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One of the most popular first-round pairings is Alabama inside linebacker Dont'a Hightower going to the Pittsburgh Steelers. But that would go against the team's draft history.

The Steelers have selected only one linebacker in the first round in the past 20 drafts, according to ESPN Stats & Information. That was Lawrence Timmons in 2007.

I'm not saying the Steelers would pass on Hightower or Alabama outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw. This trend just shows the Steelers typically find their linebackers after the first round and have had success doing it that way (LaMarr Woodley was a second-round pick, James Harrison was undrafted, Stevenson Sylvester was a fifth-rounder and Jason Worilds was a second-rounder).

In fact, the Steelers have drafted eight linebackers since 2007 (Mike Tomlin's first season) -- which is tied for the most of any team in that span.

Here are numbers and notes for the Steelers heading into the NFL draft, courtesy of ESPN Stats & Information:

• Total picks: 10 (24th, 56th, 86th, 119th, 159th, 193rd, 231st, 240th, 246th, 248th)
• Only one of seven 2011 draft picks started a game last season (Marcus Gilbert – 13 starts)
• Ten picks would match the Steelers' most in draft since 2000 (10 in 2010)

Free agent officially kicks off at 4 p.m. ET Tuesday, so let's take a look at the three biggest needs for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are historically minor players in free agency:

1. Nose tackle: Casey Hampton turns 35 before the season begins and had ACL surgery in January, which means the Steelers need to find their future anchor of the defensive line. Longtime backup Chris Hoke retired, and Steve McLendon isn't a full-time starter in the middle. The Steelers might consider starting Ziggy Hood at nose tackle, even though he is a little undersized for that position. The Steelers would be ecstatic to take Memphis' Dontari Poe in the first round, but he's now considered a top-15 prospect. Other nose tackle prospects who could be on the Steelers' radar include: BYU's Loni Fangupo (second round), Washington's Alameda Ta'amu (third round) or Alabama's Josh Chapman (fourth round). In free agency, Ravens backup nose tackle Brandon McKinney would be an upgrade over McLendon.

2. Offensive line: The Steelers have a hole at left guard and need to improve their depth at offensive tackle. Pittsburgh benched mistake-prone Chris Kemoeatu at left guard and replaced him with Doug Legursky, whose strength is being a versatile backup. The Steelers could stick with Legursky at guard, but that wouldn't be their top choice. Pittsburgh is expected to switch Marcus Gilbert from right to left tackle, a move he handled well in the playoff game in Denver. The risk is giving the right tackle job back to Willie Colon, who has missed two seasons with injuries. If something happened to Colon again, the Steelers would turn to Jonathan Scott, who has struggled mightily every time he has stepped onto the field. The Steelers could always go back to free-agent stand-by Max Starks once he is recovered from ACL surgery.

3. Inside linebacker: The Steelers need another starter to go with Lawrence Timmons after they released James Farrior. Pittsburgh still has backup Larry Foote, but he isn't an every-down linebacker anymore. The Steelers don't have a great amount of cap room to find someone in free agency, so look for them to address inside linebacker early in the draft next month. Alabama's Dont'a Hightower has been heavily linked to Pittsburgh in the first round. He's a great athlete and has experience in a 3-4 defense. Hightower, who was also the signal caller for the Alabama defense, would eventually take over some of Farrior's leadership role.

When the 2012 began, the AFC North represented two extremes in terms of the salary cap. The Cincinnati Bengals had the league's best cap situation ($44 million under), and the Pittsburgh Steelers had the worst ($25 million over).

The Steelers, though, have made significant progress this month to get under the cap. Pittsburgh restructured the contracts of linebackers LaMarr Woodley and Lawrence Timmons, creating $11.6 million in cap room. The Steelers also freed up $3.5 million in cap space by cutting cornerback Bryant McFadden and wide receiver Arnaz Battle. Those four moves represented a total of $15.1 million in cap room.

There's still plenty of work remaining for the Steelers, who are now a projected $10 million over the cap. Here are five players whose 2012 salaries account for $17.4 million, which makes them candidates to get restructured or released: nose tackle Casey Hampton ($4.8 million), wide receiver Hines Ward ($4 million), guard Chris Kemoeatu ($3.5 million), linebacker Larry Foote ($3 million) and defensive end Aaron Smith ($2.1 million). Some of that cap space will go to wide receiver Mike Wallace, a restricted free agent who will get a first-round tender ($2.7 million).

