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The AFC North blog wanted to know what the fans thought about the drafts for each of the division teams. Now, let's compare your grades against the ones given by ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.:

CINCINNATI BENGALS

The picks: CB Dre Kirkpatrick (first round), G Kevin Zeitler (first round), DT Devon Still (second round), WR Mohamed Sanu (third round), DT Brandon Thompson (third round), TE Orson Charles (fourth round), CB Shaun Prater (fifth round), WR Marvin Jones (fifth round), S George Iloka (fifth round), RB Dan "Boom" Herron (sixth round).

Kiper's grade: A-minus

Fans' grade: A (42 percent in the SportsNation poll)

Fans' comments:

Adam from Dayton: Bengals Draft Grade: A -- I thought that the Bengals did an excellent job in adding depth. The one "head scratcher" that seemed to come about this year was trading their second first round pick when they could have got David DeCastro, the highest-rated guard. Granted they received an extra pick and still grabbed a very big and strong guard a few picks later in Kevin Zeitler with that trade, I think it really boiled down to the fact they could have got the best guard, instead all of Bengal Nation saw him go to the Steelers. All-in-all, everyone knows the AFC North is an old-school run -first division, so beefing up the D-Line with a couple of huge, strong, and athletic linemen was a sound way to go and I for one am happy to see the new blood that the team has. These Bengals have tapped into the fountain of youth rather quickly, yet they are getting better and being built for the future.

Andheez: I went for an A. Kirkpatrick is solid. Zeitler is a beast. Some publications had Still as the top DT pre-combine. Not sold on Sanu, but I think the Charles pick was fantastic. I am not one to ostracize someone for a DUI. Prater, Iloka and Herron probably won't stick, but sounds like Jones was a nice find.

mann_usmc: I give the Bengals a C. Here we go drafting a CB in the first round again. Keep Johnathan Joseph and you can fill other spots (safety). The next four picks draw a big question mark. If you're going to draft an OG, then why not take the best prospect in a decade in DeCastro? You pass on him and allow the Steelers to draft him and all you gain is a third-round pick. That is a big miss in my opinion. Secondly, you draft two DTs when you already have Domata Peko and Geno Atkins. Sure these guys provide depth, but I would think that with my second-round and third-round picks to be a contributor. I wouldn't use draft picks that high for backups.

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CLEVELAND BROWNS

The picks: RB Trent Richardson (first round), QB Brandon Weeden (first round), OT Mitchell Schwartz (second round), NT John Hughes (third round), WR Travis Benjamin (fourth round), LB James-Michael Johnson (fourth round), G Ryan Miller (fifth round), LB Emmanuel Acho (sixth round), DL Billy Winn (sixth round), CB Trevin Wade (seventh round), TE-FB Brad Smelley (seventh round).

Kiper's grade: B-minus

Fans' grade: B (38 percent)

Fans' comments:

Kovacs from Dallas: This draft is an A if Weeden works out but probably a low B or high C if he doesn't. Worst case the draft added two starters at key positions, RB and RT, and much-needed depth at areas where it was badly needed, DT and LB. If that's the worst case it's still a nice-looking haul.

Kyle from Columbus, Ohio: The Browns did a pretty good job of filling some holes and adding some depth. I really like the T. Richardson pick, but I think they reached a little for B. Weeden. My only complaint is that if you decide to take a first-round QB, you have to give him some weapons. T. Benjamin looks like a special-team guy, who may help out in the slot.

JBT1MIAMI: Simple D-minus. I'm still waiting for any fan to address why it's not an issue that Trent Richardson didn't compete at the combine because he had his knee scoped. How is he any better injury-wise than [Montario] Hardesty, knowing he's also had both ankles reconstructed. Why no issue with this? Why not just trade for [Rashard] Mendenhall if it's no issue. He's proven on the pro level. Think Steelers believe this kind of thing is an issue with running backs? I guess it's like training a dog, people have to separate emotional attachment of drafting a hyped running back, and learn about calm reasoning. Emotions just gave the Browns a 3-13 record.

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BALTIMORE RAVENS

The picks: OLB Courtney Upshaw (second round), OT-G Kelechi Osemele (second round), RB Bernard Pierce (third round), C-G Gino Gradkowski (fourth round), S Christian Thompson (fourth round), CB Asa Jackson (fifth round), WR Tommy Streeter (sixth round), DT DeAngelo Tyson (seventh round).

