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Last week at this time, teams were making their final preparations for the first round of the draft. Now, rookie minicamps are around the corner for the newest players in the AFC North. The mandatory minicamps for veterans is still a month away. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. First things first, which means the wake-up call ...

RAVENS: Jameel McClain is optimistic that he'll return from a spinal cord contusion he suffered last December, but the starting inside linebacker has yet to be medically cleared to resume playing. "I'm running around full speed, working out, lifting weights with no problems, nothing on my end," McClain told The Baltimore Sun. "I can do everything. Everything is positive on my end." McClain said the injury didn't require surgery. The severity and location of the injury had initially created doubt about his future.

BENGALS: Clark Judge of CBS Sports thinks the Bengals are changing their draft-day image. They are taking the best players available instead of reaching for need and players who come with baggage. Case in point: Selecting Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert in the first round. "So maybe it says something about the value of stability, with coach Marvin Lewis in place since 2003," Judge wrote. "Or maybe it says something about the influence of an improved scouting department and the impact that it has on Brown and the coaching staff. All I know is Mike Brown and the Cincinnati Bengals just got things right. Again."

STEELERS: Linebackers coach Keith Butler wanted the Steelers to draft an inside linebacker in the second round after taking outside linebacker Jarvis Jones in the first. "As I told them, last time we picked first and second with linebackers (2007 with Lawrence Timmons and LaMarr Woodley), we won the Super Bowl two years later," Butler told The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "We didn't go to it, we won it. I tried to make that argument, it didn't work. It worked for one round, but it didn't work for the second round." The only inside linebacker taken in the second round after the Steelers drafted running back Le'Veon Bell was Florida's Jon Bostic. The Steelers eventually selected Florida State inside linebacker Vince Williams in the sixth round.

BROWNS: The house-cleaning of the old regime's scouting department continued Wednesday, when director of college scouting John Spytek was fired along with two pro scouts, according to The Plain Dealer. Earlier in the week, senior national scout Pat Roberts left after the Browns did not renew his contract. Perhaps one reason why the Browns traded for two future picks is because CEO Joe Banner and general manager Mike Lombardi want to use their draft choices when they have their staff in place. Also, updating previous news items, The Plain Dealer is reporting free-agent offensive tackle Winston Justice is not visiting the Browns and the team isn't interested in Cardinals backup quarterback Brian Hoyer

Two days into what had been an impressive draft for the Cincinnati Bengals, ESPN's Tedy Bruschi said, "If there was a year they can win the division, it's this year." Herm Edwards raised expectations even higher, predicting the Bengals would win the AFC North by two games.

Did the Bengals do enough this offseason to surpass the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens? The answer lies with quarterback Andy Dalton.

The Bengals can take the next step only if Dalton does. Over the course of three days in the NFL draft, Cincinnati did everything it could to help the offense and its third-year starting quarterback. In turn, it increased the pressure on Dalton to deliver in the red zone, on third downs and in the playoffs.

It started in the first round when the Bengals passed on drafting a strong safety, the team's most pressing need, in favor of taking Notre Dame's Tyler Eifert, the best tight end in the draft. Before the second round, the Bengals re-signed free-agent right tackle Andre Smith, which brought back all five starters from the NFL's second-best pass-blocking offensive line. Then, with its first pick in the second round, Cincinnati made North Carolina's speedy Giovani Bernard the first running back taken in this year's draft.

Two poor performances in the playoffs have raised questions whether Dalton is a franchise quarterback. The Bengals should be able to determine that this year after adding these playmakers.

Dalton now has another big target inside the 20-yard line with Eifert. He has an exciting checkdown option with Bernard, a luxury that Joe Flacco has enjoyed for years with Ray Rice. This is in addition to throwing to two Pro Bowl players, wide receiver A.J. Green and tight end Jermaine Gresham, and handing the ball off to grind-it-out back BenJarvus Green-Ellis.

There is no reason for this offense to rank 22nd in the NFL or flame out in the playoffs, as it did last year. I'm not the only one saying that, either.

