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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.

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.

A year ago, the Pittsburgh Steelers used a third-round pick on Sean Spence, a speedy and athletic prospect who had a future as a starting inside linebacker. Now, it sounds unlikely that Spence will ever play again.

Spence severely injured his left knee last preseason, tearing his ACL and LCL, dislocating the knee, and suffering a damaged nerve behind the knee. In February, general manager Kevin Colbert said the team was keeping "fingers crossed" that Spence would eventually return. The prospects of that happening appear grim, based on comments made during the draft.

"It will be miraculous if he does come back," linebackers coach Keith Butler told reporters last weekend. "We are going to take a chance on him and see if he can come back. To me, he is worth every bit of that."

Spence, who had been an outside linebacker at Miami, was projected to start inside and perhaps take over for aging Larry Foote in 2013. With Spence expected to go on injured reserve, the top backups at inside linebacker this year are Stevenson Sylvester and rookie sixth-round pick Vince Williams.

The Steelers, though, refuse to completely give up on Spence.

"This kid is a great kid," Butler said. "He's not only a very intelligent football player but he is going to provide some intangibles in our locker room that we desperately need. We're going to ride with him for another year. Hopefully, his knee will respond and he can play again."

Free-agent offensive tackle Winston Justice is taking a short tour of the AFC North, visiting the Pittsburgh Steelers today before meeting with the Cleveland Browns on Wednesday, according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Justice, 28, played six years for the Philadelphia Eagles (2006-2011) before joining the Indianapolis Colts last season. He was a two-year starter for the Eagles and made 12 starts for the Colts last year. Justice was the top right tackle in the AFC South last season, according to division blogger Paul Kuharsky.

The Steelers and Browns both have unproven backups at the tackle spots. Pittsburgh hasn't re-signed Max Starks, so it has Kelvin Beachum as the top reserve. Cleveland has Oniel Cousins and Ryan Miller behind Joe Thomas and Mitchell Schwartz.

The Steelers didn't take an offensive lineman with any of their nine picks in this year's draft, and the Browns selected one, Chadron State's Garrett Gilkey in the seventh round.

Every team talks about taking the best player available in the NFL draft, but filling a need does play a factor. Not all needs were addressed over three rounds of drafting. Here are the biggest post-draft questions facing each AFC North team:

CINCINNATI BENGALS

Who's starting at strong safety next to Reggie Nelson?

The Bengals addressed safety, but not as early as many predicted. Cincinnati waited until the third round to take Georgia's Shawn Williams. He'll compete against Taylor Mays and Jeromy Miles for the starting job. This wouldn't be a question if the Bengals had chosen to take Florida International's Johnathan Cyprien or Florida's Matt Elam in the first round. The Bengals have never made strong safety a priority in the draft or free agency the past couple of years. That's why it wasn't much of a surprise to see Cincinnati pass on safety in the first round in favor of tight end Tyler Eifert, who was clearly the higher-rated player on the team's draft board. The Bengals had Kerry Rhodes in for a free-agent visit earlier this month, but coach Marvin Lewis indicated there are no plans to sign a free-agent safety. Plus, as the Bengals have shown in the past, you can always bring back Chris Crocker.

CLEVELAND BROWNS

What's going on with the defensive backfield?

There are question marks for half of the starting spots in the secondary, and the Browns obviously weren't going to be able to address them by making two picks in the first five rounds of the draft. It's crazy to think the Browns have over $30 million in salary-cap space and they don't know with any certainty who is starting at cornerback and free safety. At cornerback, the top candidates are rookie third-rond pick Leon McFadden, penalty-prone Buster Skrine, Trevin Wade and Chris Owens. The prospects are slightly better at free safety, where the Browns will decide between Eric Hagg and Tashaun Gipson. In other words, it's a major step down after cornerback Joe Haden and safety T.J. Ward. The Browns had better hope their much-improved pass rush won't allow quarterbacks to look downfield.

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Who is starting at left tackle and wide receiver?

No one really believed the Ravens were going to find the answer at left tackle when drafting at the bottom of each round. There was hope, however, the Ravens would bring in someone to complement Torrey Smith. But Baltimore didn't draft a wide receiver until the seventh round. The Ravens' decision now is whether to start Jacoby Jones (which would likely reduce his role as a returner) or go with an unproven young receiver like Tandon Doss. Another option is to go with more two tight-end sets and use Dennis Pitta in more of a wideout role by splitting him out. At left tackle, the Ravens have Kelechi Osemele penciled in that spot for right now. Baltimore can always bring back Bryant McKinnie, but he may only be re-signed if Osemele shows he can't play left tackle in minicamps. This is what the Ravens' lineup could look like heading into spring workouts: Osemele at left tackle, Jah Reid at left guard, Gino Gradkowski at center, Marshal Yanda at right guard and Michael Oher at right tackle.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

What happens if tight end Heath Miller isn't ready for the start of the season?

The Steelers have been vague on Miller's recovery from knee surgery and have yet to comment on whether he'll miss a significant amount of time in the regular season. By Pittsburgh not taking a tight end in this draft -- and passing over Notre Dame's Eifert in the first round -- you could see that as a message that the Steelers believe Miller won't miss a chunk of time at the start of 2013. But, by not adding a tight end, the Steelers have put themselves in a predicament if Miller is sidelined for an extended period. This is the depth at tight end: Matt Spaeth and David Paulson. Spaeth has averaged eight catches per season, and Paulson had seven catches last season as a rookie. That's not exactly going to replace Miller's eight touchdowns from last season.