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Three things to watch for in Baltimore's preseason game against visiting Washington on Thursday night. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on ESPN.

Joe Flacco's efficiency: Flacco has been decent this preseason. But he's yet to have that dominating performance we've seen from other top quarterbacks. Flacco has missed some throws he usually makes. Some of the blame certainly goes to the offensive line. The pass protection has been inconsistent, which is why the team signed former Pro Bowl offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie this week. Still, the Ravens would like to see Flacco put together a great half or three quarters of football in Thursday's dress rehearsal game.

Secondary position battles: The Ravens are a veteran team without many position battles. But there are some spots still to be determined in the secondary. The biggest is the strong safety position. Bernard Pollard and Tom Zbikowski are having a healthy competition that could go down to the wire. Haruki Nakamura is also in the mix. Young corner Cary Williams had a great training camp and has the edge at cornerback. But experienced veterans such as Chris Carr, Domonique Foxworth and Lardarius Webb are battling for playing time. So Williams can't rest easy.

Development of receiver Lee Evans: Baltimore's newest acquisition at receiver had a successful debut last week against the Kansas City Chiefs. Evans, who was acquired in a trade with the Buffalo Bills, tied for the team lead with three receptions for 68 yards. Evans brings much-needed deep speed to Baltimore's offense. He is quickly developing a rapport with Flacco, who will need Evans this season.

The Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns will continue their preseason games Friday night. Baltimore will host the Kansas City Chiefs, while Cleveland hosts the Detroit Lions.

Here are a pair of storylines for each AFC North team:

Ravens

• Will the Ravens improve the offense line? Baltimore allowed six sacks last week against the Philadelphia Eagles. Three were against starting tackles Michael Oher and Oniel Cousins. The Ravens moved Cousins to right guard and will start rookie Jah Reid at right tackle against Kansas City. Reid is a raw prospect trying to learn on the fly. We will find out where he stands in his first NFL start.
• This game marks the Ravens debut of wide receiver Lee Evans. The veteran deep threat was acquired in a trade with the Buffalo Bills. Evans will be the starter opposite Anquan Boldin. Evans is the speedy receiver Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has lacked the past several years. The pair will look to build chemistry in this game.

Browns

• Can Cleveland second-year quarterback Colt McCoy continue his momentum? McCoy had a near-perfect preseason debut last week against the Green Bay Packers. He was 9-of-10 for 135 yards and a touchdown. McCoy also led the offense to two touchdown drives. Detroit should offer a stern test. The Lions' defense looked stout in last week’s 34-3 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.
• Another fun matchup to watch will be Browns corner Joe Haden against Lions Pro Bowl receiver Calvin Johnson. Both are two of the best, young players at their respective positions. Johnson beat Bengals cornerback Leon Hall for a touchdown last week. Haden will try to prevent "Megatron" from having a big first half tonight.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The Baltimore Ravens made their second trade for a starting receiver in as many years by acquiring speedster Lee Evans from the Buffalo Bills. The Ravens believe they finally have their deep threat to complement possession receiver Anquan Boldin.

ESPN.com's AFC North blog recently caught up with Evans in training camp to get his thoughts on his new team, his old team and early impressions of Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco.

Lee, where were you when you first got word that you were traded to Baltimore?

Lee Evans: Well, I had an inclination of a couple teams it could possibly be. But I didn't know exactly where. I was driving back to Buffalo. I was on [Interstate] 90 heading back to drop myself off and head to the team plane. I was just on the road traveling and got a phone call from Buddy Nix, the Bills' GM. He just said, "Lee, we traded you to Baltimore." That was kind of how it went.

How did you handle all the speculation leading up to the trade?

Evans: I just still tried to prepare myself. Rumors are a part of the game. That's how it is. So, regardless of what happened, I wanted to keep preparing and keep playing. That was my mentality. So I just let the cards fall how they may.

What differences have you noticed with Cam Cameron's offense in Baltimore and Chan Gailey's offense in Buffalo?