"There shouldn’t be any excuses,” Dalton told reporters this week. “The players we already have and adding these guys is just going to make the offense better. So I expect us to take the next step. I expect us to improve from where we were last year. Time will tell, but we’ve got the right attitude going in and the way we’ve been working. I don’t expect any less.”

Right now, Dalton is a good quarterback, not a great one. He's right in the middle of the pack of NFL starters. Dalton has potential and a lot of qualities that you can't teach quarterbacks. He's smart. He has a feel for reading defenses. He has great anticipation to throw the ball even before his receiver breaks out of his route.

In his first two years, Dalton has done something that hadn't been accomplished in Cincinnati in more than three decades -- lead the Bengals to the playoffs in back-to-back years. He also has thrown 47 touchdowns in 32 career games. The only quarterbacks who have passed for more in their first two seasons in the NFL are Dan Marino (68) and Peyton Manning (52).

But in a division with Ben Roethlisberger and Joe Flacco, two quarterbacks who have combined for 19 playoff wins and three Super Bowl titles, a quarterback is going to be judged by the postseason. Dalton is 0-2 in the playoffs and is a major reason for those defeats. He threw three interceptions in his first playoff game in the 2011 postseason (including a critical pick returned for a touchdown by J.J. Watt) and failed to complete half of his throws in his second postseason game in the 2012 playoffs.

Dalton knows he has to be better than no touchdowns and four interceptions in two playoff games. He knows he has to complete more than 47.5 percent of his passes on third down. He knows the Bengals must improve from being the NFL's 16th-best red zone offense. And he knows he can't commit 20 turnovers (16 interceptions, four fumbles) and have four of them returned for touchdowns as he did last season.

What impresses me the most about Dalton is how he handles criticism. When he was getting bashed for a lack of arm strength last season, he showed swagger that's not often seen in young quarterbacks. Dalton handled the addition of these young playmakers on offense the same way.

“I don’t feel more pressure,” Dalton said. “I expect to be better this year. Regardless if we didn’t get anybody, I would still expect to be better. The more weapons we have, the better I feel.”

I get the feeling that the Bengals want Dalton to feel pressure this year, which is a different approach. Last year, coach Marvin Lewis said he didn't want Dalton to listen to criticism because the team had no doubts in him. But in March, offensive coordinator Jay Gruden set a different tone, saying Dalton has "got a long way to go."

"He’s done some great things for a second-year quarterback, won a lot of games and thrown some good touchdown passes, but we feel like he has not come close to his potential," Gruden said.

It's time for Dalton to live up to that potential. The Bengals return a top-10 defense and added talented young weapons on offense. Everything is set up for the Bengals to go from a playoff team to a Super Bowl contender. All they need is a quarterback to take them there.

ESPN's Todd McShay evaluates the NFL draft for each AFC North team , giving his take on the best and most questionable picks. It's an Insider article, so you'll need a subscription to view the entire post. But here are McShay's picks and my take on them:

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Best pick: Safety Matt Elam, first round.

Questionable pick: Offensive lineman Ricky Wagner, fifth round.

My comments: I think everyone can agree that the Ravens' first two picks, Elam and inside linebacker Arthur Brown, will be impact rookies. As far as questionable picks, it's tough to criticize any of Baltimore's selections based on value. Wagner was considered a second-round pick last year but he fell after not having a stellar 2012 season.

CINCINNATI BENGALS

Best pick: Tight end Tyler Eifert, first round.

Questionable pick: Safety Shawn Williams, third round.

My comments: Eifert should be the best player drafted in the last dozen picks of the first round. The Bengals took the best player available rather than addressing a bigger need. As McShay points out, there are differing opinions on Williams, the eighth safety drafted. If he isn't starting by next season, the pick looks even more questionable.

CLEVELAND BROWNS

Best pick: Outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo, first round.

Questionable pick: Trading out of the fourth and fifth rounds.

My comments: McShay compares Mingo's explosive first step to Dwight Freeney, which is quite a compliment. Mingo is still developing as a pass-rusher, but his high ceiling makes him a legitimate top-10 pick. And while the Browns got good value in trading this year's picks for next year, McShay is right that the Browns passed on safeties and guards who could have helped a last-place team this season.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Best pick: Quarterback Landry Jones, fourth round.

