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Are the Baltimore Ravens set on the offensive line?

That remains to be seen. The other teams in the division improved their offensive lines in the draft. The Steelers got the top-rated guard (David DeCastro) in the first round, the Bengals added the best run-blocking guard (Kevin Zeitler) and the Browns grabbed the best right tackle prospect (Mitchell Schwartz). The Ravens bring back four starters from a line that got better as the season progressed, but there's been a significant downgrade at one spot.

At left guard, the Ravens are going from a Pro Bowl player in Ben Grubbs to a lineman who played tackle in college (either Jah Reid or Kelechi Osemele). By looking at Baltimore's moves, it doesn't seem like the Ravens are sold on Reid, a third-round pick in 2011, starting there. After failing to keep Grubbs (who signed with New Orleans in free agency), Baltimore tried to lure free agent Evan Mathis away from the Eagles and then used a second-round pick on Osemele. The Ravens have had only one rookie start a full season on the offensive line in the previous four seasons (Michael Oher in 2009).

There are other issues on the line beyond left guard. The Ravens need left tackle Bryant McKinnie to lose weight and cut his sacks allowed (he led the team with 8.5). They need right tackle Oher to reduce his penalties (four for false starts and five for holding). And they need Matt Birk, 36, to continue his streak of 96 straight games played. While the offseason focus will remain on the contract status of Joe Flacco and Ray Rice, the real storyline on offense entering the 2012 season is the state of Baltimore's line.

This is the time of the offseason when the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers shine. They build the foundation for Super Bowl-contending teams by finding players in April and not in March.

When it comes to drafting Pro Bowl players, the Ravens and Steelers rank among the top four since 1996, according to the Ravens' public-relations department. Baltimore and Pittsburgh have each selected 15 Pro Bowl players during that span, tied for third-most in the league. Only the New England Patriots (17) and Green Bay Packers (16) have produced more.

The secret to the Ravens' and Steelers' drafting success is establishing a vision of what type of player fits their teams. That philosophy comes from the stability of the organizations. Ozzie Newsome has been the Ravens' chief decision-maker since the team relocated to Baltimore in 1996, and Kevin Colbert has been the Steelers' general manager since 2000. The teams each have had two head coaches (Mike Tomlin and Bill Cowher for the Steelers, and John Harbaugh and Brian Billick for the Ravens) for the previous 13 seasons.

That type of cohesion builds a relationship to the point where the scouting department knows what players the coaches want. The front office has insight on what players succeed in their teams' offensive and defensive systems.

"I think that's one of the enjoyable things about Pittsburgh," Tomlin said at the Steelers' pre-draft press conference this week. "We don't get caught up in draft grades and the evaluation of the draft, and things of that nature like a lot of other things that could distract you. It's simply measured in terms of how we perform."

The Steelers have drafted four Pro Bowl players in the past five years: linebacker LaMarr Woodley (2007), wide receiver Mike Wallace (2009), center Maurkice Pouncey (2010) and receiver-returner Antonio Brown (2010).

Last season, seven of the Ravens' eight Pro Bowl players were drafted by the team: inside linebacker Ray Lewis, safety Ed Reed, outside linebacker Terrell Suggs, defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, running back Ray Rice and guards Ben Grubbs and Marshal Yanda.

This type of consistent success is more amazing when you consider the level of difficulty. The Steelers and Ravens are finding these Pro Bowl players despite annually picking toward the bottom of each round.

These division rivals don't like each other, but they tend to like the same type of player. The Ravens and Steelers target tough, physical and competitive players.

“His motor in the fourth quarter is really, really important,” Ravens director of player of personnel Eric DeCosta said. “A lot of the guys who impress me are the guys who are getting their butts kicked in the fourth quarter, losing by 20, 25 points, and he’s still making plays or trying to make plays."

DeCosta added, "How does a guy tackle? If it’s a cornerback, does he face up and use his facemask? Does he bring you down? Does he miss a lot of tackles? If he’s a running back, does he run through contact? Does he lower his pads and try to break tackles? You get a sense. When you talk to people, you get a sense. Then when you interview a guy, you get a sense for his toughness.”

The true measure of draft success isn't the number of Pro Bowl players produced. There is a higher standard.

"Super Bowl championships," Colbert said. "That's it. There is no scorecard. Never will be, never has been."

The Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers engage in the NFL's best grudge matches every year. This week, that rivalry could cross over into the NFL draft.

The Ravens and the Steelers have similar needs and could be targeting some of the same players. The Steelers will have the first shot at a player with the 24th overall pick, but the Ravens could decide to trade up in front of Pittsburgh from the No. 29 spot.

Both teams are looking at guards like Georgia’s Cordy Glenn and Wisconsin’s Kevin Zeitler. The Steelers should upgrade at left guard from Doug Legursky, and the Ravens still have to replace Ben Grubbs at that same spot.