Evans: It's a completely different offense. The system is different and the way they word it, the terminology. Football has a lot of the same concepts, it's just different ways to get there. There is a difference. I've run a similar type of offense before. So I have some familiarity with it. But it still takes a little bit of time, a little bit of an adjustment.

What about your role in Baltimore. Has that changed compared to Buffalo or remained the same?

Evans: It's hard to say. I don't know exactly what my role was when Chan and those guys came in. Obviously, my biggest attribute is speed and being a downfield threat. That's kind of how [Baltimore] wants to use me, and I think that's why they brought me here. If you look at Anquan Boldin, he can do everything over the middle. And I think they want me to be able to stretch the field vertically.

How will you reflect on your time in Buffalo?

Evans: I think it was a great learning experience. I was able to meet a lot of great people and be around a lot of great coaches. Ralph Wilson is a great owner. He was one of the original owners and he was the only owner there. Being able to be around him has been fantastic. I think my time in Buffalo was great and I loved it. But right now I'm looking forward to moving on.

The expectations in Baltimore are very high. What's it like joining a team aiming for the Super Bowl?

Evans: It comes with a lot of expectations and I have a lot of high expectations for myself. I feel like I have to earn the right to be here, and you do that by making plays on the field. So I will come in and work as hard as a can and do whatever I can to be successful here. This is a different team, a different culture, a different everything. It's a heavy veteran group with guys that have been around. So I'm just trying to buy into the culture and make plays when I get a chance.

How much time will it take to get in synch with quarterback Joe Flacco?

Evans: It will take a little time. We have games in the preseason. And once we start detailing and going into the regular season, I think we will be fine and we will get better as the year goes along. It's just one of those things where everything is new right now. It's new for me and my mind is working 100 miles an hour just trying to play the game. Once I get a good understanding of what's going on, the chemistry will probably be easier. He has a strong arm and can let it go. We just need to tighten some things up.

What's your overall impressions of Flacco?

Evans: He's as good as I've been around. He compares to Drew Bledsoe. He's that type of pocket passer. He's big, has a strong arm and a great pocket presence. So it's great. He gets the ball out quick, and it's accurate and it's a tight spiral. Obviously, he's the leader of our offense.

Are you switching to No. 83 with TE Ed Dickson or keeping No. 85?

Evans: Yeah, I'm going to switch it. We will have it ironed out soon.

Did you have to pay Dickson?

Evans: Nah, that wasn't the premise of it. It was a mutual respect thing. So it's good.

Looking ahead to Week 1, what do you know about the Steelers-Ravens rivalry?

Evans: From the outside looking in, it's one of the best rivalries going right now. It's always AFC North football. It's tough, it's a grind-it-out game, and it's a dogfight every time. I grew up with that type of football [in Cleveland]. It will be a lot of fun playing in those games, and it's always fun to win those games. It's going to be a tough game. Both teams know each other inside and out. So it's about making plays and finding out ways to win.

Since I'm big on giving free advice lately, here is another tip for the division: The Cleveland Browns should pursue free-agent linebacker Aaron Maybin.

The Buffalo Bills released the 2009 first-round pick on Monday. Maybin is one of the biggest draft busts in recent memory. He recorded just 24 tackles and zero sacks in two seasons.

But that doesn't mean the Browns shouldn't take a flier on the 23-year-old. Cleveland desperately needs depth at outside linebacker behind starters Scott Fujita and Chris Gocong. Maybin also had the ability to rush the passer in college, which is another element the Browns could use.

Cleveland defensive coordinator Dick Jauron was the head coach in Buffalo when the Bills drafted Maybin No. 11 overall two years ago. Jauron has familiarity with Maybin. Perhaps the veteran coach can get something (anything?) out of the draft bust.

The Browns are building through the draft but this would be another low-risk move for a young player. Cleveland doesn't have anything to lose. I think it's worth a shot.

The Baltimore Ravens made a significant trade Friday to acquire receiver Lee Evans from the Buffalo Bills. Baltimore gave up a fourth-round pick in 2012.

