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A respected committee of ESPN experts -- including Trent Dilfer, Mel Kiper, Gary Horton and Matt Williamson -- got together to look into the crystal ball and produce the NFL Future Power Rankings .

The projection is for the 2015 season and takes into account five factors: roster (32.5 percent), quarterback (17.5 percent), draft (15 percent), front office (15 percent) and coaching (20 percent).

You'll need an Insider subscription to see the entire post, but here's the AFC North portion of it:

5. PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Williamson: The "Steeler Way" has been working extremely well for a long time, as Pittsburgh's front office evaluates college talent and its own players as well as any team in the league. They are exceptional.

Hensley: The key was the Steelers using their top two picks on offensive linemen. As long as Ben Roethlisberger is protected and stays healthy, the Steelers will be among the top teams in the NFL.

10. BALTIMORE RAVENS

Kiper: No team consistently delivers as much value. Ozzie Newsome is a Hall of Famer … in the front office, too. The Ravens face some big personnel losses on defense coming soon, but few are better equipped to move on.

Hensley: The biggest question mark facing the Ravens by 2015 is how do they replace the leadership of Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. Baltimore needs its offense to become the dominant unit in order for the Ravens to be a top-10 team at this point.

11. CINCINNATI BENGALS

Dilfer: Andy Dalton quietly had an exceptionally good rookie season. Only Cam Newton diminished it. He has maintained a mature approach that we saw when he was at TCU; he gets deep into his reads, has an accurate arm and should continue to get better. If they can run it a little better, this offense will take a big leap.

Hensley: The Bengals have certainly set themselves up with two really strong drafts. The key is developing this talent and making sure these young players reach their potential. Cincinnati could be the most complete team in the division by 2015, with the emphasis on could.

32. CLEVELAND BROWNS

Williamson: Color me skeptical of the Browns' front office -- and this organization isn't exactly patient. Cleveland's front office is now directly tied to Brandon Weeden's future success. I can't say that is the perfect position to be in.

Hensley: With the exception of Trent Richardson, this team lacks playmakers. That's a rough spot to be in when you play defenses like the Steelers, Ravens and Bengals. And don't forget that Weeden will turn 32 during the 2015 season.

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

Ravens safety Ed Reed is backpedalling once again, saying he now plans on playing in 2012 and beyond.

Reed created a stir Thursday when he told SiriusXM NFL Radio that he was "not 100 percent committed right now to playing this year." He has since changed his stance.

"It's not about retirement, it's about my focus in the offseason, health, family and football," Reed said in a statement given to the Carroll County (Md.) Times. "This is the time of year where players think through things. My goal is to play football in the years to come."

In his interview on SiriusXM, Reed indicated that he was in "deep thought" about whether he would attend the team's mandatory minicamp in June. He said there are "other things" taking place in his life that are making him think differently.

Reed talked at length about his relationship with general manager Ozzie Newsome and the Ravens, mentioning a lack of support and “mental” issues that they were going through. He is also entering the final year of his contract.

“It has nothing to do with negotiating and all that, man,” Reed told SiriusXM. “It’s deeper than negotiating, man.”

Hensley's slant: No one reads quarterbacks better than Reed, but he might be the hardest player to read in the game right now. I'm done guessing what Reed is trying to communicate. It's like you need an interpreter to get the real meaning of his quotes. As I wrote Thursday, I won't believe he is going to retire until he actually walks away from the game.

BENGALS: The key for rookie defensive tackle pick Devon Still is to improve his down-to-down consistency. Last year's Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year slid to the second round because of his hot-and-cold motor. "He's a very talented guy and I want him to push himself past where he has gone," Bengals defensive line coach Jay Hayes told the Bengals' official website. "I want him where he's not taking a blow on the field. Part of it was he didn't come out very much. He felt like he had to conserve his energy. We don’t have that issue." Hensley's slant: Even though Still isn't expected to start, he will play a lot of snaps in his first season. The strength of the Bengals' defensive line last season was rotating players throughout the game and keeping everyone fresh. Thickly built with a large wingspan, Still certainly looks the part of a dominant interior linemen.