Both teams could use an inside linebacker like Alabama’s Dont'a Hightower. Pittsburgh has a leadership void there since cutting James Farrior, and Baltimore has to start thinking of an heir apparent to Ray Lewis.

Both teams could also consider an outside linebacker like Alabama’s Courtney Upshaw. The Steelers might look ahead with James Harrison turning 34 next month, and the Ravens could use an Alabama player to replace a departed one in Jarret Johnson.

Theses scenarios should bring AFC North drama to the bottom half of the first round. The Steelers could take a coveted Ravens prospect at No. 24, or Baltimore could jump ahead of Pittsburgh to do the same.

According to the trade chart, the Ravens would give up a third-round pick to move up to the Detroit Lions' No. 23 spot.

Gary Horton of Scouts Inc. broke down the top six needs remaining for each of the AFC North teams. You'll need an Insider subscription to view the entire post, but here's a glimpse of the top three needs:

CINCINNATI BENGALS

Horton's top three needs: Cornerback, guard and safety.

Horton on cornerback: The starters in 2011 were Leon Hall, who will be coming off an Achilles injury, and 32-year-old Nate Clements. When Hall went down, Adam Jones filled in, but none of these three make you comfortable in man coverage. Newly acquired free agent Jason Allen will help, but there is a lot of work to be done here.

Hensley's comment: I wouldn't put cornerback as the top need because the Bengals added Allen and re-signed Jones. Allen is an upgrade over Kelly Jennings. Guard is the bigger concern. If the season started today, the Bengals' starting right guard would either be Otis Hudson, Clint Boling or Anthony Collins (who would shift over from tackle).

CLEVELAND BROWNS

Horton's top three needs: Quarterback, wide receiver and running back.

Horton on quarterback: Right now, their options at QB are starter Colt McCoy and veteran backup Seneca Wallace, but nobody expects it to stay that way. With two first-round draft picks, they will almost surely pick a QB with one of them.

Hensley's comment: You could make a strong argument that quarterback, wide receiver or running back should rank as the No. 1 need. My top need for Cleveland is right tackle. The Browns can at least start McCoy, Greg Little, Mohamed Massaquoi and Montario Hardesty at those other positions. Right tackle was a weak spot for the Browns last season with Tony Pashos and Artis Hicks, both of whom are now gone. The Browns' starting right tackle at this point is Oniel Cousins, a third-round bust from Baltimore.

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Horton's three needs: Inside linebacker, left guard and safety.

Horton on inside linebacker: The Ray Lewis era will be ending soon, and the Ravens need to find his replacement. Jameel McClain was re-signed, and he can play inside or outside, but a three-down linebacker who can play solid pass defense is sorely needed.

Hensley's comment: Left guard is the biggest need on the team, and it's not even close. The Ravens couldn't keep Ben Grubbs and failed to sign Evan Mathis. The fallback option is Jah Reid, a backup offensive tackle last season. Going from a Pro Bowl guard (Grubbs) to a converted tackle (Reid) is a major step down.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Horton's top three needs: Offensive tackle/guard, nose tackle and running back.

Horton on offensive tackle/guard: Center Maurkice Pouncey is the only stable starter on this unit. Veteran tackle Max Starks is coming off an ACL injury and T Willie Colon can't stay healthy, though the coaches hope he can get through a full season at RT with young Marcus Gilbert moving from RT to LT. There is also a big hole at left guard. The Steelers need to get at least one, and maybe two, starters up front.

Hensley's comment: You can't really disagree with this assessment. Left guard Doug Legursky is a backup who performed admirably when Chris Kemoeatu was benched. Gilbert has a good chance of succeeding on the left side, but it's hard to depend on Colon at right tackle with his injury history. The Steelers' options are limited because there is no depth. Jonathan Scott, who has struggled mightily, is the top backup at tackle, and there's no reserves at guard with Trai Essex (free agent) and Jamon Meredith (not tendered as a restricted free agent) off on the roster.

Matt Williamson, of Scouts Inc., handed out grades to the AFC teams after the first wave of free agency. It's an Insider piece, but I will share a small portion for each of the AFC North teams:

CINCINNATI BENGALS

Williamson's grade: B-minus. While I am a proponent of not overspending on other teams' castoffs, and bearing in mind that the Bengals have a great opportunity to add quality talent in the draft with two first-round picks, I can't help but feel that the Bengals let a great opportunity slip through their hands this offseason. I would have attacked a high-end free agent or two such as Carl Nicks or Cortland Finnegan.

Hensley's grade: B. The Bengals upgraded at running back and left guard while bringing back their top free-agent priority in safety Reggie Nelson. The biggest knock against the Bengals is they didn't make a splash by signing a high-profile free agent like guard Ben Grubbs or wide receiver Robert Meachem.