Kiper's grade: B

Fans' grade: B (40 percent)

Fans' comments:

Shadowwolf1001: It's really toss-up. There are some strong picks here that would warrant an A, but there are also some picks I'm not too sure about which probably warrant a B. I'd have to vote B-plus with the potential of an A grade later on.

jdille123: C-plus. Ozzie [Newsome] must have taken this one off. Still got some good talent, but he usually does better.

youmadbromad: I gave them a D because they did not draft a new FG kicker.

Dave from Mansfield, Ohio: I'm giving the Raven a 'B.' They came into the draft with holes at LB, OT, OG and filled all of these needs. However while Upshaw should help feel the void left by Terrell Suggs, Kelechi Osemele should step in and start at guard and hopefully Gino Gradkowski develops as the replacement for Matt Birk. Plus Tommy Streeter has the potential to be a huge steal if his football skills catch up to his physical stature and speed.

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PITTSBURGH STEELERS

The picks: G David DeCastro (first round), OT Mike Adams (second round), ILB Sean Spence (third round), NT Alameda Ta'amu (fourth round), RB Chris Rainey (fifth round), WR Toney Clemons (seventh round), TE David Paulson (seventh round), CB Terrence Frederick (seventh round), G Kelvin Beachum (seventh round).

Kiper's grade: B

Fans' grade: A (61 percent)

Fans' comments:

WhoDeyAJGreen: As a Bengal fan (obviously) and an OSU football fan, I graded them as a A-minus. Great value picks while also filling needs. The player that will make the difference between an A-minus and A-plus is Mike Adams. If he can get his [act] together, then they had one heck of a draft from top to bottom.

It's only days removed from the draft, and no AFC North team has taken the field for a practice yet, but that won't stop us from looking ahead. Each day this week, we'll project the starting lineup for a team in the division. Let's start with the Cincinnati Bengals:

OFFENSE

QB Andy Dalton: The Who Dey Nation asks, Carson who?

RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis: He's the prize of the Bengals' free-agent period.

FB Chris Pressley: Agreed to a two-year extension in March.

WR A.J. Green: He's been working out with Larry Fitzgerald this offseason.

WR Jordan Shipley: The No. 2 wide receiver job is wide open, but I'm giving the nod to Shipley if he's fully recovered from his knee injury.

TE Jermaine Gresham: First Bengals tight end since Dan Ross from the early 1980s to post two seasons of 50 receptions or more.

LT Andrew Whitworth: He often goes overlooked in a division with Joe Thomas in it.

LG Travelle Wharton: A free-agent signing from the Carolina Panthers, where he started 99 games in eight years.

C Kyle Cook: Enters fourth season as the Bengals' starting center.

RG Kevin Zeitler: First-round pick was possibly best run-blocking guard in the draft.

RT Andre Smith: The big question is whether he can continue the progress he made last season.

DEFENSE

LDE Robert Geathers: Recorded 29 tackles last season, his lowest since his 2004 rookie season.

NT Domata Peko: Led defensive line in tackles for second straight year.

RDT Geno Atkins: Topped all NFL interior linemen with eight sacks last season.

RDE Michael Johnson: Regains his starting job after Frostee Rucker signed with the Browns in free agency.

SLB Manny Lawson: Returned to Cincinnati for a one-year, $2.1 million deal.

MLB Rey Maualuga: He could be facing a suspension from the NFL for his latest off-the-field incident.

WLB Thomas Howard: Led team in tackles in first season with the Bengals.

LCB Nate Clements: He has to fight off first-round pick Dre Kirkpatrick to keep his starting job.

SS Taylor Mays: His job looks safe after the Bengals didn't take a safety in the first four rounds of the draft.

FS Reggie Nelson: Re-signed with the Bengals this offseason for $18 million over four years.

RCB Leon Hall: If Hall (Achilles injury) isn't ready to start the season, Bengals can turn to Kirkpatrick, Terence Newman or Adam Jones.

The Cincinnati Bengals added some youthful depth on the defensive line, taking Penn State's Devon Still in the second round.

Some projected last season's Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year to go late in the first round. But Still slid to the Bengals at No. 53 because he's extremely inconsistent.

I thought the more pressing need for the Bengals was wide receiver. Cincinnati could have chosen LSU wideout Rueben Randle.

The Bengals have quality starters on the interior with Geno Atkins and Domata Peko. Cincinnati lost some depth at defensive tackle when Jonathan Fanene signed with the New England Patriots in free agency.