The Ravens started the offseason in the middle of the pack as far as the salary cap ($8.5 million under). The retirement of running back Ricky Williams gives Baltimore $1.5 million in additional room. The Ravens will get nearly $19 million under the cap when they cut cornerback Domonique Foxworth ($5.6 million salary in 2012) and wide receiver Lee Evans ($3.2 million salary in 2012).

But a chunk of that cap space is expected to go to running back Ray Rice when they put the franchise tag on him. The franchise tag for running backs is expected to be $8 million this year. Baltimore is expected to place a first-round tender ($2.7 million) on their top restricted free agent, cornerback Lardarius Webb.

Like the Bengals, the Browns are among the teams with the most cap room. Cleveland is projected to be $21 million under the cap, which gives it freedom to be active in free agency. The Browns can spend on outside talent because they only have three of their starters heading to free agency (running back Peyton Hillis, linebacker D'Qwell Jackson and safety Mike Adams, in addition to kicker Phil Dawson).

For the Bengals, they once again have plenty of cap room entering free agency. Cincinnati has seven of its starters entering free agency, but the Bengals are looking to upgrade at a lot of those spots on offense: wide receiver, running back and both guard positions.

CINCINNATI -- A week after watching their AFC North rival celebrate a statement game at their expense, the Steelers delivered a rebuttal for those who doubted their defense could close out opponents.

William Gay's fourth-quarter interception in Steelers territory did more than put Pittsburgh (7-3) back atop the AFC North (a half-game ahead of the Ravens and Bengals). This was about redemption. This was about vindication. This was about carrying the team to victory instead of relying on Ben Roethlisberger's arm to save them.

The Steelers' defense has been very good all season, based on statistics and how players run to the ball. This group elevated itself by shutting out the Bengals in the fourth quarter for a 24-17 victory, proving a steel will in the final minutes of a game.

The Bengals have thrived in these spots throughout their surprising season, coming back in the fourth quarter four times. This time, however, Cincinnati ran into a more motivated team. Maybe the Steelers' defense needed last week's kick in the gut from the Ravens to get that fighter's mentality back.

The Steelers, who were on a historic pace for takeaway futility, forced two interceptions on the final three drives. They limited rookie quarterback Andy Dalton to 22 yards passing in the final quarter. It was a performance worthy of a "curtain" call.

“We told ourselves going into the game that we’re playing pretty good defense, but we can’t continue to win games without getting turnovers,” Steelers nose tackle Casey Hampton said. “We just haven’t been finishing. It feels good to finally be able to finish somebody.”

The weakness of one of the best defenses of the past decade has been just that. After Joe Flacco led a 92-yard drive to beat the Steelers in the final seconds just seven days ago, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ran a list of "fourth-quarter failures" during the week. According to the website Cold, Hard Football Facts, the Steelers have allowed eight game-winning drives that ended in the final two minutes of games since 2007 -- the most in the NFL over that span.

That's why not wavering on these fourth-quarter stands at a blustery Paul Brown Stadium was so important. Pittsburgh's pride was at stake.

"We always want the opportunity to be on the field," safety Ryan Clark said. "We feel like those are the moments that we can rise up and allow our team to win a game."

Dalton, a rookie who is looking poised beyond his years, didn't make it easy on the Steelers. He never forced the ball in the first three quarters, throwing it away rather than risk a turnover. There were times when he displayed a knack for fading back in the face of pressure to make some outstanding throws.

It was a performance that will go down as a loss for the Bengals, but they certainly earned some respect in going drive-for-drive with the defending AFC champions.

"I don’t think this team has to worry about being able to play with the so-called elite in the AFC -- we can and we will," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said.

When Dalton and the Bengals were marching to tie the score in the fourth quarter, the Steelers' players said they weren't thinking of the Ravens game or any previous ones. Not buying it. The flashbacks were coming fast and furiously.