CLEVELAND BROWNS

Williamson's grade: D. The biggest crime of the offseason was the Browns allowing the Redskins to outbid them for the second overall pick in the upcoming draft, but even after losing out on the right to draft Robert Griffin III, the Browns didn't add nearly enough to consider them as anything but a bottom feeder for yet another year.

Hensley's grade: C. The Browns desperately needed to improve at quarterback, wide receiver and right tackle. But Cleveland's offense came out of the initial wave of free agency empty-handed. The Browns did improve their run defense by signing Frostee Rucker and their pass rush by adding Juqua Parker.

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Williamson's grade: C. The Ravens lost several starters to other clubs over the past few weeks and will need younger players to step up in their place, but this remains a very strong roster.

Hensley's grade: D. The Ravens lost three starters (Ben Grubbs, Jarret Johnson and Cory Redding) from last season's AFC North champion team and have yet to add anyone to replace them. The toughest part of free agency was when the Ravens failed to sign Evan Mathis, who re-signed with the Eagles, after Baltimore had just lost Grubbs.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Williamson's grade: C. Pittsburgh was greatly handcuffed by its salary-cap situation. But even though the Steelers released quite a few older brand name players, they sit in good shape for the 2012 season.

Hensley's grade: D. The Steelers avoided a failing grade because they've lost only two starters from last season's playoff team. James Farrior was cut in the team's salary-cap purge, and William Gay left as an unrestricted free agent. What Pittsburgh really lost in trimming $25 million to get under the cap was veteran depth and leadership.

» AFC Assessments: East | West | North | South » NFC: East | West | North | South

Cincinnati Bengals

Key additions: RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis, S Reggie Nelson, G Travelle Wharton, CB Jason Allen, CB Adam Jones, DE Jamaal Anderson, DE Derrick Harvey

Key losses: DE Frostee Rucker (Browns), G Nate Livings (Cowboys), G Mike McGlynn (Colts), DE Jonathan Fanene (Patriots), WR Andre Caldwell (Broncos)

Grade after first wave of free agency: B. The Bengals were the most active team in the division and they should have been. Cincinnati entered free agency with more than $50 million in salary-cap space, which was more than the rest of the AFC North combined. The Bengals upgraded at running back and left guard while bringing back their top free-agent priority in safety Reggie Nelson. The biggest knock against the Bengals is they didn't make a splash by signing a high-profile free agent like guard Ben Grubbs or wide receiver Robert Meachem.

The prize of the Bengals' signings is running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who is an improvement over Cedric Benson. Green-Ellis isn't known for breaking long gains, but he is a force in the red zone and has never fumbled in the NFL. Wharton is a step up from Nate Livings at left guard because he is a strong run-blocker who will open holes inside. The biggest losses came on the defensive line, where Cincinnati will miss Frostee Rucker on run defense and Jonathan Fanene in the pass rush.

What’s next: The Bengals can still close the gap between the Ravens and Steelers because they have two first-round picks in the draft (No. 17 overall, which came from Oakland in the Carson Palmer trade, and No. 21). Even with the signing of Wharton, Cincinnati needs a right guard and could have a shot at the top interior offensive lineman coming out of college. Stanford's David DeCastro is one of the safest picks in the draft and would start immediately for the Bengals.

The second first-round pick could be used on a wide receiver or a cornerback. The Bengals surprisingly didn't add a free-agent wide receiver to pair with A.J. Green. Georgia Tech's Stephen Hill or Baylor's Kendall Wright should be available in the bottom third of the draft. Another need is cornerback because Cincinnati could use an eventual replacement for Nate Clements, who is entering his 12th season. Alabama's Dre Kirkpatrick, the second best corner in the draft, has a chance of sliding to the Bengals.

Cleveland Browns

Key additions: DE Frostee Rucker, LB D'Qwell Jackson, CB Dimitri Patterson, DE Juqua Parker

Key losses: RB Peyton Hillis (Chiefs), S Mike Adams (Broncos), G Eric Steinbach, OT Tony Pashos

Grade after first wave of free agency: C. Browns president Mike Holmgren and general manager Tom Heckert said they were building this team through the draft and they weren't joking. The Browns desperately needed to improve at quarterback, wide receiver and right tackle. But Cleveland's offense came out of the initial wave of free agency empty-handed. Blame the Washington Redskins. The Browns attempted to move up in the draft to take Robert Griffin III, and the Rams instead traded the second overall pick to the Redskins. Cleveland reportedly pursued wide receivers Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan, and both took high-priced deals from Washington.