Recent draft history says Stanford guard David DeCastro will fall to the Bengals at the 17th overall pick.

No guard has been selected in the top 16 in the previous 14 drafts. Since 2001, the highest a guard has been selected was No. 17 and it's happened twice (Steve Hutchinson in 2001 and Mike Iupati in 2010).

But all of that could change this year. DeCastro is considered one of the best guard prospects in over a decade. He has been projected to go as early as No. 11 to the Kansas City Chiefs. But there is talk that the Chiefs might look to trade down and take nose tackle Dontari Poe.

DeCastro has also been linked to the Arizona Cardinals at No. 13, the Dallas Cowboys at No. 14 and the New York Jets at No. 16. Is there any team that's not interested in DeCastro in the middle of the first round?

It looks like the odds are against DeCastro dropping to the Bengals. Their fallback option at guard could be Georgia's Cordy Glenn.

Here are notes and numbers for the Bengals entering the draft, courtesy of ESPN Stats & Information:

• Total picks: 9 (17th, 21st, 53rd, 83rd, 116th, 156th, 166th, 167th, 191st)
• The Bengals are one of three teams with multiple first-round picks (Browns and Patriots are the others).
• The Bengals have drafted four Pro Bowl players since 2010 (A.J. Green, Andy Dalton, Jermaine Gresham, Geno Atkins), which is two more than any other team.
• Cincinnati had two rookie Pro Bowl players (Green, Dalton) last season. The Bengals were the first team with multiple rookie Pro Bowl players since the 1980 Lions had Billy Sims and Eddie Murray).
• The Bengals selected tight end Gresham with 21st pick in 2010.
• Cincinnati last had multiple first-round picks in 1998 (selected linebackers Takeo Spikes and Brian Simmons).
• The Bengals have drafted an offensive player with their past three first-round picks (Green, Gresham, Andre Smith).

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

BENGALS: Andy Dalton threw two touchdowns in the second half of the AFC's 59-41 win over the NFC. Dalton finished 7 of 9 for 100 yards. ... A.J. Green's first Pro Bowl reception went for a 34-yard touchdown from Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. This marked the first Bengals' touchdown in a Pro Bowl since wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh four years ago. Green, who also lost a fumble, had one other catch for 10 yards. ... Tight end Jermaine Gresham made one reception for 14 yards. ... Defensive tackle Geno Atkins had one tackle and had a near sack when he tried to push Cam Newton out of bounds.

BROWNS: The team's lone representative, offensive tackle Joe Thomas, made the start. He's an offensive lineman in the NFL's version of flag football, so there isn't much to say.

RAVENS: Inside linebacker Ray Lewis recorded a Pro Bowl-leading five tackles. ... Fullback Vonta Leach scored on a 1-yard touchdown that opened the AFC's lead to 45-35. This was monumental for Leach, who has scored two touchdowns in 108 career regular-season games. Guards Marshal Yanda and Ben Grubbs started for the AFC.

STEELERS: Roethlisberger started at quarterback, completing 6 of 11 passes for 182 yards. He had two touchdowns (to Green and Brandon Marshall) and one interception. ... Wide receiver Mike Wallace caught two passes for 34 yards. ... Free safety Ryan Clark had four tackles in his first Pro Bowl game. ... Linebacker James Harrison recorded three tackles. ... Antonio Brown had two catches for 15 yards.

It's time to unveil the defense for my All-AFC North team, which is based on performance this season, and not past reputation. There were many difficult decisions, and there should be. All four defenses in the division finished in the top 10 (Pittsburgh was No. 1, Baltimore was No. 3, Cincinnati was No. 7 and Cleveland was No. 10).

The All-AFC North team will wrap up tomorrow with offense. Of course, tell me who I left off, who should have been on and any other opinions in the comments section below.

Defensive end: Carlos Dunlap, Bengals. Tough call over Pittsburgh's Brett Keisel. Before being slowed by a hamstring injury, Dunlap was getting to the quarterback like no other defensive end in the division. Despite missing four games, he recorded 4.5 sacks and led the Bengals with 27 quarterback pressures, which was four more than anyone else on the team.

Nose tackle/defensive tackle: Haloti Ngata, Ravens. He didn't seem as dominant as last year, but it's hard to argue his impact. Ngata finished with five sacks, five batted-down passes, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. He was a cog in the middle for the NFL's second-ranked run defense and he returned a fumble 28 yards for his first career touchdown in Week 3. Some would go with Casey Hampton, but he slipped at the age of 34 and so did the Steelers' run defense, which gave up 33 percent more yards rushing than a year ago.