Here is what the Ravens' general manager and head coach said about Evans:

Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome

"Our fans will remember him from his outstanding game (six catches, 105 yards, three touchdowns) against us last season. He's a quality veteran receiver who stretches the field and gives us a significant downfield presence. He's the type of person you want on your team. He brings leadership and maturity to the locker room."

Ravens coach John Harbaugh

"We're excited about getting Lee Evans. He's a proven player in this league and a quality person who will fit in well on our team. We’re all looking forward to going to work with him."

On Monday, I suggested the Baltimore Ravens call the Buffalo Bills and inquire about Lee Evans. On Friday, the Ravens landed Evans in a trade for next year's fourth-round pick.

This is a nice rebound by Baltimore's front office. The Ravens miscalculated their receiver situation in free agency by releasing Derrick Mason and pursuing a younger, more dynamic Malcom Floyd. Baltimore eventually whiffed on Floyd and it was too late to turn back to Mason, who signed a one-year contract with the New York Jets.

That left the Ravens with a pair of rookies as their No. 2 and No. 3 receivers. Torrey Smith and Tandon Doss may become good players down the road. But if Baltimore is serious about winning a championship in 2011, it can't rely on Smith and Doss to lead that charge this season.

Evans brings deep speed and a veteran presence. According to ESPN's Stats & Information, Evans is third in yards per catch (15.7) among active receivers with at least 300 receptions. Only Greg Jennings (16.2) of the Green Bay Packers and Braylon Edwards (15.8) of the San Francisco 49ers are ahead of Evans.

Starter Anquan Boldin will be the top target underneath, while Evans can blow the top off the defense. Fourth-year quarterback Joe Flacco finally has the speedy receiver he needs to take advantage of his beautiful (but rarely used) deep ball.

Overall, this move makes a lot of sense for the Ravens -- and not just because I suggested it.

The Buffalo Bills have traded receiver Lee Evans to the Baltimore Ravens, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter on Friday.

The Bills will get a fourth-round pick in the 2012 draft from Baltimore.

Evans, considered a high-value vertical threat, had said this week that trade talks were just a part of the game.

"It's not a whole lot I can focus on because I have no control," Evans said Thursday. "My main goal is to do everything in my power to help this team win. That's what my focus is more so than anything."

For the full story, click here.

Here is some free advice for the Baltimore Ravens: They should call the Buffalo Bills.

There is a good chance Buffalo is willing to listen to trade offers for veteran receiver Lee Evans. Baltimore needs to pick up the phone and find out what the bounty is for the speedy receiver and make a quality offer.

The Ravens' front office -- one of the best in the NFL -- doesn't make many mistakes. But the team botched its receiver situation the past two weeks.

Baltimore cut reliable starter Derrick Mason to free up cap room. The goal was to get a younger, more dynamic replacement. But the Ravens failed to land San Diego Chargers receiver Malcom Floyd. That left Baltimore empty-handed.

This is a very important year for quarterback Joe Flacco. The Ravens would do Flacco a disservice by counting on a pair of rookies -- Torrey Smith and Tandon Doss -- to be his No. 2 and No. 3 receivers.

Evans, 30, has averaged 15.7 yards per reception during his eight-year career. He would provide the deep speed and veteran presence the Ravens covet. On top of that, Evans may be just a phone call away.

According to the popular "Madden NFL 12" video game, Cincinnati Bengals rookie receiver A.J. Green is expected to have a pretty good season.

Green, the No. 4 overall pick, earned a respectable 80 rating by EA Sports, which was the fourth-highest ranking for first-year players. Only Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (82), Buffalo Bills defensive lineman Marcell Dareus (82) and New York Giants cornerback Prince Amukamara (81) received better ratings.

The Bengals expect Green to be a franchise cornerstone and replace veteran receiver Chad Ochocinco in Jay Gruden's West Coast offense.

"Madden NFL 12" will be released next month.

The are a few things you can guarantee in the AFC North in what should be a wild summer of free agency. One is that the Cleveland Browns will be searching for a starting-caliber safety.

Fortunately for Cleveland, safety is one of the deepest positions this year in free agency. There will be several good players looking for jobs and the Browns have money to spend.