BROWNS: There have been questions about Trent Richardson's long-term durability given his bruising running style. But the Browns' first-round running back told the NFL Network that he won't avoid contact in the NFL and will continue to take on tacklers. "I'm not going to change my game," Richardson said. “That’s who I am. That’s how I got here, that’s how I made the progress to be who I am today. So when it comes down to it, I’m still going to do what I do. I have a lot of pride in my football and the football skills God blessed me with. I’m just here to make a big difference on this team, so I’m trying to get everybody on the same page.” Hensley's slant: Richardson shouldn't change his style. One of the reasons why the Browns drafted him was because his toughness fit the division. And a big part of his game is gaining yards after contact. Running backs must avoid the mindset of "don't get hurt" because that's when they often get hurt.

STEELERS: Rookie second-round pick Mike Adams will get the first crack at being the Steelers' starting left tackle, a source close to the situation told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. There was speculation by the paper Thursday that Marcus Gilbert could shift from right to left tackle. Now, it looks like Pittsburgh will begin camp with Adams starting on the left side and Gilbert staying on the right. Hensley's slant: Adams has to prove he is strong enough to start immediately. As many pointed out, Adams did only 19 reps in the 225-pound bench press at the combine, which is a disappointing number for an offensive lineman. But starting Adams puts the Steelers' best five linemen on the field.

The Baltimore Ravens promoted Eric DeCosta to assistant general manager, which is yet another move that sets him up as the successor to Ozzie Newsome.

DeCosta, 41, decided to stay with the Ravens this offseason after being one of the most sought-after general manager candidates in the NFL. It's unknown when Newsome (who turned 56 in March) plans to step down, but the team apparently has his replacement now in place.

“When we extended Eric’s contract earlier this year, we changed his title to assistant GM,” Newsome said in a statement released by the team. “As Eric continues to grow in the personnel department, he is becoming a vital part of the decision-making process.”

The Ravens apparently had enough of other organizations poaching their talent evaluators. Baltimore had previously lost three members of its personnel department over the years. Phil Savage and George Kokinis both became general managers for the Cleveland Browns, and James Harris became the top decision-maker for the Jacksonville Jaguars. All failed to live up to expectations with their new teams.

But, unlike those other situations, Baltimore decided to make a commitment with DeCosta, who began as a player personnel assistant in the team's first year of existence in 1996. He worked his way up through the organization and became the team's director of player personnel in January 2009.

DeCosta showed his loyalty in 2009 when he pulled his name out of the Seattle Seahawks' general manager search. But he truly showed his commitment to the Ravens when he decided to stay this offseason. Three teams (the Colts, Rams and Bears) reportedly requested permission to speak to DeCosta.

Newsome, the only general manager in the Ravens' history, has never publicly said when he would step down, although owner Steve Bisciotti made it clear that it's Newsome's call.

In other moves announced by the Ravens, Joe Douglas has been elevated to national scout and David Blackburn has been promoted to an area scout.

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

Browns fans who attended Ozzie Newsome's speaking engagement in Cleveland on Monday don't consider the current Ravens general manager/former Browns tight end "a traitor," according to those interviewed by the Akron Beacon Journal.

Newsome enjoyed 13 seasons and a Hall of Fame career with the Browns. He didn't play for another team, but he left with owner Art Modell when the Browns relocated to Baltimore in 1996.

Newsome, who became the NFL's first African-American general manager, said he isn’t sure he would have received the same opportunity if he had remained in Cleveland when the Browns returned in 1999.

“I don’t know if that would have happened because a whole new administration came in with Carmen [Policy] and Dwight [Clark], a San Francisco crew,” Newsome told fans, according to the Beacon Journal. “I don’t know if I would have had a chance to be part of that. A lot of you would have wanted that to happen, but when Carmen came in, he had the keys to the car and he wanted to build the front office the way he wanted.”

Hensley's slant: Newsome is right. He probably wouldn't have ascended to the general manager's role as quickly if he chose to stay in Cleveland. But just think of how the fortunes of the two franchises would have changed if Newsome didn't leave with the Ravens and eventually worked his way up to being the Browns' top decision-maker. Baltimore probably wouldn't have won a Super Bowl in 2000, and Cleveland likely wouldn't be a perennial last-place team.

