missed a game in five NFL seasons. UPDATE: The Ravens and Flacco agreed to a long-term deal Friday night.

Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals can't be happy that Andy Dalton had four interceptions returned for touchdowns last season and flopped in the playoffs for a second consecutive year. But Cincinnati still has confidence in Dalton and isn't expected to bring in anyone who will threaten his hold on the starting job. There is a decision to be made at the No. 2 spot because Bruce Gradkowski is a free agent. The Bengals will probably look to re-sign Gradkowski, who is familiar with Jay Gruden's offense. If the team decides to go in a different direction, the Bengals could add another veteran backup (which has been head coach Marvin Lewis' preference) or use a late-round pick on a quarterback.

Cleveland Browns: This is the one starting quarterback job that is up in the air in the division. The Browns' new regime will have a competition in training camp, but Brandon Weeden is still considered the favorite to remain the starter. There's a chance that the Browns will trade for Patriots backup Ryan Mallett, a rumored favorite of vice president of player personnel Mike Lombardi. Cleveland, though, would prefer not to give up a draft pick after using a second-round one on wide receiver Josh Gordon in last year's supplemental draft. And it doesn't sound as though the Browns intend to draft a quarterback like Geno Smith with the No. 6 overall pick. The Browns can provide some competition for Weeden by signing the Dolphins' Matt Moore or the Saints' Chase Daniel out of a weak free-agent class.

Pittsburgh Steelers: As long as Ben Roethlisberger stays healthy, there's no question that he's the starting quarterback. Roethlisberger, though, hasn't played a full season since 2008, which puts more emphasis on the backup position. This could be the year when the Steelers look for a younger quarterback in the mid-to-late rounds to develop. Zac Dysert, a Miami (Ohio) quarterback like Roethlisberger, is expected to go in the fourth or fifth round. The Steelers went with more experienced backups last season in Charlie Batch and Byron Leftwich, both of whom are free agents and whose returns are uncertain. Batch is 38 years old, and Leftwich is not durable. Even if there was a better free-agent backup available, Pittsburgh doesn't have the cap room to sign him.

Not sure if you've heard about this, but the Pittsburgh Steelers have some salary-cap issues once again. Like they've always done, the Steelers have restructured contracts to get under the cap.

Reworking the contracts of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, linebacker Lawrence Timmons and wide receiver Antonio Brown has freed up $14 million in cap room. That should put Pittsburgh a couple of million under the cap.

The Steelers, though, need more space in order to tender contracts to restricted free agents like wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, running backs Jonathan Dwyer and Isaac Redman and nose tackle Steve McLendon as well as sign affordable free agents like wide receiver Steve Breaston. Reworking the deal for linebacker LaMarr Woodley would open up an additional $6 million.

At this point, five players account for 46 percent of the Steelers' 2013 cap.

Here are the current top 10 salary-cap numbers for the Steelers:

1. Ben Roethlisberger, QB, $13.59 million

2. LaMarr Woodley, LB, $13.24 million

3. Troy Polamalu, S, $10.13 million

4. James Harrison, LB, $10.03 million

5. Ike Taylor, CB, $9.45 million

6. Heath Miller, TE, $7.95 million

7. Willie Colon, OL, $7.65 million

8. Lawrence Timmons, LB, $5.81 million

9. Brett Keisel, DE, $4.9 million

10. Ryan Clark, S, $4.75 million

For the past couple of weeks, every time a Steelers player opened his mouth, the team looked more and more splintered.

Safety Ryan Clark said there was a "fracture" in the locker room. Wide receiver Antonio Brown talked about a divided locker room. Even former Steelers receiver Hines Ward chimed in, calling it a locker room in "total disarray" last season.

The only player so far to shoot down this perception is quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, which is the first promising sign of the offseason. Roethlisberger insists the demise of the Steelers' locker room has been greatly exaggerated. More importantly, he sent a message through The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Move forward, guys.

"I'm hoping by doing this to put a stop to it, to say, listen, everybody, as a leader in this locker room, as a guy who has been around here for a long time, I'm hoping that by saying there is no issue and this is fine, that this could be our exclamation point," Roethlisberger told the paper. "Let's move on with this offseason, to training, to getting ready. I don't think there's a reason to look back anymore. That's what I'm hoping to just say: Done."

Whether you believe him or not about the locker room, you have to admire the way Roethlisberger stepped forward and took control of the situation. The Steelers need Roethlisberger to be the leader, and he certainly played that role perfectly in this instance. The Steelers have been their own worst enemy in February, and Roethlisberger essentially told teammates to shut up and stop rehashing the past. This sure seemed like the matured Roethlisberger, who became a husband in 2011 and a father last year.

Though Roethlisberger became the starting quarterback in 2004, he didn't have to take charge until last season. There was always Jerome Bettis or Hines Ward on offense. With both gone, Roethlisberger was far from the model leader last season. There was speculation of friction throughout the season between him and offensive coordinator Todd Haley, and there was also the time that Roethlisberger openly questioned the play calling in an overtime loss at Dallas.

There have been fewer questions about Roethlisberger's leadership on the field. He's won 87 regular-season games in nine seasons in Pittsburgh and guided the Steelers to two Super Bowl titles. He's orchestrated 22 fourth-quarter comebacks (although he showed some late-game lapses after coming back from injury last season). Now, it's apparent that Roethlisberger has to assert himself off the field. And he said all the right things in addressing the strong comments made by Clark and Brown.

"For anybody to say there are locker-room issues or leadership issues are completely off base," Roethlisberger told The Post-Gazette. "I believe that's the frustration. I believe that it's frustration of last year, I honestly do."

Roethlisberger can say there wasn't a problem in the locker room. But there was obviously something wrong with the Steelers last season. Pittsburgh finished 8-8 and half of those losses came against teams with losing records.

There are painful memories like the eight turnovers in Cleveland and Roethlisberger's interception in overtime in Dallas. Maybe the losses were more the result of a lack of focus than a fracture in the locker room. Either way, the only way the Steelers can turn it around is with Roethlisberger leading the way.

"I want it to be known there is no locker-room issue, there is no leadership issue," he said. "Even if guys say it out of frustration, they're trying to find something to say. I think it's important to know we all have each other's back."