The Browns provided more help to the defense in free agency. Frostee Rucker will make an impact in stopping the run, which was the biggest weakness on the NFL's 10th-ranked defense. Juqua Parker, who has 31.5 sacks over the past six seasons, will team with Jabaal Sheard to give Cleveland a strong rush coming off both edges. The Browns didn't try to keep Peyton Hillis and Mike Adams from going elsewhere.

What’s next: Offense, offense and offense. Did I mention offense? The Browns need a quarterback but there's no one worthy of the fourth overall pick. Cleveland could trade down to select Texas A&M's Ryan Tannehill or wait until the second round for Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden. The big decision comes if the Browns stay put at No. 4. Cleveland's choices are Alabama running back Trent Richardson or Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon. The Browns could use either one because they don't have a starting running back or a No. 1 wide receiver.

Cleveland has a second first-round pick as a result of last year's trade with the Atlanta Falcons. The Browns need to target a wide receiver (if they don't take one earlier in the first round), right tackle or outside linebacker with the 22nd overall pick. Baylor receiver Wright, Mississippi offensive tackle Bobby Massie and Nebraska outside linebacker Lavonte David have been linked to Cleveland.

Baltimore Ravens

Key additions: C Matt Birk, ILB Jameel McClain, OLB Brendon Ayanbadejo, CB Corey Graham, S Sean Considine

Key losses: G Ben Grubbs (Saints), OLB Jarret Johnson (Chargers), DE Cory Redding (Colts) and CB Domonique Foxworth

Grade after first wave of free agency: D. The Ravens lost three starters (Ben Grubbs, Jarret Johnson and Cory Redding) from last season's AFC North champion team and have yet to add anyone to replace them. It was a rough start to free agency for Baltimore, which didn't sign any of its first three visits (guard Evan Mathis, defensive end Mark Anderson and receiver-returner Ted Ginn Jr.). The toughest part of free agency was when the Ravens failed to sign Mathis, who re-signed with the Eagles, after Baltimore had just lost Grubbs.

Baltimore was able to keep two free-agent starters, Matt Birk and Jameel McClain, and boost a struggling special-teams group that allowed three touchdowns last season. The Ravens signed Cory Graham, a Pro Bowl special-teams player from the Bears; Brendon Ayanbadejo, a three-time Pro Bowl special-teams standout; and Sean Considine, who played special teams for three seasons under John Harbaugh in Philadelphia.

What’s next: The Ravens' biggest need is at left guard, but there might not be one that warrants being taken at No. 29. Wisconsin center-guard Peter Konz's stock has slipped recently even though he can play guard right away before switching to center in future seasons. It's hard to pin down a player for Baltimore, which can go in a lot of different directions in the first round.

The Ravens could take the best wide receiver available (especially if he's a returner) because they need a third target who can eventually take Anquan Boldin's starting spot. They could take a safety because Ed Reed turns 34 at the start of the season and Bernard Pollard is a free agent next year. And they could take an offensive tackle because they don't have a reliable backup and Bryant McKinnie is a free agent in 2013.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Key additions: None

Key losses: CB William Gay (Cardinals), LB James Farrior, NT Chris Hoke, G Chris Kemoeatu, DE Aaron Smith, WR Hines Ward

Grade after first wave of free agency: D. It's been a quiet free-agency period so far for the Steelers. Then again, it's usually quiet for the Steelers at this point in the offseason. The only team that consistently does less than the Steelers in free agency is the Green Bay Packers.

The Steelers avoided a failing grade because they've lost only two starters from last season's playoff team. James Farrior was cut in the team's salary-cap purge, and William Gay left as an unrestricted free agent. What Pittsburgh really lost in trimming $25 million to get under the cap was veteran depth and leadership. Injuries would force young players to step up into starting roles.

What’s next: There are question marks at running back, guard, inside linebacker, nose tackle and cornerback. Despite all of those needs, the consensus has been Pittsburgh will draft Alabama inside linebacker Dont'a Hightower if he's available at No. 24. He has a great combination of size and speed and excelled in a 3-4 defense in college. It seems like Hightower would be the perfect fit for Pittsburgh.

There's no chance that Memphis' Dontari Poe falls to the Steelers, but there some quality nose tackles in the draft. Those who should be available after the first round are: BYU's Loni Fangupo (second round), Washington's Alameda Ta'amu (third round) and Alabama's Josh Chapman (fourth round). The Steelers likely will become active later in free agency, especially in retaining their own players. Wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery, running back Mewelde Moore and quarterbacks Byron Leftwich and Charlie Batch could potentially return to the team.

No team has taken more hits than the Ravens since free agency began two weeks ago.

Baltimore watched a Pro Bowl offensive lineman (guard Ben Grubbs), perhaps their grittiest player on defense (linebacker Jarret Johnson), and an underrated role player (defensive end Cory Redding) go elsewhere and has yet to sign anyone to replace them.