Here is a free-agent preview for safeties:

Quintin Mikell, 30, Philadelphia Eagles

Analysis: Mikell is not a game-changing safety but could be the type of solid player the Browns are looking for. Mikell isn't great at any one thing but sound at everything. He's a solid tackler and solid in coverage. That fits well with second-year safety T.J. Ward, who is a big hitter. There are also a lot of ties with Mikell and the Browns. Cleveland general manager Tom Heckert, who held the same role in Philadelphia, is very familiar Mikell. And new Browns defensive coordinator Dick Jauron worked with Mikell last year as defensive backs coach of the Eagles.

Chances for the Browns: Good

Donte Whitner, 25, Buffalo Bills

Analysis: Whitner is a Cleveland native and also played for Jauron for four years (2006-2009) when Jauron was head coach of the Bills. Whitner is an aggressive safety who makes a lot of tackles. Last year he was second on the Bills with 140 tackles. But Whitner is not great in coverage and, thus, very similar to Ward. Pairing them together would make the Browns extremely physical but defending the deep pass could be an issue. Still, Whitner is a significant upgrade over what the Browns currently have at the position.

Chances for the Browns: Good

Eric Weddle, 26, San Diego Chargers

Analysis: Weddle is one of the better cover safeties in free agency, which is something the Browns are looking for. But Weddle will get plenty of interest around the league, and the Browns will not be front-runners for his services. Don't expect this one to happen.

Chances for the Browns: Average

Michael Huff, 28, Oakland Raiders

Analysis: A former No. 7 overall pick, Huff has mostly underachieved in Oakland. Huff had a solid contract year in 2010 but hasn't been the game-changing safety many expected. Huff is talented, and perhaps with better coaching and a fresh start he can be more consistent. Huff has been linked to several teams, including the Houston Texans, but there is no indication he would be interested in Cleveland or vice versa.

Chances for the Browns: Below average

I have been reluctant to discuss free agency during the NFL lockout for several reasons. For starters, we're not sure who will be restricted and unrestricted until there's a new collective bargaining agreement. Second, teams cannot and will not talk about players (I've tried). So everything is mere speculation.

But since the lockout appears to be going well into the summer, we're going to start making exceptions. The first exception is speculating whether pending free-agent safety Donte Whitner is a good fit for the Cleveland Browns.

After becoming the No. 8 overall pick of the Buffalo Bills in 2006, Whitner has completed the final year of his rookie contract and recorded a career-high 140 tackles in addition to one interception last season. He is a Cleveland native, which helps in pursuing Whitner, and the Browns certainly have cap room (if there is a cap).

Last year's starter, Abram Elam, is a pending free agent and had a so-so year with the Browns. He recorded 79 tackles and two interceptions. Whitner would certainly be an upgrade.

Cleveland spent the first two rounds of the draft addressing its front four by taking defensive tackle Phil Taylor and defensive end Jabaal Sheard. Perhaps Cleveland will look to spend its dollars in free agency on the secondary.

I think teaming Whitner, 25, with safety T.J. Ward and cornerback Joe Haden would make for a young and talented secondary for the Browns, who are trying to build for the long haul.

What are your thoughts on Whitner and Cleveland? Good idea or bad idea?

ESPN.com's NFL writers rank the top 10 safeties in the league today. Next week: top 10 owners.

When it comes to rating NFL safeties, there's Troy Polamalu and Ed Reed followed by a huge gap before everyone else.

As expected, the star safeties for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens dominated ESPN.com's positional Power Rankings this week. No other safety received a vote higher than third place.

But what is surprising is that Polamalu -- the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year -- became the first player in this year's series to sweep all eight first-place votes. Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots did the same among head coaches.

This should finally put to rest the "Troy Reed" debate that has been raging for years between these two great safeties. According to our panel, there is a clear separation between the two. Reed received all second-place votes to finish with 72 points.

"Polamalu and Reed are the secondary's version of Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. They are the gold standard of safety play," AFC West blogger Bill Williamson said. "While Reed is great, Polamalu is stunning. I've never seen him play and not make a jaw-dropping play."