Defensive tackle: Geno Atkins, Bengals. While the Bengals' run defense faltered in the second half of the season, their front four pressured the quarterback like no other in the AFC North and perhaps the league. And Atkins was a huge part of that by collapsing the pocket up the middle. He tied Oakland's Tommy Kelly for sacks by an interior lineman in the NFL with 7.5. He is the first Bengals interior lineman to top the team in sacks since 1996, when Dan Wilkinson led with 6.5.

Outside linebacker: Terrell Suggs, Ravens. He was the best defensive player in the division and arguably the best in the NFL this season. Suggs made an impact all over the field, becoming the only NFL player this season to finish with at least five sacks, five passes defensed and five forced fumbles. Critics would argue that his production came in three games (season opener against Pittsburgh, San Francisco and Indianapolis), where he totaled nine sacks and six forced fumbles.

Inside linebacker: D'Qwell Jackson, Browns. The comeback player in the division, Jackson finished second in the NFL with 158 tackles. That's 58 more tackles than anyone else in the AFC North. This is after Jackson missed the previous 26 games due to two separate pectoral injuries. He also tied for the AFC lead with three defensive fumble recoveries.

Inside linebacker: Ray Lewis, Ravens. There's no doubt that Lewis isn't the same player that he was five years ago and he had trouble getting off blocks after returning from a toe injury. But there's not a better run stopper in the division. With Lewis as the leading tackler, the Ravens finished tied for first in fewest rushing yards per carry (3.5) and second in fewest rushing yards per game (92.5).

Outside linebacker: James Harrison, Steelers. Many would consider nine sacks (which tied for tops on the Steelers) and two forced fumbles a solid season. But Harrison did this after having two back surgeries in March, missing four games with a fractured orbital bone near his right eye and getting suspended one game following his infamous hit on Colt McCoy. Harrison's ability to get to the quarterback was a big reason Pittsburgh finished No. 1 in the NFL in pass defense.

Cornerback: Lardarius Webb, Ravens. If you didn't know what a great season Webb was having, you did in the postseason when he picked off three passes. He led the division with five interceptions and 20 passes defensed. Not bad for a defender that everyone projected to be a nickelback this season. The Ravens also gave up the fewest touchdown passes this season (11).

Cornerback: Joe Haden, Browns. Haden was the headliner for the NFL's second-ranked pass defense and has the potential to be a shutdown corner. He finished sixth in the league (and second in the AFC North) with 19 passes defensed this season. Haden had three games this year with at least three pass breakups, including a career-high five in the season opener against Cincinnati. There were some slips, such as allowing a game-turning catch to A.J. Green and a game-sealing touchdown to Antonio Brown. Haden barely edged out Pittsburgh's Ike Taylor for this spot.

Strong safety: Troy Polamalu, Steelers. This wasn't his finest season, but Polamalu was a major presence on the NFL's top-ranked defense. Always lurking around the line of scrimmage, he finished third on the team with 91 tackles to go along with two interceptions and one sack. His best game came in the last one of the regular season, when his interception set up the game's only touchdown and his sack came from him breaking through the line after perfectly timing the snap.

Free safety: Ryan Clark, Steelers. The obvious choice would be Ed Reed. But even Reed would acknowledge that he struggled for most of the season. He managed three interceptions, his fewest for a 16-game season, and missed tackles toward the end of the season because of a shoulder injury. Clark enjoyed the best season of his 10-year career, leading the NFL's top-ranked defense with 100 tackles. That also ranked second in the AFC North. If you questioned Clark's impact, look at how the Steelers fared without him in Denver, when he had to sit out the playoff game because of a blood condition.

Three Bengals were added to the Pro Bowl, compliments of the New England Patriots.

Because the Patriots are playing the New York Giants in the Super Bowl, spots opened up on the AFC team for quarterback Andy Dalton, defensive tackle Geno Atkins and tight end Jermaine Gresham. The Pro Bowl will be played this coming Sunday.

Dalton and Atkins, both of whom were first alternates, replace Tom Brady and Vince Wilfork, respectively. Gresham, a third alternate, steps in for Rob Gronkowski.

“We’re been grouped together from the beginning so its nice to be linked together in this as well,” Dalton told The Cincinnati Enquirer. “We came out and were able to accomplish a lot and for all four of us to go early on in our careers is a great thing.”