Questionable pick: Outside linebacker Jarvis Jones, first round.

My comments: I feel that Jarvis Jones was the best, and not most questionable, pick. McShay believes Jones can be a star but he wonders whether he'll last beyond three or four years. Given Jones' talent and the Steelers' need for a pass-rusher, it was a move that the Steelers had to make. Yes, there's a risk. But there's also a big reward if he plays like he did on tape. I didn't expect Landry Jones to be the choice here for best pick. His inability to handle pressure in the pocket will be a problem at this level. McShay thinks Jones could become the surprise quarterback of this class.

There's a chance that Pittsburgh Steelers rookie wide receiver Markus Wheaton could press Emmanuel Sanders for playing time. There was no chance that the Baltimore Ravens were going to take wide receiver Quinton Patton in the fourth round. And then there is new Browns wide receiver Davone Bess, who is happy he received a second chance. For more on this chatter about wide receivers, continue reading today's wake-up call ...

RAVENS: General manager Ozzie Newsome said the team wasn't planning to draft Louisiana Tech's Patton in the fourth round, where the San Francisco 49ers picked him right before Baltimore went on the clock. “Did one receiver get taken when we were set to take the guy? No, that did not happen at that point,” Newsome said after the draft, via the team's official website. The only receiver drafted by the Ravens was Elon's Aaron Mellette in the seventh round. “Were there receivers in every round that we considered? Yes,” Newsome said. “As far as Aaron, when we got to that point in the draft, he was our highest-rated guy, and that’s why we decided to take him."

BENGALS: Running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis is getting a familiar vibe when hearing the Bengals' plans of putting first-round pick Tyler Eifert on the field at the same time as Jermaine Gresham. Green-Ellis played for New England, where the Patriots used frequently used tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez as a tandem. "Long story short, if you have two tight ends and they are both big guys and you don't feel like you have to cover them with DBs, it actually brings more people in to the box," Green-Ellis said, via the team's official website. "If you have two guys and you feel like one of them is really a receiver then you approach it differently."

STEELERS: The Steelers used a third-round pick on Wheaton, just like they did four years ago with Mike Wallace. Wheaton, who averaged 13.2 yards per catch, doesn't bring the big-play numbers, but the Steelers think he comes more well-rounded than Wallace, who signed with the Dolphins in free agency. "I saw Mike as more of an outside receiver, outside the numbers," offensive coordinator Todd Haley told The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "This guy has played the slot a bunch when he wasn't outside. He is a little wider base [than Wallace], a little more running back build, in my opinion. The speed comparison -- it's hard for anyone to run faster than Mike, but this guy does play fast."

BROWNS: Bess doesn't believe he would be the same man today if he hadn't endured the misery from his past. Ten years ago, Bess spent 15 months in juvenile detention and lost his scholarship to Oregon State after he gave some friends a ride in his car after they had robbed a store. “Those heartaches, those tough times, those experiences in my cell molded me into the man I am today. At the time, being a young adolescent, I didn’t understand it. But being older now, I’m so thankful of those moments," Bess said in a conference call, via the Akron Beacon Journal. “My whole thing was going back, not only into the inner city, but abroad or wherever, and teaching, not only kids, but whoever, everybody, that there is a best route."

Let's break down the Cincinnati Bengals' 2013 draft:

FIRST-ROUND SPOTLIGHT: Not saying this has been bad, but the Bengals have been predictable in past drafts. Drafting tight end Jermaine Gresham (2010) and wide receiver A.J. Green (2011) in the first rounds were not surprises. Even last year, many thought the Bengals would take cornerback and a guard. But no one had the Bengals selecting Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert falling to No. 21. The Bengals didn't need a tight end. Eifert, though, will stretch the field more than Gresham and adds another target in the red zone. If Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones hadn't slipped to the Pittsburgh Steelers, they may have taken Eifert at No. 17.

IN HINDSIGHT: The Bengals' biggest need was strong safety and they didn't add one until the third round, when the selected Georgia's Shawn Williams. Cincinnati could have taken a higher-rated safety in the second round. With their second pick of the second round, the Bengals opted to draft Southern Methodist defensive end Margus Hunt over South Carolina safety D.J. Swearinger. Hunt was drafted at No. 53, and Swearinger went to the Houston Texans four spots later. It will interesting to track the careers for Swearinger and Williams.