Both safeties have different styles. But our panel preferred Polamalu's versatility to play closer to the line of scrimmage. Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau uses Polamalu all over the field to help defend both the run and the pass.

Reed is more of a ballhawking safety who defends the deep portion of the field. He led the NFL with eight interceptions last season despite missing six games because of offseason hip surgery.

"Taking nothing away from Ed Reed, who is a great player in his own right, but Troy Polamalu is the first guy I think of when I think of safeties," NFC South blogger Pat Yasinskas said. "He's been a huge force in Pittsburgh's recent championships. He's just a great all-around player and still in the prime of a career that's going to land him in the Hall of Fame on the first ballot."

Don't fret, Reed supporters. Someone is in your corner.

Earlier this year I interviewed former five-time Pro Bowl safety and current ESPN analyst Darren Woodson, who said he would choose Reed over Polamalu.

"As far as changing the game, I would probably start my defense with Ed Reed, to be honest with you," Woodson explained. "I know I can put him in any situation. I know I can put him on any team, and he will be the free safety in the middle of the field who makes plays on the ball. Now, Troy, it will be a little different. If you put him in a conventional defense, he's probably not going to be the same guy."

The best of the rest: There wasn't much of a consensus after Polamalu and Reed.

Fresh off a big interception return for a touchdown in Super Bowl XLV, Nick Collins of the Green Bay Packers finished third with 56 points. But Collins received votes as high as third and as low as seventh. He was a distant 24 points behind Polamalu and 16 points behind Reed.

Adrian Wilson of the Arizona Cardinals finished fourth, but he drew the widest range of votes among safeties in the top 10. ESPN.com senior writer John Clayton and Bill Williamson ranked Wilson No. 3, and NFC North blogger Kevin Seifert ranked Wilson No. 10.

In the final tally, Kansas City Chiefs upstart Eric Berry was fifth, Michael Griffin of the Tennessee Titans placed sixth and Donte Whitner of the Buffalo Bills finished seventh. New England Patriots safety Brandon Meriweather was eighth, Antrel Rolle of the New York Giants was ninth and the Indianapolis Colts' Antoine Bethea and LaRon Landry of the Washington Redskins tied for 10th.

"There is a pretty wide gap for sure after the top two," said Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. "Nick Collins would be my third safety, but the gap is pretty large. I think it is because Troy and Reed are just so good."

Seventeen safeties received votes, which was the second-highest total to date in our Power Rankings. Last month, 23 cornerbacks received votes for our top 10.

In addition, every voter had at least one player on his ballot who failed to make the cut. For example, NFC West blogger Mike Sando and I both voted for longtime St. Louis Rams safety and current Redskin Oshiomogho Atogwe, who finished 14th.

"I really struggled putting together the list after Polamalu and Reed," Sando said. "I kept shuffling around names and eliminating various guys, only to revive them out of necessity. This wasn't a list to feel good about."

What about Bob? It was not long ago when Bob Sanders was mentioned in the same sentence as Reed and Polamalu. When healthy, Sanders was a game-changing safety and helped lead the Indianapolis Colts to a Super Bowl title after the 2006 season.

But for the past three seasons, Sanders has been injured and spent more time off the field than on it. The Colts cut Sanders, and he was picked up this offseason by the San Diego Chargers.

It's dramatic how fast and how far Sanders has fallen out of the conversation. He didn't receive a single vote from our panel.

"Sanders just hasn't played," AFC South blogger Paul Kuharsky explained. "In his prime and healthy, he's fantastic. But who knows if we will see that again. He's played nine games in the last three years. There is no reason to even consider him for a list like this at this point."

The next generation: Polamalu (30) and Reed (32) will not play forever. Therefore, someone needs to step up as the next great safety to carry the torch Polamalu and Reed will leave behind.

Berry, 22, is the most likely candidate. The 2010 first-round pick was voted in the top five after helping lead the Chiefs to the postseason. Berry recorded 92 tackles, two sacks and four interceptions his rookie season.