The last time the Bengals had as many as four players in the Pro Bowl was the 2005 season when five players made it: offensive tackle Willie Anderson, kicker Shayne Graham, wide receiver Chad Ochocinco, cornerback Deltha O’Neal and quarterback Carson Palmer.

The AFC North was well represented on the Associated Press' All-Pro Team, with six players on the first team, which ties the NFC West for the most.

It should be noted that the AFC North had all of its players come from either offense or defense. The NFC West placed three on special teams.

The All-Pro Team is formed by votes from 50 media members.

On offense, the Ravens' Vonta Leach was the runaway winner at fullback, receiving 42 votes. Browns offensive tackle Joe Thomas had the second-most votes at his position (which gets two on the first team) with 19. Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey narrowly beat out Carolina's Ryan Kalil, 13-11.

On defense, the Ravens' Terrell Suggs was a near unanimous selection with 47 votes. The Ravens' Haloti Ngata was the highest vote-getter at defensive tackle with 38. The Steelers' Troy Polamalu led all safeties with 29, which was 12 more than second-team safety Ed Reed.

Here are the AFC North representatives on each unit:

FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE

Fullback: Vonta Leach, Baltimore

Tackle: Joe Thomas, Cleveland

Center: Maurkice Pouncey, Pittsburgh

FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE

Tackle: Haloti Ngata, Baltimore

Outside linebackers: Terrell Suggs, Baltimore

Safety: Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh

SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE

Running back: Ray Rice, Baltimore

Guard: Marshal Yanda, Baltimore

SECOND-TEAM DEFENSE

Tackle: Geno Atkins, Cincinnati

Safety: Ed Reed, Baltimore

» NFC Pro Bowl: East | West | North | South » AFC Pro Bowl: East | West | North | South

Perfect sense: Headlining the six Pro Bowl starters for the Ravens is outside linebacker Terrell Suggs, who is an NFL defensive player of the year candidate. He leads the AFC with a career-best 13 sacks to go along with six forced fumbles, five passes defensed and two interceptions. Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace is third in the AFC in receiving yards (1,182) but he has the highest yards-per-catch average (16.6) of any receiver with more than 70 receptions. Ravens running back Ray Rice leads the NFL with 1,869 yards from scrimmage and is tied for first in the AFC with 10 rushing touchdowns.

Made it on rep: Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis is still the best inside linebacker in the division, but others (namely Houston's Brian Cushing) have had better seasons. Baltimore went 4-0 when Lewis was injured, and he's been a nonfactor in the two games since he returned. There's no argument that the Browns' Joe Thomas is the most talented left tackle in the AFC, but he didn't have a stellar season. He has tied a career high with seven penalties and has been part of an offense that ranked 30th in the NFL in scoring. The same goes for center Maurkice Pouncey, who didn't play as well as last season because of illness and injuries.

Got robbed: Ten starters on the Steelers' defense, which ranks first in fewest yards and second in points allowed, got snubbed. Strong safety Troy Polamalu is the Pittsburgh defense's only representative. Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton should have been the third alternate after turning a four-win team into a playoff contender and becoming the fourth rookie with 20 touchdown passes. Another Bengal, Geno Atkins, outplayed the Ravens' Haloti Ngata at times this season and led all interior linemen with eight sacks. The Browns' Joe Haden has been the AFC North's top cornerback and broke up the third-most passes (19) this season in the NFL.

Rookie surprise: The Bengals' A.J. Green became the first rookie wide receiver to make the Pro Bowl since Anquan Boldin in 2003. He leads Cincinnati in receptions (63), receiving yards (1,031) and touchdowns (seven). A big-time playmaker, Green leads the NFL this season in catches of 35 or more yards (11).

Click here for the complete 2012 Pro Bowl roster.

Here are some other matchups to watch in Sunday's AFC North games:

BENGALS AT STEELERS

• Bengals WR Andre Caldwell vs. Steelers CB William Gay: In the last meeting, Gay was the defensive star, with a hand in Andy Dalton's two interceptions — including picking off the rookie late in the fourth quarter to seal the victory. Caldwell didn't step up when A.J. Green went down with a knee injury, producing 25 yards on three catches against Pittsburgh.
• Bengals DT Geno Atkins vs. Steelers C Maurkice Pouncey: Atkins has 6.5 sacks, which leads the Bengals and ranks second in the NFL among defensive tackles. Pouncey lost 12 pounds from a violent stomach virus last week and is listed as probable.