BENGALS: Jacob Bell acknowledged that his contract influenced his retirement, along with the risks of playing the sport. Bell, 31, who was a Bengals guard for a little over a month before announcing his retirement last week, signed with Cincinnati this offseason for $890,000 after being released by the Rams. Sports Illustrated's Peter King asked Bell if he would have retired under his previous $6 million contract with the Rams. "That's a very good question,'' he said. "And therein lies the problem. How can you say when you're being offered so much money, the kind of money that can secure your future, to play football? So of course it played a role." Hensley's slant: A majority of hardcore football fans didn't even know Bell was in the league despite making 100 starts. Now, his name will be remembered as the player who decided to quit the game because of health concerns. But, as Bell acknowledged, you should also remember that it would have been difficult for him to walk away from a $6 million paycheck no matter what the risks.

RAVENS: Pro Bowl defensive tackle Haloti Ngata told the team's official website that he stayed away from the game and workouts for a month after the Ravens' AFC championship loss at New England. “This year was probably the hardest, the worst I’ve felt at the end of the season,” Ngata said. “We went further and I think I played more snaps this year than other years. This past season took a lot out of me. And that loss just kind of sucked, so it took a little bit more.” Hensley's slant: The strange part of the article is that the team's website referred to Ngata undergoing a "procedure" after the season, but there are no details given to what was repaired or whether it will sideline him for offseason workouts. Ngata previously said he played with a thigh injury for the majority of the 2011 season and didn't play in the Pro Bowl because of the injury. He has been one of the most durable defensive tackles in the NFL, missing two games in six seasons.

STEELERS: No new news is still not good news for the Pittsburgh Steelers. ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter said on Tuesday's "NFL Live" that "it may be awhile" before wide receiver Mike Wallace reports to Steelers headquarters, which essentially was Wallace's stance last month. Wallace has yet to sign his $2.7 million restricted free-agent tender. The Steelers could reduce that tender to $577,000 if he doesn't sign it by June 15. Hensley's slant: It would be a surprise to see Wallace show up for the offseason workouts. It would also be a surprise to see the Steelers reduce his tender. Pittsburgh would like to see its top receiver learning Todd Haley's new offensive scheme, but the Steelers also don't want to create a rift with a player they want to sign long-term. Wallace will probably report to the Steelers for the start of training camp.

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.

The Ravens provided little information on linebacker Terrell Suggs other than to say the NFL Defensive Player of the Year had successful surgery on his Achilles' tendon and is expected to make a full recovery.

Baltimore left out two important pieces of information in its announcement: the severity of the injury and the timetable for his return.

Suggs told ESPN last week he partially tore his Achilles tendon during a conditioning drill in Arizona but believes he can return by the middle of the 2012 season. The team, however, has yet to comment on the specifics of the injury.

If it's a partial tear, Suggs could return this season. If it's complete tear, he likely would be out for the season.

“After some recovery time, ‘Sizzle’ will begin the process of rehabbing the area," Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said in a statement. "We know he will work hard to get back on the field with his teammates as soon as the doctors and trainers allow. We’re confident that he can make a full recovery.”

Suggs is known for his durability and has only missed three games in his nine-year career. He recorded 19 sacks in his past 18 games (including playoffs). His impact went beyond hitting the quarterback. Suggs is the team's all-time leader in forced fumbles with 29, which is 10 more than anyone else in the history of the Ravens.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

If Alabama outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw or inside linebacker Dont'a Hightower is still available at the No. 20 pick (which is currently held by the Titans), the Ravens will try to trade up to get one of them, according to the Sporting News' Mike Preston.

"Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome is a former Alabama great and has all the inside skinny information on both players," Preston wrote.

According to Preston, Baltimore also likes Georgia Tech wide receiver Stephen Hill. The Ravens know he isn't a polished route-runner, but they think he has great potential.

Hensley's slant: Upshaw and Hightower have been popular picks for the Ravens recently. Upshaw can replace Jarret Johnson, and Hightower can learn from Ray Lewis. And trading isn't out of the question for the Ravens, who have made a move in the first round in three of the past four years.

BENGALS: Head coach Marvin Lewis hinted that the team will use its two first-round picks on defense, according to the team's official website. The Bengals have taken offensive players in the first round in the past three drafts. Asked at his pre-draft press conference if this draft is tilted to offense or defense, Lewis pointed at defense because, "Maybe we have more needs defensively." After taking defensive end Carlos Dunlap in the second round in 2010 he said, "We've kind of neglected defense over the last couple of years." Hensley's slant: I would be surprised if the Bengals used both first-round picks on defense because there should be quality offensive players available at the bottom half of the first round. It would make sense for Cincinnati to pick up a guard (David DeCastro and Cordy Glenn) or a wide receiver (Kendall Wright and Stephen Hill) with one of those top picks.