BEST VALUE: That being said, the best value was Hunt in terms of the Bengals' draft board. According to the team's website, Hunt was among the top 21 players on the Bengals' draft board and fell to No. 53. The 6-foot-8, 277 pound lineman was among the strongest and fastest defensive linemen at the NFL combine. In terms of value, some have compared this situation to 2010 when the Bengals got defensive end Carlos Dunlap at the 54th overall pick.

TOP LATE-ROUND PICKUP: Offensive tackle Reid Fragel, Ohio State. Projected to go as high as the third round, Fragel lasted until the seventh. He's developmental prospect who played three seasons at tight end in college before switching to offensive tackle last season. Fragel put on nearly 30 pounds since the end of his junior season, so he's still growing into the position. Strong and smart, Fragel could turn into a late-round success story.

SOMEONE WHO DIDN'T LIKE THIS DRAFT: Bernard Scott. He has to wonder whether he should have re-signed with Cincinnati 17 days ago. The Bengals took the first running back in the draft, selecting North Carolina's Giovani Bernard with the 37th overall pick. Bernard is a fast back who will complement BenJarvus Green-Ellis and will be critical on third downs because of his pass-catching ability. Cedric Peerman, one of the team's top special teams player, is expected to be the No. 3 back. There's a chance that the Bengals could put Scott, who tore his ACL last October, on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list to keep him around in case the Bengals need a back midway through the season.

The Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals had the most successful drafts in the NFL. This isn't me saying it. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. gave three teams an 'A', and two of them were last season's playoff teams from this division. Take a bow, Ravens and Bengals.

You'll need a subscription to read all about Kiper's 2013 draft grades , but I'll give you a portion of what Kiper had to say about the Ravens, Bengals, Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers, along with my take on each one:

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Kiper Jr.'s grade: A-minus

Kiper Jr.'s comment: "The Ravens had another excellent draft because they needed starters at some key spots and pulled it off. That's not easy to do when you're slotted in at No. 32."

Jamison Hensley's take: What stands out about the Ravens' draft is they might have found three immediate starters despite selecting at the bottom of the round for two of them. The player I like the most is Kansas State inside linebacker Arthur Brown. The Ravens aggressively traded up for him, and he should supplant Rolando McClain. Matt Elam should replace James Ihedigbo at safety, although his size is a concern. Missouri Southern State's Brandon Williams has a chance to beat out underachieving Terrence Cody at nose tackle. I would give the Ravens a grade slightly lower, because they were unable to address wide receiver and offensive tackle earlier. By just a few picks, Baltimore saw West Virginia receiver Stedman Bailey get taken before them in the third round and watched Louisiana Tech's Quinton Patton go in the fourth. Excellent draft for defense, a below-average one on offense.

CINCINNATI BENGALS

Kiper Jr.'s grade: A-minus

Kiper Jr.'s comment: "The Bengals somehow didn't address a pretty big need early (and they don't have many) and still really impressed me. The Bengals seem to be a groove with the draft, the only downside being the picks that came via the Carson Palmer deal are now spent. It was fun while it lasted."

Hensley's take: The Bengals raised expectations because of productive drafts the past couple of years, and they might have surpassed them with this group of players. Using the 21st overall pick on Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert, a player some draft experts had going as high as No. 6, is one of the best values in the first round even though this position wasn't a need for Cincinnati. It's true North Carolina's Giovani Bernard wasn't the top-rated running back of this draft, but his ability to break big plays and catch the ball is exactly what the Bengals coveted. Plus, it's a bonus pick from the Palmer trade. Southern Methodist defensive end Margus Hunt, an athletic freak, intrigues me more than any other pick in this division. The biggest knock is the Bengals didn't address their biggest need (safety) until the third round. Georgia's Shawn Williams isn't on the same level as an Elam or Johnathan Cyprien, both of whom were available in the first round, but he'll get a chance to start.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Kiper Jr.'s grade: B

Kiper Jr.'s comment: "The Steelers got a little bit of their bite back. I love the selection of Jarvis Jones in Round 1. I just thought Le'Veon Bell was a bit of a reach. I'll say this for him, however: Bell played behind some pretty awful blocking last year and still managed to be productive."