RAVENS AT BROWNS

• Browns LB Titus Brown vs. Ravens RB Ray Rice: Brown could have to start at weakside linebacker after Scott Fujita went on injured reserve. Rice, who leads the Ravens with 772 yards rushing, could challenge Brown, who has one tackle in seven games played.
• Ravens WR Anquan Boldin vs. Browns CB Joe Haden: Boldin was a problem for the Browns last season, scoring three touchdowns in two meetings against Cleveland. He also had 10 catches for 157 yards. Haden has broken up 16 passes this season, which ranks second in the NFL.

BROWNS AT BENGALS

Bengals DT Geno Atkins vs. Browns LG Jason Pinkston: Atkins is one of the best defensive tackles that most people outside this division don't know about. He is tied for the AFC lead in sacks by a defensive tackle with 5.5. Pinkston, a rookie fifth-round pick, has yet to give up a sack this season (and no holding penalties) and is regarded as one of the Browns more consistent pass protectors.

Bengals TE Jermaine Gresham vs. Browns SS Usama Young: Gresham is one of the emerging young tight ends in the league. He is averaging four catches per game. Young should expect plenty of passes thrown his way after he got picked on by Jacksonville. Jaguars tight end Marcedes Lewis caught seven passes for 64 yards against the Browns last Sunday.

STEELERS AT CHIEFS

Steelers coverage team vs. Chiefs punt returner Javier Arenas: Arenas ranks fourth in the NFL with a 14.4-yard average. Of the NFL's top five punt returners, Arenas is the only one who hasn't scored a touchdown this season. The Steelers have the sixth-best punt coverage team, allowing an average of 6.8 yards. Pittsburgh hasn't allowed a punt return more than 20 yards this season.

CINCINNATI -- I'm here for the big AFC North showdown between the Steelers and the Bengals. This is my third consecutive week covering the Steelers, so I'm starting to feel like a roadie for them. During that time, I've learned you can count on three things: close games, an injury to a linebacker and Ben Roethlisberger throwing for 300 yards.

Roethlisberger is going against the 10th-ranked pass defense in Cincinnati. While there has been a lot of talking about Pittsburgh's pass rush, Cincinnati has generated pressure this year without much blitzing.

Four Bengals defensive linemen have three or more sacks this season (Geno Atkins 3.5, Carlos Dunlap 3.0, Frostee Rucker 3.0, Jonathan Fanene 3.0). Roethlisberger has been sacked 26 times, which is most in the NFL. But he was sacked only once against Baltimore last Sunday.

Scouts Inc.'s Matt Williamson looks at AFC North players on the verge of a breakout in 2011.

Carlos Dunlap is the more likely candidate of these two young impressive defensive linemen to truly become a star for Cincinnati, but Geno Atkins is less well-known and deserves to be discussed thoroughly.

This is one of the quickest interior defensive linemen off the ball in the league. Atkins is an exceptional penetrator overall. His pass-rush skills jump off the tape, and he is already among the best interior situational pass-rushers in the league.

The next step that Cincinnati needs from Atkins is improvement in his run defense, although he isn’t terrible in this regard now. Atkins isn’t the biggest player for the position and needs to show that he can hold up to the pounding when given additional snaps. If he continues to impress -- and I expect he will -- Atkins should pair with Pat Sims to make for very solid starting defensive tackles. Maybe the most encouraging thing about Atkins is that he left college as a very young player and will be 23 this year.

Many have projected Cincinnati to take a defensive linemen with the fourth overall selection, but with the emergence of Atkins to pair with Sims and outside edge players Dunlap and Michael Johnson, it might make more sense to draft a quarterback with that pick or someone like Georgia’s A.J. Green or LSU’s Patrick Peterson -- especially if Johnathan Joseph departs in free agency.

Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN.com.

Last month the AFC North blog said it was time to blow up the Cincinnati Bengals.

Now we will explain how to rebuild this struggling franchise.

Coming off a division title and playoff appearance in 2009, Cincinnati is having its most disappointing season in recent memory. The Bengals are 2-10 and headed toward one of the top picks in the draft.

It will be a very interesting offseason in Cincinnati. The Bengals have key decisions to make on their coaching staff, as well as positions such as quarterback, running back and receiver.

The AFC North blog put on its general manager hat and spent this week sifting through the Bengals' roster to determine who stays and who goes. We came up with a blueprint that will get this team headed in the right direction.