There's no question that the Ravens are among the biggest losers after the first wave of free agency. But it's debatable how much ground the AFC North champions have lost to the Steelers, Bengals and Browns.

At this point in the offseason, the Ravens remain the team to beat in the division. I'm not saying that. The Ravens' history is.

There should be serious concerns about Baltimore's holes at left guard, outside linebacker and defensive end. There should be doubts whether Baltimore can reach the playoffs for a fifth straight season. The Ravens' rebuttal is, look at last year.

It was eight months ago when the Ravens entered training camp without the two leading receivers in franchise history (Derrick Mason and Todd Heap were released) and an eight-year starter at nose tackle (Kelly Gregg). Baltimore also went through the preseason with its two projected starting cornerbacks (Domonique Foxworth and Chris Carr) sidelined by injuries.

The situation in 2011 was far more dire than the one facing the Ravens right now. Team officials, though, didn't share the panic of their fan base.

The Ravens are more like a college team than an NFL one in how they handle personnel. When they lose someone in free agency, they act like the player graduated and they plug in another one of general manager Ozzie Newsome's recruits, eh, I mean draft picks.

Rookie wide receiver Torrey Smith (second-round pick) replaced Mason. Second-year tight end Ed Dickson (third round) stepped in for Heap. Second-year nose tackle Terrence Cody (second round) moved into Gregg's spot. And Lardarius Webb (third round) and Cary Williams (signed off the Titans' practice squad) became the surprising starters at cornerback.

Before the 2010 season, you could have made a sound argument why the Ravens would miss the postseason. By the end of it, Baltimore was one pass away from advancing to the Super Bowl.

It certainly helped the Ravens in last year's playoffs that Peyton Manning didn't play and Ben Roethlisberger was banged up. Still, the Ravens swept the division and made it to the AFC Championship Game after making changes at eight starting spots.

There aren't as many questions as last year, but perhaps the question marks loom bigger.

They need Art Jones or Pernell McPhee to start at defensive end. Both exceeded expectations in backup roles, but can either one start?

"Those two guys are excited," coach John Harbaugh said. "They're disappointed to see Cory go. They learned so much from Cory. Cory was such a great mentor for those guys. I talked to Pernell on the phone and I've seen Art here twice in the last couple weeks. I could hear Pernell smile and I could see Art smile."

They need Paul Kruger to start at outside linebacker. Kruger made an impact in the pass rush, but is he strong enough to stop the run?

"When we lost Jarret, I went back and watched all of Paul’s tape," Harbaugh said. "I watched every one of his plays from last year, just to try and get a feel just for whether or not we’d be comfortable with him in there. He did a nice job in coverage, he set the edge well. Obviously, he’s a very good pass-rusher. I believe Paul can do it. I think he will do it."

They need Jah Reid to possibly start at left guard. Reid practiced at guard last year, but can the converted offensive tackle really make the switch?

"I would say right now, today, he’s the left guard," Harbaugh said. "He’s got to earn that spot but we’ll be continuing to look for players. Our goal would be to put the five best offensive linemen on the field. Jah, certainly, I’d like to see him be one of those guys, but it’s up to him to earn that spot.”

Honestly, I could see a couple of these situations not working out. The Ravens might end up really missing Grubbs and Johnson. But I also had my doubts that Torrey Smith and Cary Williams would work out as starters last season, too.

Like the Steelers, Packers and Giants, the Ravens are known for making more shrewd free-agent moves than splashy ones. Baltimore can still improve its team with late additions like they did with Bernard Pollard and Bryant McKinnie last season. The Ravens can also address some of these holes in the draft.

It's been a rough start to free agency for the Ravens. But they're used to it by now. They lose in March and win in January. Until that track record changes, it's tough to bet against them.

“Obviously, we’ve been very patient and we’ve been working, trying to do things that will put us in position to make our team better,” Harbaugh said. “I think we’re kind of methodical in our approach. We want to make smart decisions, we want to make wise decisions."

The Ravens' inability to sign free-agent guard Evan Mathis is another blow to the AFC North champions in the first week of free agency. Mathis passed on an offer made by the Ravens Friday and re-signed with the Eagles for a maximum of $31 million over five years (including $7 million guaranteed).

Baltimore's first and best option was retaining Ben Grubbs, the second-best guard in free agency. But he signed with the New Orleans Saints for a five-year, $36 million deal that included a $10 million signing bonus -- a deal that was just slightly better than the one given to the Ravens' Marshal Yanda (which was what many presumed the Ravens offered).

The Ravens' second choice was going after Mathis, the third-best guard on the free-agent market. Baltimore officials flew him in for a visit and even took him out for dinner. In the end, it looks like Mathis wanted to return to the Eagles all along and was using the Ravens as a bargaining chip.

Now, left guard is the biggest hole on the Ravens team. The Ravens have options, but all of them are a clear downgrade from Grubbs and Mathis.