BROWNS: Will the Cleveland Browns pass on Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon one year after not selecting wide receiver Julio Jones? "Last year had nothing to do with the player," Browns general manager Tom Heckert told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "It had everything to do with the deal we were able to make. We loved Julio Jones." Blackmon had 232 catches for 3,304 yards and 38 touchdowns the past two seasons with Oklahoma State. He's only the second player to win the Biletnikoff award twice as the nation's best receiver (the other was Michael Crabtree). Hensley's slant: If the Browns take Blackmon fourth overall, it cause a lot of head-scratching. Blackmon isn't in the same class as last year's No. 4 pick, wide receiver A.J. Green, and he isn't graded as high as Jones. There will be better value for wide receivers later in the first round.

STEELERS: If Memphis nose tackle Dontari Poe and Alabama's Hightower are still available at the Steelers' No. 24 spot, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ed Bouchette thinks the team will go with Poe. But Bouchette doesn't see Poe starting immediately unless Casey Hampton (knee) is sidelined. "It sounds as if he's one of those who can use a little grooming first," Bouchette wrote. Hensley's slant: I agree that the Steelers likely have Poe rated higher than Hightower. But Hightower is more likely to be there when the Steelers are drafting. It will take a handful of interested teams to pass on Poe for him to fall that far.

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

Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden believes the Cleveland Browns are interested in drafting him.

"You never how it's going to go, but I feel really good about how everything's gone with the Browns throughout this whole process," Weeden told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "It would be exciting if I ended up there."

The Browns have been linked to Weeden in the second round, and some have speculated that Cleveland could use its second first-round pick on the 28-year-old quarterback. Weeden sees himself as an immediate starter, which could lead to a competition with Colt McCoy.

"I know Colt had a good year last year, and he's a good football player," Weeden said. "But I'm a competitor, and I want to play as soon as possible. I'd be excited about the opportunity to come in and compete with him and see how things pan out."

Hensley's slant: The Browns have a big decision when it comes to their second and third picks in the draft. They will have the opportunity to either add another offensive weapon for McCoy or bring in someone who will compete for McCoy's job. The Browns have not hid the fact that they're looking to upgrade the quarterback position.

BENGALS: Cincinnati could use its second first-round pick on a wide receiver. Cris Collinsworth, a former Bengals wide receiver and current NFL analyst, suggests Georgia Tech's Stephen Hill. "What he doesn’t do well, you can fix," Collinsworth told the team's official website. "You put him opposite A.J. [Green], what are you going to do? You're going to have to play seven against the run. You're not playing one of those guys without safety help. I wouldn't." Hensley's slant: The Bengals can go a lot of different ways with that 21st overall pick and wide receiver is definitely an option. I think Baylor's Kendall Wright could be a better complement to Green. Wright is smaller than Hill, but he has great speed and can make more difficult catches.

RAVENS: General manager Ozzie Newsome thinks it would be difficult to pass on an Alabama player in the first round. “I don’t want to tip my hand, but they are good players,” Newsome, a former Alabama player himself, told the team's official website. “I’ve had the opportunity to watch them for three or four years. If one’s there, it could make our decision tough.” The Alabama players who are considered first-round prospects are: running back Trent Richardson, safety Mark Barron, defensive end-outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw, inside linebacker Dont’a Hightower and cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick. Hensley's slant: The three players presumably on the Ravens' radar are Upshaw, Hightower and Barron. Upshaw would take the starting spot left by Jarret Johnson, Hightower would be the heir to Ray Lewis and Barron would eventually take Ed Reed's leadership role in the secondary.

STEELERS: In case you missed it over the weekend, Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace is mulling a holdout. After Friday's deadline came and went without Wallace getting an offer sheet from another team, the restricted free agent told some within the Steelers organization that he does not plan to sign his first-round tender "until he has to," a source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. This means that Wallace could wind up holding out for some or all of training camp. Hensley's slant: Wallace would only be hurting himself by dragging this out beyond June 15 (when the Steelers can cut the tender to $577,500 if he doesn't sign). If his protest goes beyond that, it still doesn't hurt his chances of staying with the Steelers long term.

In a move that should surprise no one, running back Ray Rice won't report Monday when the Ravens' voluntary offseason workouts begin, a source told the NFL Network.