Last week, the Ravens were at the Steelers' 26-yard line before scoring the winning touchdown. This game, with Pittsburgh ahead by a touchdown, the Bengals were on the Steelers' 25 with 2:33 left. It was time to check the DVR to see if it was a repeat.

That was until Gay, who allowed the game-winning touchdown last Sunday, jumped the route and made his first interception of the season. Gay also caused the other interception in the fourth quarter, batting the ball to linebacker Lawrence Timmons in Steelers territory.

If you believe Gay is the defense's weak link, then the Steelers were as strong as it today.

"That’s what the game is about: Forget about what happened last week and come out and make plays," Clark said. "To me, he won the game."

Gay was certainly a playmaker in a Steelers' season that has had few of them. He had a hand in two interceptions in a span of 10 minutes, doubling Pittsburgh's total from the first nine games.

The Steelers were tied for the fewest takeaways in the NFL with four, which was on pace for the fewest in NFL history. In a season when their defense has been described as old and slow, the more accurate criticism has been the inability to make game-changing plays.

It's been a strange reversal of fortune for the Steelers, who finished third in the NFL with 35 forced turnovers a season ago. Rather than explain the lack of them this year, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin seemed happy that they're finally coming now.

"That’s what you got to do particularly moving forward," Tomlin said of the turnovers. "As we get into the thick of this thing, people play better execution-oriented football. It makes those type of splash plays even more important because there will be less room for error."

The Steelers were helped by the fact that the Bengals' top playmaker on offense, wide receiver A.J. Green, didn't play in the second half because he injured his knee on the spectacular 36-yard touchdown grab in the first quarter. But the Steelers' defense wasn't helped by its offense, which went three-and-out on its first three drives of the fourth quarter.

Needless to say, don't try to dampen this victory for the Steelers, who notched their first win over a team leading a division this season. You'll get shut down just like Dalton and the Bengals.

"We feel like we’ve been through hell and back," cornerback Ike Taylor said of the past week. "We have a lot of veteran guys who know what they need to do when it comes down to the end of the game. This Steelers defense has been holding this down for a long time. Check the track record."

The AFC North blog will take a look at a matchup each day leading up to Sunday night's game between the NFL's biggest rivals -- the Ravens and Steelers -- and get a take from Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc.

MATCHUP OF THE DAY

WHO: Ravens RB Ray Rice vs. Steelers LBs Larry Foote and Lawrence Timmons

BREAKDOWN: Rice was once again a big part of the Ravens' offense after getting only eight carries in Jacksonville. He ran for 63 yards and scored a career-high three touchdowns in a comeback win over Arizona. Rice has been hot or cold against the Steelers. In the past five meetings, Rice has gained over 100 yards twice and has been held under 33 yards rushing three times. The Steelers are juggling their linebackers because of injuries. Foote is expected to replace James Farrior at inside linebacker again, and Timmons might move back to the inside if James Harrison or Jason Worilds can play. Pittsburgh ranks No. 8 in run defense, giving up 99.1 yards per game.

WILLIAMSON'S TAKE: "I guess this depends on where Timmons lines up -- either at inside linebacker or outside linebacker. Timmons is a great player with a ton of ability, but he hasn't played as well this year and is MUCH better at inside linebacker than on the outside. Tough to comment on this matchup overall since we really don't know who will be playing where. [Coach Mike] Tomlin also mentioned that they might have to play a lot of 4 DL sets (4-2-5) because of their linebacker injuries. That would make Troy Polamalu even more of a wild card and even closer to the line of scrimmage with more regularity."

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

Even though Colt McCoy threw an interception into double coverage in San Francisco, The News-Herald believes you can't put the blame of Sunday's loss (at least not all of it) on the Browns quarterback.

According to the paper, the loss at the 49ers exposed the Browns' need for better players on the offensive side of the ball. The News-Herald points out that Alex Smith's weapons of running back Frank Gore, tight end Vernon Davis, wide receivers Michael Crabtree and Braylon Edwards are better than the ones surrounding McCoy.

To fix the problem, the paper suggests using both first-round draft picks on offensive players, maybe even a quarterback because McCoy hasn't "distinguished himself or risen above the mess around him."