In terms of free agency, the Ravens could sign either a veteran cast-off like Eric Steinbach or Robert Gallery, or pursue someone younger like Chilo Rachal, who lost his starting job in San Francisco after a solid 2010 season. Another potential fit would be Kyle Kosier, who is reportedly getting cut by the Cowboys. Kosier is 33 and has had some injury issues, but he's been described as the leader of the Cowboys' offensive line.

As far as the draft, Baltimore can take Wisconsin's Peter Konz in the first round. He's the top-rated center coming out of college but he can play guard, too. This might be an opportunity for Konz to learn beside Matt Birk for a season or two before moving over to center.

If the Ravens want to promote from within, the talked-about scenario is switching tackle Jah Reid, a third-round pick last year, to guard. But this would represent the fall-back for Baltimore.

So, your AFC North team hasn't lived up to expectations in the first couple of days in free agency. I hear you fans from Cincinnati, Cleveland and Baltimore. For those in Pittsburgh, you're used to taking a fan vacation during this time, because the Steelers rarely do much in free agency.

It's now time for you to vent. Let is all out. Put all your frustration into slamming that keyboard as you vote in today's poll: Which AFC North team has had the most disappointing start in free agency?

The Bengals have more cap room than the other three teams in the division combined. But they don't have a starting running back, a No. 2 wide receiver or any quality guards.

The Browns have made some solid signings with defensive end Frostee Rucker and cornerback Dimitri Patterson, but they have ignored the team's biggest weakness -- the offense that rarely scored more than 17 points in 2011. Cleveland doesn't have a proven running back, a speedy wide receiver or a starting right tackle.

The Ravens have lost the most starters in the division since free agency began, parting ways with guard Ben Grubbs, linebacker Jarret Johnson and defensive end Cory Redding. A fourth starter could be added to the list as linebacker Jameel McClain is visiting Denver.

And finally, there's the Steelers, who released a good chunk of their veteran depth before free agency, and can't do anything to address that because of paltry salary-cap space. It would've been nice to upgrade the offensive line, add a veteran running back, or sign a nose tackle in free agency.

Go ahead and register your vote, or let me know what you think in the comments section below. I'll follow up by Monday.

Every morning, grab a cup of coffee and get your AFC North wake-up call here:

Another day in free agency means another day to count the losses in the division.

On Thursday, the second day of free agency, the AFC North parted ways with four more players (including three starters): Ravens guard Ben Grubbs, Browns safety Mike Adams, Bengals guard Mike McGlynn and Browns backup offensive tackle Artis Hicks.

To update our free-agent scorecard, division teams have watched nine players sign with other teams while adding just one from another team (that would be defensive end Frostee Rucker going from the Bengals to the Browns).

These numbers look bad on paper, but I'm not preaching the end of the AFC North as we know it. Most of these losses were expected and will amount to a dent in the fender. Teams probably didn't even give a wave goodbye to the likes of Adams and McGlynn.

The Browns have been the most proactive team in the division, but most of their signings have been re-signings. Now it's time for the rest of the AFC North to start going on the offensive here. Let's see the Ravens sign Evan Mathis to replace Grubbs today. Let's see the Bengals add some depth at cornerback by agreeing to terms with Tracy Porter or Aaron Ross.

Just do something.

BENGALS: McGlynn, who started the final three weeks in the regular season as well as the playoff game, posted on Twitter that he agreed on a deal to join the Indianapolis Colts. He was pushed into the starting lineup for the Bengals after Bobbie Williams broke his ankle. ... The team hosted four players for visits, all of which will extend into today: cornerbacks Tracy Porter (Saints) and Aaron Ross (Giants); defensive lineman Kendall Langford (Dolphins); and guard Jacob Bell (Rams). The best bet is for the Bengals to sign Langford and a cornerback today. Porter might have the edge over Ross because the former second-round pick is younger (25 years old). ... According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, the free-agent visits for both running backs (BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Michael Bush) will now occur Monday. ... Left guard Nate Livings visited the Cowboys on Thursday.

BROWNS: Adams agreed to terms on a two-year deal with the Broncos after the Browns didn't show any interest in keeping the starting safety. "[Cleveland] didn't offer a contract for me 2 stay, so now I'm a Bronco," Adams posted on Twitter. "I went hard every play 4 u clev! I will miss that locker room, and the fans!" The top candidates to replace Adams are Usama Young, Eric Hagg and perhaps cornerback Sheldon Brown ... Hicks signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins, according to the Akron Beacon Journal. In terms of offensive tackle, the Browns released starting right tackle Tony Pashos, re-signed backup Oniel Cousins and allowed Hicks to sign elsewhere. All three were below-average tackles in the league. It's no surprise that team president Mike Holmgren said the team is in the market for a right tackle. ... Defensive end Frostee Rucker officially signed his five-year, $20.5 million deal that includes a $5 million signing bonus. “They approached me with pretty much giving me the keys to the car and telling me, ‘You’re the starting right end,’ ” Rucker said during a conference call, via the Beacon Journal. That means Eagles free-agent defensive end Juqua Parker, who was signed by Cleveland Thursday, becomes the top backup and former starter Jayme Mitchell could be next to get released. ... The Browns kept cornerback Dimitri Patterson by signing him to a three-year, $16 million contract ($6 million guaranteed). The size of the contract suggests Cleveland wants Patterson to go from nickelback to starter this season.