Keep in mind, this is not a prediction of what the Bengals will do. It's our guide to what we believe the Bengals should do.

Head coach

Analysis: Bengals coach Marvin Lewis has four games left on his contract, and to our knowledge there have been no recent negotiations. It's a good time for Lewis to step away. He has fought battles against heavy-handed ownership for eight seasons and done all he could, leading the downtrodden Bengals to two playoff appearances. There is already speculation Lewis may have interest in the head-coaching opening at the University of Pittsburgh, where he has local ties. He dodged that question earlier this week. Don't expect a big-name hire in Cincinnati. The Bengals don't want to pay the kind of money it takes to land someone like Bill Cowher or Jon Gruden, and big-name coaches wouldn't go to a team that doesn't have a GM, ownership makes the football decisions, and there are average facilities and very few scouts. Our best pick is Hue Jackson. He's a former receivers coach in Cincinnati and has done a great job in stops with Baltimore, Atlanta, Washington and Oakland. As offensive coordinator in Oakland this season, he has helped make the Raiders a playoff contender and is very familiar with the AFC North. Jackson is a rising star and would be an excellent choice. Mike Zimmer remains the best in-house candidate. He has the respect of the locker room and helped turn around the defense in recent seasons. Perhaps a Jackson (HC) and Zimmer (DC) tandem would infuse much-needed energy into this team.

Quarterback

Analysis: This is probably the toughest decision the Bengals will make this offseason, but it wasn't difficult for the AFC North blog. We're convinced it's time to part ways with quarterback Carson Palmer. The QB, who is in the middle of a $118.75 million contract, will be one of the NFL's highest-paid players next season with a base salary of $11.5 million. We can't justify paying Palmer that type of money based on his production the past few seasons. The Bengals have a good shot at the No. 1 overall pick, and that's the perfect spot to draft a quarterback. We think Andrew Luck from Stanford is the best of the group. If the Bengals do not have the top pick, maybe Auburn's Cam Newton is another possibility later in the first round. If the Bengals can't land either, our next step would be sticking with Palmer and seeing whether he's willing to take a pay cut. It's a tough business.

Running back

Analysis: We like second-year running back Bernard Scott. But there are still questions about whether he can be a feature tailback. With Cedric Benson's contract expiring, it's time to search for a new running back. The Bengals got solid production out of Benson the past two years at little cost. But he's only averaging 3.5 yards per carry this year, and we need more from that position. We would find a bruising back and pair him with the quicker Scott . Pending free agent Michael Bush, 26, would be a good fit. He's the backup tailback to Darren McFadden and one of Jackson's main weapons in Oakland. The Bengals rarely spend a lot of money in free agency, but this signing would be worth it. Also, we would re-sign backup running back Brian Leonard, who is very good on third down.

Wide receivers

Analysis: We like Chad Ochocinco -- but not at the price the Bengals would have to pay him. A $6 million team option is a bit much for a 32-year-old receiver who's had two bad seasons in three years. We would let Ochocinco walk, but the Bengals will consider keeping him. Teammate and pending free agent Terrell Owens is an interesting case. He's having a great year, but he's 37 and probably wants the security of a multiyear extension. Another team may give it to Owens, but we're looking to get younger at receiver. This is a position we would attack in the draft, probably in the second or third rounds. This also gives Jordan Shipley, who is solid, a bigger role in the offense next year. You can't be strong everywhere when rebuilding.

Tight end

Analysis: No questions here. The Bengals drafted Jermaine Gresham in the first round this year and he has produced (47 receptions for 409 yards and three touchdowns). He's only going to get better next season and beyond.

Offensive and defensive lines

Analysis: The offensive line needs work. Tackle Andrew Whitworth and guard Bobbie Williams are mainstays, but the other three positions could use depth. We would not extend Andre Smith's contract to six years. We're keeping his deal at four years to see whether we can get anything out of him at right tackle in the final two seasons. Some have suggested moving Smith, who broke his foot for the second straight year, to guard. But we're already paying Smith left tackle money to play right tackle. So we definitely wouldn't pay Smith left tackle money to play guard. We would upgrade center and one guard position via the draft and free agency. The defensive line must be more productive, but there are some good young players there. We like Carlos Dunlap's recent production and would start him at defensive end in 2011. He's earned it with his play down the stretch. Geno Atkins has shown flashes and also would be in competition to start at defensive tackle next to veteran Domata Peko. End Robert Geathers hasn't been the same since micro-fracture surgery, and it's time to find his replacement. If the Bengals don't draft a quarterback in the first round, another pass-rushing defensive end would be the logical choice.