Hensley's slant: Really couldn't say it better myself. It's tough to truly evaluate McCoy under the circumstances. The Browns are down to a practice-squad player at running back. Their starting wide receivers on Sunday were a kick returner and a rookie who hadn't played football for a year. No wonder the Browns' most consistent offensive weapon is kicker Phil Dawson and his 50-yard field goals. The biggest disappointment with McCoy is that he hasn't shown many flashes of being a franchise quarterback despite the talent level around him. The entire offense is in need of a makeover.

• BENGALS: The Bengals welcome back running back Cedric Benson, whose one-game suspension is over. The team received a two-day roster exemption from the NFL so that Benson could take part in team activities and will need to make a roster move by Wednesday. There is also a good chance that middle linebacker Rey Maualuga could return, too. He tested the sprained left ankle by jogging two miles without pain, according to The Cincinnati Enquirer. Hensley's slant: The detractors bring up the point that the Bengals' last three wins this year have come against the Jaguars, Colts and Seahawks. What many forget is that the Bengals delivered their biggest margin of victory on the road Sunday, a 22-point win at Seattle, without their leading rusher and run-stopper. The road challenge is tougher this week at Tennessee. Cincinnati will need both Benson and Maualuga to beat the Titans.
• RAVENS: The best way to fix the Ravens' troublesome pass protection is by continuing to put Joe Flacco in the shotgun and going no-huddle, according to The Baltimore Sun. In the comeback win over Arizona, the Ravens used quicker pace and passes to take the burden off the struggling offensive line. Head coach John Harbaugh was noncommittal when asked about putting Flacco in the shotgun more. Hensley's slant: This shouldn't come as a surprise because Flacco primarily ran his college offense at Delaware out of the shotgun. So, he has more of a comfort level there. While not comparing Flacco to Tom Brady or Ben Roethlisberger, the Patriots and Steelers both showed this past Sunday that you can run an NFL offense out of the shotgun for almost the entire game.
• STEELERS: Injuries have caused the Pittsburgh defense to adjust but they haven't caused a drop in production. The Associated Press makes the observation that Lawrence Timmons was the only season-opening starting linebacker on the field at one point in the fourth quarter and he was playing out of position on the outside. The Steelers have relied on the likes of Chris Carter and Larry Foote at linebacker along with Ziggy Hood, Cameron Heyward, and Steve McClendon on the defensive line. Hensley's slant: The reason the Steelers have had such a dominant defense for years is because of the tradition that is passed down from one generation to the next. Pittsburgh probably didn't envision these young players stepping up this early in the season but they're more than holding their own, especially on run defense. Over the past four games, the Steelers have limited teams to 78.7 yards rushing.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

FALLING

1. Bengals attendance: The team followed up the smallest crowd for a home opener at Paul Brown Stadium with the smallest crowd (41,142) in the 12-year history of the place. That's over 20,000 empty seats in each of the first two home games of the season. Sure, this is the fans' way of protesting owner Mike Brown and the constant losing. But all this young team can see is a lack of support.

2. Steelers run defense: The NFL's top run defense from a year ago has plummeted to No. 22. In the Steelers' two losses, the defense has given up 170 yards rushing to the Ravens and 180 yards on the ground to the Texans. After allowing just one 100-yard rusher in a 50-game stretch, Pittsburgh has allowed two in the past four games. Has anyone seen inside linebackers James Farrior or Lawrence Timmons lately?

3. Browns secondary: This vastly improved group flopped in its first test against a proven quarterback. Cleveland gave up 194 yards passing and three touchdown passes to Matt Hasselbeck -- and that was in the first half alone. Safety T.J. Ward didn't cover Titans tight end Craig Stevens on a 12-yard touchdown, and safety Usama Young took a bad angle at tight end Jared Cook on an 80-yard touchdown catch-and-run. To make matters worse, cornerback Joe Haden has a sprained knee.

RISING

1. Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green: The fourth overall pick of the 2011 draft is already making an impact, recording two 100-yard performances in the past three games. Watching him leap up for catches -- like the 58-yard one on Sunday -- is like seeing flashes of a younger Calvin Johnson (even though Johnson is still young). He has six catches over 20 yards, which is tied for ninth in the NFL. And Green is doing all of this while learning on the job with rookie quarterback Andy Dalton.