RAVENS: The free-agent visit with Eagles guard Evan Mathis is stretching into Friday after having dinner with general manager Ozzie Newsome. The Ravens are looking for a left guard after Grubbs signed with the Saints Thursday. ... Scratch wide receiver-returner Eddie Royal off the Ravens' free-agent wish list. He signed a three-year, $13.5 million contract (including $6 million guaranteed) with the Chargers last night. Don't be surprised to see the Ravens look into Dolphins wide receiver-returner Ted Ginn, who is visiting the Detroit Lions. ...The good news is that the Ravens signed someone. The disappointing news: It was reserve linebacker Chavis Williams. The Ravens didn't tender him as an exclusive-rights free agent and brought him back at a reduced price. Williams played five games for the Ravens last season.

STEELERS: Don't go into shock, but there's some Steelers news. Nose tackle Casey Hampton all but secured a spot on this year's team when the five-time Pro Bowl player restructured the final year of his three-year contract, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The move created about $3 million of salary-cap space for the Steelers, who were reportedly $1.5 million under the cap at the start of free agency. The Post-Gazette notes that Hampton, 35, is the longest-tenured player on the Steelers after the release of wide receiver Hines Ward and defensive end Aaron Smith. If you're counting at home -- and we know you are -- Hampton becomes the sixth Steelers player to restructure his contract this offseason, joining quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, tackle Willie Colon, cornerback Ike Taylor and linebackers Lawrence Timmons and LaMarr Woodley.

The Ravens lost free-agent guard Ben Grubbs, who signed a five-year, $36 million deal with the New Orleans Saints that included a $10 million signing bonus (according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter).

That means Baltimore can't allow Eagles guard Evan Mathis to leave its team facility without a signed contract today. There are other guards available like Steve Hutchinson and Robert Gallery, but Mathis is the best immediate answer to losing Grubbs.

If the Ravens can't sign Mathis, there would be a major drop-off on the interior of the offensive line. Baltimore has other options, such as drafting Wisconsin center Peter Konz in the first round and playing him at guard for a season, or moving offensive tackle Jah Reid to left guard. But Mathis represents the best choice in terms of experience and powerful run-blocking.

As far as Grubbs, it looks like his move to the Saints is a no-brainer. He signs a deal that is slightly better than the one signed last summer by the Ravens' Marshal Yanda (five years, $32.5 million with a $10 million signing bonus) and joins another Super Bowl contender. It does make you wonder whether the Ravens, who attempted to keep Grubbs from becoming a free agent, offered him the same deal as Yanda. And, if the Ravens did make that offer, why didn't Grubbs take it?

The free-agent market for guards could set up like dominoes this year. The Saints lose the best free-agent guard (Carl Nicks) and signed the second-best one (Grubbs). The Ravens lose the second-best one and now have the third-best inside their building.

Is Pro Bowl guard Ben Grubbs going elsewhere? The Ravens aren't waiting around to find out.

While Grubbs continues his visit in New Orleans, Baltimore has moved on as well, bringing in Eagles free-agent guard Evan Mathis for a visit tonight. Grubbs is now considered the top guard in free agency after Carl Nicks signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but Mathis is not too far behind.

The Ravens tried to keep Grubbs from hitting free agency, but he decided to test the market. He is currently meeting with the Saints, and there are several other teams in pursuit of Grubbs including the Washington Redskins, according to the Washington Post. Of course, that's assuming Grubbs makes it out of New Orleans.

You have to give the Ravens credit for not sitting around for Grubbs. This is a proactive move to help what has become an improving offensive line. Mathis was considered the Eagles' top run-blocking lineman last season. The only drawback is that Mathis is 30, which could scare teams away from giving him a long-term deal.

Besides the Ravens, the Colts and Redskins are also interested in Mathis.

Ravens free-agent guard Ben Grubbs, the top unrestricted free agent in the AFC North, is scheduled to visit the New Orleans Saints, a league source told the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

The Saints are looking to replace Carl Nicks, who is considered the top guard available in free agency. The Ravens tried to re-sign Grubbs before he hit free agency, but he knew the demand would be high in free agency.