"I think it's safe to project that Berry will be the premier safety in the NFL in the second half of this decade," Bill Williamson said. "He became the signature player on a surprise playoff team as a rookie. Soon, he will be the face of a rising organization."

Other up-and-coming candidates include Whitner (25), Bethea (26) and Landry (26). Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas, 21, also garnered votes from two panelists.

"Eric Berry and Earl Thomas should lead the next wave of top safeties," Sando said. "Berry's peers voted him among the top 100 players in the game for 2011, but I think it's premature to say Berry or any other second-year player is going to become the next Polamalu or Reed. Those guys have set such a high standard."

The Cincinnati Bengals drafted former TCU quarterback Andy Dalton with their second-round selection (No. 35 overall). Dalton is expected to combine with first-round receiver A.J. Green to make up the team's passing connection of the future.

There was a lot of nervousness in Cincinnati, because it was unknown if it could land its targeted player. It was no secret the Bengals needed a quarterback and had their eye on Dalton. But the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills were in front of Cincinnati.

New England did not trade its second-round pick and the Bills chose cornerback Aaron Williams, which set the table for the Bengals to land Dalton.

With Carson Palmer wanting a trade and threatening to retire, Dalton likely will compete with Jordan Palmer and Dan LeFevour for a starting job. The Bengals also could look to add a veteran in free agency. But landing one of the top-rated quarterback prospects takes a lot of the pressure off Cincinnati to go in that direction.

The Cincinnati Bengals landed one of the draft's most dynamic offensive players in former Georgia receiver A.J. Green in the first round.

Now Cincinnati needs to find someone to throw Green the football in 2011.

Following Carson Palmer's offseason trade demands and threats to retire, the Bengals are in desperate need for a quarterback in this draft. A first-round run at the position has left the Bengals with two main options in Friday's second round: TCU's Andy Dalton and Arkansas' Ryan Mallett.

The Bengals have done extensive research on Dalton and Mallett and have been linked to both quarterbacks. Cincinnati holds the No. 35 overall pick, which is the third selection of the second round.

There are two teams are ahead of the Bengals today, which is where things could get interesting.

The New England Patriots are at the top at No. 33, and although they have reigning NFL MVP in Tom Brady, they have been researching this year's quarterback class. It's not out of the realm of possibility that the Patriots draft their eventual quarterback of the future or trade the pick to another team more desperate at that position. New England often is one of the league's biggest traders on draft day.

At No. 34 is the Buffalo Bills, who also have a need at quarterback. Starter Ryan Fitzpatrick had a decent season in 2010 but is not the long-term solution in Buffalo. Missouri's Blaine Gabbert was projected to be a target for the Bills at No. 3, but they got good value in Alabama defensive tackle Marcell Dareus in the first round. Now they can explore drafting a second-tier quarterback to sit for a year or two and learn behind Fitzpatrick.

If both quarterbacks go off the board with the first two picks Friday, the Bengals could be in trouble.

After Mallett and Dalton, the remaining quarterbacks, such as Nevada's Colin Kaepernick, Iowa's Ricky Stanzi and Virginia Tech's Tyrod Taylor, do not appear NFL ready. And the Bengals need a polished rookie who can immediately compete for the starting quarterback job this season.

Following a very strong combine and pro day, Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller is generating a lot of interest at the top of the NFL draft.

Multiple sources tell the AFC North blog that Miller will visit with the Buffalo Bills this week on March 16-17, as well as the Cleveland Browns on April 11-12. Buffalo and Cleveland hold the No. 3 overall pick and No. 6 pick, respectively.

Miller is considered the top linebacker prospect in this year's draft. He is also the only rookie who is part of the NFLPA's lawsuit against the league, joining high-profile veterans such as quarterbacks Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Drew Brees.

There is some speculation about whether Miller could be blackballed by teams during the lockout. But that doesn't appear to be the case, as Cleveland and Buffalo are showing interest and hold very high picks in the first round. Both teams also need help in the front seven of its struggling defenses.

Miller recorded 68 tackles, 11 sacks and an interception last season for the Aggies. He recently wowed scouts by running a blazing 4.49 in the 40-yard dash during his pro day.