2. Ravens pass rush: Baltimore has recorded 21 quarterback hits over the past two games because of its creative and risky blitzes. This pressure on quarterbacks has led to four defensive touchdowns the past two weeks, including a team-record three Sunday night against the Jets. This is a drastic turnaround from last season, when the Ravens had a franchise-low 27 sacks.


3.Bengals defense: For the first time since 1983, the Bengals' defense sits atop the NFL rankings. Cincinnati has six new starters from a defense that finished 15th in 2010. The Bengals held the NFL's highest-scoring offense to 13 points (one touchdown was scored off an interception return) on Sunday and kept the Bills 158 yards below their season average.

Scouts Inc. released its top 200 players entering the 2011 NFL season. There are a lot of things to discuss.

But let's focus on the top players in the AFC North and how it compares to "Walker's Fab 40" that we produced earlier this year.

Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback

Scouts' ranking: No. 8

Walker's AFC North Fab 40: No. 2

Analysis: There were rankings this offseason that didn't place Roethlisberger among the top 40 players. This one is much more accurate. Quarterbacks Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rogers and Drew Brees were all rated ahead of Roethlisberger.

Joe Thomas, Cleveland Browns left tackle

Scouts' ranking: No. 9

Walker’s Fab 40: No. 8

Analysis: I was surprised to see Thomas as the second highest-rated player from the AFC North. He is the best left tackle in football. But Thomas dealt with an elbow injury and didn't have his best year in 2010. Therefore, I had seven division players rated above Thomas in "Walker’s Fab 40." Many are on the list below.

James Harrison, Steelers linebacker

Scouts' ranking: No. 13

Walker’s Fab 40: No. 5

Analysis: I think Harrison's ranking was accurate. The former Defensive Player of the Year is one of the hardest hitters in football and still playing at a high level. I disagree that Harrison is better and more important to the Steelers' defense than safety Troy Polamalu. But we will get to that later.

Haloti Ngata, Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman

Scouts' ranking: No. 14

Walker’s Fab 40: No. 4

Analysis: Ngata is the best defensive lineman in football, according to Scouts Inc. He has a rare combination of size and nimble feet that's scary for opponents. The Ravens and Ngata are working on a long-term contract to make him one of the highest-paid defenders in football.

Troy Polamalu, Steelers safety

Scouts' ranking: No. 18

Walker's Fab 40: No. 1

Analysis: This was the ranking that surprised me the most. Polamalu was the Defensive Player of the Year in 2011 but had six defenders rated ahead of him and 17 players total. Polamalu's Achilles injury at the end of last season put a big dent in his effectiveness. That seems to be what most people remember about last season. But, when healthy, Polamalu is a special talent.

Ed Reed, Ravens safety

Scouts' ranking: No. 21

Walker’s Fab 40: No. 3

Analysis: Polamalu was rated three spots ahead of Reed. I'm going to duck in case sparks fly on another "Troy Reed" debate.

There were more AFC North players in the top 60. Ravens linebacker/defensive end Terrell Suggs (No. 31), Steelers linebacker Lawrence Timmons (No. 46), Ravens tailback Ray Rice (No. 52), Steelers receiver Mike Wallace (No. 54) and Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley (No. 59) all made the cut.

Which players are too high? Which players are too low?

Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

The Pittsburgh Steelers secured two of their top young linebackers by extending the contracts of Lawrence Timmons and LaMarr Woodley. They signed a pair of six-year contracts worth a total of $111.5 million.

That leaves Pittsburgh Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu as the last key player entering the final year of his contract. Will the Steelers also re-sign Polamalu this season?

Although nothing is set in stone, I don't expect Pittsburgh to work out a new deal with Polamalu this year. The updated cap numbers after the Timmons and Woodley extensions are not yet available. But there's likely not enough room for a third mega deal with Polamalu.

The contracts for Timmons and Woodley are both in the $9 to $10 million per year range. Polamalu should command similar money. The Steelers can't pay everyone at the same time.

Time is also of the essence. The regular season starts in a little more than two weeks, and Pittsburgh usually doesn't negotiate contracts once the games begin. Therefore, Polamalu's situation probably won't be addressed this season if a deal isn't reached by Sept. 11.