Grubbs is expected to surpass the five-year, $32 million contract given last year to Ravens guard Marshal Yanda.

If the Ravens lose Grubbs -- which is a strong likelihood -- it's presumed that Baltimore would add a guard in free agency and possibly a guard-center (Wisconsin's Peter Konz) in the draft. The fallback option is moving offensive tackle Jah Reid, a third-round draft pick from last year, to guard.

A look at some major questions facing the AFC North teams as free agency begins at 4 p.m. ET:

Will the Bengals make a splash with all of that salary-cap space?

I think it will be more like a ripple than a splash. A team like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have about the same amount of cap room, will be far more active than the Bengals because they are undergoing a makeover with a new coach. The Bengals will concentrate on their own free agents (like safety Reggie Nelson and defensive end Frostee Rucker) and fill some holes at running back, guard and cornerback. Like I've said for a month, I see Oakland's Michael Bush, Baltimore's Ben Grubbs and New Orleans' Robert Meachem as good fits for Cincinnati. This isn't like signing Mario Williams or Carl Nicks, but these are moves that will improve a young, developing team.

What are the chances that the Browns keep running back Peyton Hillis?

I say less than 50 percent that Cleveland keeps Hillis. The Browns sent a strong message to Hillis when they told him to test the free-agent market. This means that Cleveland would be interested in retaining the running back at a bargain price. The only way that can occur is if Hillis finds there's little interest in him in free agency. The Browns have some pieces at running back with Montario Hardesty, Brandon Jackson and Chris Ogbonnaya, but they need a featured back they can depend on. I think the Browns will find one in the draft.

Will free agents Ben Grubbs and Jarret Johnson be gone from the Ravens by this time tomorrow?

It wouldn't surprise me if Grubbs signed quickly elsewhere and Johnson weighed his decision. Grubbs is one of the top three guards available in free agency, and there will be a couple of teams that will come after him aggressively. The Ravens won't be able to match it with their cap space, which is why they were trying to keep him from becoming a free agent. Johnson will get calls early in free agency, too (perhaps from the Colts or the Jets). But I get the sense that Johnson would stay with the Ravens if the money was close. Baltimore can try to replace Johnson with Paul Kruger, but that weakens the defense. It's in the Ravens' best interest to keep a tough and durable linebacker like Johnson for a couple more years.

Does another team make a run at restricted free agent Mike Wallace?

I think the Steelers are going to be able to keep Wallace without a fight. The one team that I would be concerned about is the New England Patriots. They really do need a deep threat and could be willing to give up the 31st overall pick for him. The Bengals have the cap room and multiple first-round picks to make this move, but this isn't really their style. If a team does pursue Wallace, Pittsburgh will do everything it can to keep him. The Steelers are tight against the cap right now, but I think there are still a few moves (restructuring James Harrison and Troy Polamalu) they can make to free up room to match an offer. One potential suitor to scratch off the list is the San Francisco 49ers, who signed Randy Moss on Monday night.

Free agent officially kicks off at 4 p.m. Tuesday, so let's take a look at the three biggest needs for the Ravens:

1. Interior offensive line: Left guard Ben Grubbs will likely sign elsewhere in free agency, and starting center Matt Birk and backup Andre Gurode are also unrestricted free agents. This is by far the biggest void on the team. The Ravens are expected to bring back Birk and draft their center-in-waiting next month (Wisconsin's Peter Konz is the favorite). But general manager Ozzie Newsome likes to fill major needs before the draft. If Baltimore adds a guard, its track record suggests a veteran one like Steve Hutchinson or Bobbie Williams.

2. Outside linebacker: The Ravens could have trouble re-signing Jarret Johnson, which makes this position a bigger need than many project. Baltimore drafted Sergio Kindle in 2010 to eventually take over for Johnson. But a fractured skull when he fell down two flights of stairs before training camp has made him a non-factor. The Ravens could try to use Paul Kruger at outside linebacker, but he isn't as physical as Johnson in setting the edge against the run. The Bengals' Manny Lawson and the Seahawks' Leroy Hill stand out in a weak free-agent group for outside linebackers.

3. Wide receiver: Baltimore has failed to find a dependable No. 3 wide receiver for Joe Flacco, striking out with T.J. Houshmandzadeh in 2010, and Lee Evans in 2011. The Ravens have ruled out going after a top-tier wide receiver, so that presumably takes them out of the running for Reggie Wayne. But they need to add more punch to a wide receiver group that had two players with more than four receptions last season (Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith). The Broncos' Eddie Royal would be a solid addition, because he would fill the role as the No. 3 wide receiver and punt returner (the team would probably like to reduce Lardarius Webb's snaps on special teams). Royal's receptions have dropped off heavily since his 91-catch rookie year in 2008, but that happened to be his final season with quarterback Jay Cutler.