Linebackers

Analysis: Bengals outside linebacker Rey Maualuga has played out of position his entire pro career, and it's time to move him to his natural spot at middle linebacker next season. He will be a better player when he can use his best attribute -- his physicality -- instead of constantly chasing tight ends in coverage. Dhani Jones, 32, will be a free agent, and it's time to cut ties with him. Keith Rivers stays outside, but we need another outside linebacker. Maybe Michael Johnson can step into that role. He's not a natural linebacker, but he's athletic enough to play the position. We're also not sure we can trust his consistency for 16 games. We'd probably add someone else via the draft or free agency to compete with Johnson for the starting job.

Secondary

Analysis: The Bengals' secondary had a down year with a lot of injuries, but we still think it's in pretty good shape. Cornerback Johnathan Joseph is the one free agent we believe the Bengals must re-sign. He's the Bengals best cornerback, and the secondary doesn't look the same when he's not playing. Joseph makes corner Leon Hall and the safeties better. There were some negotiations before the season between Joseph and the Bengals, but nothing came to fruition. Adam Jones will return from a season-ending neck injury and is a solid third cornerback. Starting safety Chris Crocker also had a season-ending knee injury and remains under contract. Chinedum Ndukwe, a pending free agent, plays hard and would be a good safety to keep for depth. Roy Williams is often injured and too one dimensional for our liking. So we would let Williams go and try to add another starting safety.

Specialists

Analysis: Punter Kevin Huber stays, although he hasn't had a great year. But the Bengals must find a dependable kicker. Mike Nugent did fine before he was injured, so maybe he's a candidate for training camp when he gets healthy.

Whew! Now that was a major reconstruction.

It's time for the Bengals to rebuild and turn the franchise over to younger players. It's not going to be a quick fix. But if the Bengals follow these moves, they will be better than they were this season and in solid position for long-term success.

The Cincinnati Bengals (2-8) will try to break their NFL-high seven-game losing streak on Thanksgiving night against the New York Jets (8-2).

Here are five things to watch for the Bengals:

1. Will they show up? Here is the hard truth: The Bengals aren't going to win many games the rest of the season. At this stage, it's about playing for professional pride and not embarrassing themselves like last week when the Bengals allowed 35 unanswered points to the lowly Buffalo Bills. Cincinnati hasn't won a game since Sept. 26, which is nearly two months ago. But there is still enough talent on this roster to compete and possibly pull an upset or two in the final six weeks. But if the Bengals decide not to show up against a playoff-caliber team like the Jets, this game could get ugly fast.

2. Can T.O. thrive on Revis Island? The rivalry started in Buffalo, and it continues Thursday with the Bengals. Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis once called Bengals receiver Terrell Owens a "slouch," and Owens responded this week by saying Revis is an "average' cornerback. These two players simply don't like each other. The Jets will match the physical Revis on Owens, while cornerback Antonio Cromartie plays against Chad Ochocinco. For Cincinnati to pull the upset, its receivers have to win these matchups.

3. How bad is Carson Palmer hurting? Credit Palmer for not making any excuses for his performance this season, but the quarterback is quietly dealing with several injuries. He took a painkilling injection in his shoulder to play two weeks ago against the Indianapolis Colts, and this week he missed more practice time with a left foot injury. Expect a lot of pressure from the blitz-heavy Jets. Palmer has been sacked 17 times this season, which isn't a very high total. He's getting rid of the ball quickly while taking plenty of hits behind a subpar offensive line.

4. Will the Bengals eliminate mistakes? Owens said it best this week: "We have made enough mistakes the last six ballgames to last a lifetime." The Bengals are one of the sloppiest NFL teams this year. They've committed costly turnovers and penalties time after time and haven't been able to clean up that problem. Last week against Buffalo, Cincinnati had seven penalties and three turnovers. The Bengals have to play a lot smarter to have a chance on the road against the Jets.

5. How will younger players perform? At 2-8, the record provides an opportunity for Cincinnati's younger players to step up. Closely monitor rookies such as tight end Jermaine Gresham, receiver Jordan Shipley and defensive linemen Carlos Dunlap and Geno Atkins. With the Bengals due for a major offseason makeover, these young players need to develop and prove they're a part of Cincinnati's foundation in 2011. All four rookies have shown flashes but need to be consistently productive.