This would have been bigger news if Rice had decided to show up Monday. Rice has yet to sign his franchise tag and isn't expected to do so anytime soon.

He recently expressed a desire to attend the workouts, but this is strictly a smart business decision. By putting the tag on Rice, the Ravens are only on the hook for this season. The team has given no long-term security to Rice, so why should he risk long-term consequences by participating in any team-related activity this spring?

Rice's absence shouldn't hurt the team even if it extends into training camp. He has always reported to camp in shape, so there's no concern about his conditioning. This is also Rice's fifth season in the same offensive system, which means he won't be behind in the playbook once he returns.

Ravens officials have been resigned to the fact that Rice would skip the workouts.

"Up until a guy actually signs his franchise tender, he's not under contract and we're not even allowed to ask him to our mandatory minicamp," general manager Ozzie Newsome said earlier this month. "We understand those things and lived them through [Terrell] Suggs, Chris [McAlister] and even Wally Williams. We've experienced that before. Would Coach [John] Harbaugh want 100 percent participation in every offseason program and every OTA and every minicamp? Yes he would. But he knows that unrealistic also."

The date to watch isn't Monday. It's July 16. That's the deadline for teams to reach long-term deals with players who received the franchise tag. Otherwise, Rice will play the entire season under the tag, which pays him $7.7 million this season.

In related news, cornerback Cary Williams is also expected to be a no-show Monday, according to the NFL Network. Williams, a restricted free agent, is in talks for a new deal with the team.

This is hardly news. He is still recovering from hip surgery and he wouldn't be able to participate even if he wanted to do so. Unlike Rice, it's in Williams' best interest to report as soon as he can. His absence only increases the likelihood that Jimmy Smith takes over the starting job next to Lardarius Webb.

How to handle concussions during games have become a hot topic in the NFL. Now, head injuries are becoming more of a factor in how teams evaluate draft prospects.

Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said the team's scouting report on prospects include how many concussions the player sustained in college.

“That information is out there,” Newsome said last week at the team's pre-draft luncheon. “As far as what we do, and most teams do, is once we get guys here, we’ll get a baseline test done with those players, so that if a concussion occurs, then we have something that we can refer back to. But, it is something now that throughout the league -- and in all professional sports and on the collegiate level -- that everybody is spending more time looking at.”

This is not only a intelligent move. It's a necessary one. When a player has had concussions in college, there's a strong likelihood that he'll have them in the future. So having a player's history of head injuries is just as important as his history with knee injuries and perhaps even moreso.

Plus, the NFL has made the decision to protect players from themselves (and, in some instances, from teams wanting to put them back in the game too early). As a result, the league has set some tough guidelines for players to return to games after taking shots to the head, and those guidelines will only become stricter as years go by. If the league has become more sensitive to the subject of concussions, the teams have to increase their awareness of the players who are more prone to get them.

Teams are smart to get this information. But the smart teams are going to be the ones who use it properly. You can't let a player's concussion history overshadow his talent. If Troy Polamalu was coming out of college today, would he not be a first-round pick because of his history of concussions in college? Teams can't be scared off too easily with this new information. That could lead to passing up one of the best safeties in the game.

Still, this league is a business, and teams don't want to invest a first- or second-round pick in a player who has a short career because of head trauma.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The Ravens have the 29th pick in the NFL draft, so there's not a lot of drama surrounding the team's first-round pick. Here are my impressions from Baltimore's pre-draft press conference:

• The Ravens are open to trading up or down in the first round, and their history suggests they will do it again. Over the past four drafts, Baltimore has made a trade in the first round three times and nearly did it for a fourth straight year if not for the draft-day debacle with the Bears last year. The Ravens, though, won't trade up more than 10 spots. “It’s really who the player is and who the other players are around him,” said Eric DeCosta, Baltimore’s director of player personnel. “You’ll never see us trade up to get a player unless we think clearly he’s by far he’s the best player there.”

• General manager Ozzie Newsome was honest when he named the team's biggest draft needs: offensive line, wide receiver, depth in the pass rush and strong-side linebacker. Even though coach John Harbaugh once again spoke about how Jah Reid can take over at left guard, I'm thinking the Ravens want a highly rated prospect like Georgia's Cordy Glenn to fall to them. When asked about interior linemen, DeCosta mentioned four names: Glenn, Stanford guard David DeCastro, Wisconsin guard Kevin Zeitler and Wisconsin center-guard Peter Konz.