The franchise tag is a strong possibility. I anticipate the Steelers will approach Polamalu's contract next year similarly to the way they handled Woodley's status. Don't be shocked if Polamalu gets the one-year franchise tender in 2012 to buy time to work out a long-term extension.

What is the price for keeping two of the NFL's best young linebackers together?

It's $111.5 million for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

That is the amount Pittsburgh recently invested in 2007 draft picks LaMarr Woodley and Lawrence Timmons. The dynamic pair were back-to-back selections for the Steelers four years ago. Both got huge extensions just several weeks apart.

Pittsburgh signed Timmons to a six-year, $50 million contract on Tuesday. The former first-round pick recorded 135 tackles and two interceptions last season. Many in the Steelers' organization believe Timmons, 25, still hasn't reached his potential and could be one of the top inside linebackers in the NFL.

Woodley, who signed a six-year, $61.5 million contract, will join Timmons in Pittsburgh for the foreseeable future. James Harrison, 33, and James Farrior, 36, won't play much longer. But the great tradition and future of Pittsburgh's linebacking corps is secure with Timmons and Woodley.

Here are the most interesting stories Thursday in the AFC North:

• Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Lawrence Timmons is a star on the rise.

Morning take: Timmons is one of the NFL's most athletic linebackers. He should be a force in 2011 now that experience is on his side.

• Cincinnati Bengals receiver A.J. Green suffered a knee injury in practice.

Morning take: Green and Bengals coach Marvin Lewis both say the injury isn't serious. But any injury scare to the No. 4 overall draft pick is going to be a concern.

• The Baltimore Ravens are giving starting quarterback Joe Flacco more control in the offense.

Morning take: This should be the natural progression for a fourth-year quarterback. Flacco didn't have a lot of freedom to audible in previous years. But he's been in the system long enough to take more ownership.

• Cleveland Browns receiver Brian Robiskie wants to shoulder a bigger load on offense.

Morning take: Robiskie is being pushed in camp for the starting job by rookie Greg Little. Little's ceiling seems higher, but Robiskie has a couple years of experience working in his favor.

Here are the most interesting stories Thursday in the AFC North:

• Former Baltimore Ravens receiver Derrick Mason reportedly will visit the New York Jets.

Morning take: The Rex Ryan-Baltimore connection is at work here. With the Ravens hot after Malcom Floyd, it's best for Mason to explore his options, as well.

• Cincinnati Bengals rookie receiver A.J. Green is impressing in training camp.

Morning take: NFL scouts told me before the draft that Green is the real deal. But much of it will come down to whether or not rookie quarterback Andy Dalton can get him the football.

• Competition is about to accelerate now that recently signed players will practice Thursday with the Cleveland Browns.

Morning take: The AFC North blog will re-join Browns camp after players had the day off Wednesday. I'm looking forward to learning more about this year's team.

• Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Lawrence Timmons looks like a rising star.

Morning take: A case can be made that Timmons has already arrived. But you still get the sense he hasn't reached his ceiling, and there's no better time to do it than in a contract year.

LATROBE, Pa. -- The first stop on the AFC North blog training camp tour starts with the reigning AFC North champion Pittsburgh Steelers. Players are scheduled to report by 3 p.m. ET, and will have the always-fun conditioning drills later this evening.

There will be a lot to look forward to this weekend with the Steelers. They've had an interesting offseason, to say the least. Here are a few early notes from Pittsburgh and other teams throughout the division:

• Pittsburgh officially announced the release of veteran offensive tackle Max Starks and wide receiver Antwaan Randle-El. The Steelers have several tough decisions to make to get under the salary cap. And these were the first two casualties.
• Among the first players to show on Thursday were nose tackle Casey Hampton, linebacker Lawrence Timmons and center Doug Legursky. Players, naturally, were asked about the explosive comments made recently by linebacker James Harrison. "He's going to say what he wants to say," Hampton said. "But I know one thing: On Sundays, he's going to be ready to play, and that's all that matters."
• Also, in terms of draft picks, the Cincinnati Bengals have reached an agreement with No. 4 overall pick A.J. Green. In addition, the Baltimore Ravens reportedly have reached deals with all of their draft picks with the exception of first-rounder Jimmy Smith and third-rounder Jah Reid.

Truth be told, I don't see one clear-cut dominant team in the AFC North three to five years from now. With Ben Roethlisberger and Joe Flacco still going strong, I predict the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens will continue to battle it out and share the spotlight in the division from 2014 to 2016.

In terms of picking which team will be dominant between the two, you can't. It's a toss-up. The Ravens might win the division one year, Pittsburgh the next and so on.

Quarterback is the most important position on the field, and the Steelers and Ravens have their long-term solutions at the position. Roethlisberger will be 32, an age at which quarterbacks still thrive. Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Brett Favre have done extremely well in their 30s, and there's no indication Roethlisberger can't do the same. Flacco will be 29 in 2014 and still in his prime.

Also, the Ravens and Steelers don't get enough credit for their talented young players. For Pittsburgh, receiver Mike Wallace, Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey and linebackers Lawrence Timmons and LaMarr Woodley are young stars in the making. The same can be said about Ravens tailback Ray Rice, Pro Bowl defensive lineman Haloti Ngata and potentially dominant first-round cornerback Jimmy Smith.

With Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome and Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert picking players, both teams will continue to add good, young talent in an effort to stay on top.

The Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals are starting over. Although both teams have some good, young players, predicting the Browns or Bengals to be dominant would be a major risk. Neither team has been consistently dominant for a very long time and, most important, the quarterback position for each is a huge question mark.

Will Cincinnati's Andy Dalton and Cleveland's Colt McCoy be starting NFL quarterbacks three years from now? Who knows?

For that reason alone, the future could still be a two-team race between Pittsburgh and Baltimore.

» NFC Draft Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Each Thursday leading up to the NFL draft (April 28-30), the ESPN.com NFL blog network will take a division-by-division look at key aspects of the draft. Today’s topic: draft philosophy.

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens often follow the philosophy of the right player at the right price. Therefore, Baltimore is not afraid to trade up in the draft or trade back if the value is right. As a result, Baltimore traditionally finds great players who were overlooked by other teams. The Ravens also are very good at scouting what I call "football character," which is somewhat different from regular character. Football character is having a certain toughness, confidence and an edge to fit into Baltimore's locker room full of strong personalities. The Ravens play with a certain attitude and swagger, particularly on defense, and it's not for everyone.

Cincinnati Bengals

Explaining the Bengals' draft philosophy can be tricky. Their approach is conservative. Rarely do you see a lot of wheeling and dealing coming from Cincinnati's draft room. The last time the Bengals pulled off a significant, draft-day trade in the first round was in 2004, when the St. Louis Rams moved up to draft tailback Steven Jackson and Cincinnati took Chris Perry. So expect Cincinnati to stay put this year at No. 4. But when it is time for the Bengals to pick players, they are not afraid to take character risks in exchange for talent. Sometimes it works out (Carlos Dunlap) for Cincinnati and sometimes it doesn't (Andre Smith).

Cleveland Browns

You didn't know what to expect from the Browns last year in the first draft under president Mike Holmgren and general manager Tom Heckert. But the pair did a solid job working together for the first time. Cleveland landed solid rookies such as cornerback Joe Haden, safety T.J. Ward and quarterback Colt McCoy in the first three rounds. All three were starters by midseason. If any trend could be read from just one year, it's that the Browns will continue to attack their biggest needs. Last year the secondary and quarterback positions were thin after the new regime cleaned house, cutting quarterback Derek Anderson and trading Brady Quinn. This year the biggest needs are defensive line and wide receiver, which Holmgren and Heckert will surely address in this draft.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Philosophically, the Steelers are great at projecting two and three years ahead. For example, they will draft tailback Rashard Mendenhall in the first round, despite the fact Willie Parker rushed for 1,316 yards the previous year in 2007. Three seasons later, Mendenhall is a star in Pittsburgh and Parker has hit a wall. Or they will draft linebackers LaMarr Woodley and Lawrence Timmons, even if they don't need them right away. The Steelers are willing to groom players for a couple of seasons before they become productive. Defensive end Ziggy Hood, a first-round pick in 2009, is another good example. Usually Pittsburgh can afford the luxury of taking the best available players. But this year the team has well-defined needs, such as cornerback and the offensive line.