• The Ravens acknowledged they probably won't sign another player in free agency until after the draft. Baltimore only has $1.7 million in salary-cap room (third smallest in the NFL), but Newsome said that won't stop them from making a move. "Regardless of what the number we are at the cap, we have a plan," Newsome said. "We talk about the cap every day. If there is a good player that can come in and help our football team, we will be able to fit him under our cap."

• Baltimore officials appear resigned to the fact that running back Ray Rice won't be attending any offseason team activities. Rice, who has yet to sign his franchise tag, said yesterday that he hasn't decided if he will skip team workouts. "Up until a guy actually signs his franchise tender, he's not under contract and we're not even allowed to ask him to our mandatory minicamp," Newsome said. "We understand those things and lived them through [Terrell] Suggs, Chris [McAlister] and even Wally Williams. We've experienced that before. Would Coach Harbaugh want 100 percent participation in every offseason program and every OTA and every minicamp? Yes he would. But he knows that unrealistic also."

• I get the feeling that the Ravens are privately pleased by Joe Flacco's comments that he is "the best" quarterback in the NFL. There was talk last year that the Ravens waited to start negotiations on an extension with Flacco to motivate him for the 2011 season. Now, by making such a bold statement, Flacco has to live up to those words this year. "I don't think there is any player, any coach and any GM who doesn't think they're not the best at what they do," Newsome said. "If you make a statement like that, you have to prepare yourself to be the best. I am sure Joe is also doing that."

Working on a column today. So, just the links (no slant) included in AFC North wake-up today:

Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley doesn't understand the problem with bounties because NFL contracts reward players for aggressive play.

"If you think about it, when you say there's an extra incentive, the 'bounty,' that's like people having incentives in their contract," Woodley told the NFL Network. "You get a certain amount of sacks, you get an extra bonus. Is that considered a bounty? You're still going to go out there to make the plays in order to get some extra money. Is that putting that much more pressure to go out there and want to hit a quarterback because you know you have a $100,000 bonus coming if you do this?"

BENGALS: Free agent Jerome Simpson, the Bengals' No. 2 wide receiver last season, is scheduled to work out for the St. Louis Rams today, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. This comes a day before Simpson is scheduled to be sentenced in Covington, Ky., after pleading guilty March 1 to a marijuana possession-related charge. Prosecutors recommended a 60-day jail stay.

BROWNS: Virginia Tech running back David Wilson was one of the higher-profile draft prospects who visited the Browns on Tuesday, a league source told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The paper reported that the Browns would consider taking Wilson with their 22nd overall pick (late first round) or the 37th one (early second round). Cleveland is also hosting Boise State running back Doug Martin this week.

RAVENS: Owner Steve Bisciotti acknowledged he has taken further steps to make sure director of player personnel Eric DeCosta will be around to replace general manager Ozzie Newsome, who has not expressed an interest in retiring anytime soon. Bisciotti said he has restructured DeCosta's contract in a way that it takes him off the market "for a few years." Said Bisciotti to the team's official website: “I think everybody in the organization views Eric as Ozzie’s successor and we’re doing everything we can to make that transition work."

Here are some AFC North evening notes:

Eagles free-agent guard Evan Mathis left the Ravens facility without a contract but he did have dinner plans. He will sit down with general manager Ozzie Newsome tonight and remain in Baltimore tomorrow.

That looks like a positive sign for the Ravens, who are looking for an immediate replacement for Ben Grubbs (who signed today with the New Orleans Saints).

Baltimore Ravens

Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said the team is not interested in Peyton Manning, according to the Baltimore Sun.

Would Randy Moss be a fit for the Ravens? John Eisenberg of CSNWashington.com mulls it over.

Cincinnati Bengals

Fullback Chris Pressley agreed to a two-year extension, Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer writes.

Time is running out for the Bengals to re-sign safety Reggie Nelson.

Reedy also wonders if former local high school standout Luke Kuechly could fall to the Bengals in April's draft.

Cleveland Browns

How will Peyton Manning's release affect the Browns and a possible trade up to No. 2 in the draft to select Robert Griffin III? Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer runs through the scenarios.

Joe Haden and Joe Thomas are in the running to don the cover of "Madden NFL 13."

Pittsburgh Steelers

Four veteran Steelers -- Hines Ward, Aaron Smith, James Farrior and Chris Kemoeatu -- have been officially released, Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.