Hensley's take: If you read my post-draft analysis, you already know that I think taking Jones was the best move when looking at the drafts for every AFC North team. The Steelers needed a pass-rusher after cutting James Harrison, and they got the best one coming out of college this year at No. 17. On the opposite side of the spectrum, the pick I'm most skeptical about is the Michigan State running back Bell. He's a finesse back who could turn out to be another Rashard Mendenhall in terms of running style. I'm not enamored by Oregon State wide receiver Markus Wheaton or Illinois cornerback Terry Hawthorne, but it's hard to criticize given the Steelers' history with wide receivers in the third round and cornerbacks in the middle of the draft. The second-best player in Pittsburgh's draft class could turn out to be Syracuse safety Shamarko Thomas, a fourth-round selection.

CLEVELAND BROWNS

Kiper Jr.'s grade: C-plus

Kiper Jr.'s comment: "I don't know if it's a good thing, per se, but the guy who will impact the Browns most in 2013 might not be the player they took at No. 6 overall. The hope is (LSU linebacker Barkevious) Mingo becomes a star, and (San Diego State cornerback Leon) McFadden can perform early. The good news is, both could happen."

Hensley's take: When looking at the players the Browns drafted over these three days, I would give the Browns a C-minus. When you look at the big picture, the Browns deserve a solid B. I like the fact that the Browns took a pass-rusher with the upside of Mingo in the first round over Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner. I like how the Browns traded two picks in the middle rounds of this mediocre draft for higher ones next year. And, even though it was a move made by the old regime, I like the decision to draft wide receiver Josh Gordon in the second round of last year's supplemental draft even more when looking at the wide receivers that were available in the second round Friday night. You also have to add veteran wide receiver Davone Bess to this class after the Browns picked him up for basically nothing during this draft. My biggest criticism, and I brought it up in the post-draft analysis, was failing to sign a veteran cornerback in free agency. That would have strengthened the reason to pass on Milliner in the first round and would have taken pressure off McFadden, the 11th cornerback taken in the draft, to start right away.

» NFC draft analysis: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

It was quite apparent that every team in the AFC North had a specific plan in this year's draft, and each one differed greatly.

The defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens wanted to rebuild the defense, using their first four picks for that side of the ball. It started with Florida safety Matt Elam at the bottom of the first round.

The Cincinnati Bengals believed the key to taking the next step in the playoffs was adding more weapons on offense. There's no more excuses for quarterback Andy Dalton after the Bengals took the first tight end (Notre Dame's Tyler Eifert) and running back (North Carolina's Giovani Bernard) in this year's draft.

The Pittsburgh Steelers believe bouncing back from an 8-8 season requires upgrading two of the team's weakest areas, the pass rush (Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones) and running game (Michigan State back Le'Veon Bell). The Steelers didn't take a tight end, which will be a trouble spot if Heath Miller hasn't fully recovered from knee surgery by the start of the season.

And, in the first draft under their new regime, the Cleveland Browns obviously didn't like the depth of this draft, trading twice in the middle rounds to stockpile more picks in the 2014 draft. The Browns picked only two players (LSU linebacker Barkevious Mingo and San Diego State cornerback Leon McFadden) in the first five rounds.

Here are some more thoughts on how the draft unfolded for the division ...

BEST MOVE

The Steelers had a top-five talent -- Jones -- fall into their laps at No. 17. So, how is that the "best move?" Pittsburgh invested a first-round pick in Jones when other teams were scared off by medical concerns and a poor pro-day workout. His fall is reminiscent of how Terrell Suggs fell in the 2003 draft, and you remember how that turned out.

Jones has the potential to be the best defensive player in this draft. He led the nation in sacks (14.5), tackles for loss (24.5) and forced fumbles (seven) despite missing two games last season. His burst, strength and athleticism coming off the edge make him a perfect fit for the Steelers defense and the heir apparent to James Harrison.

There is a risk involved because he's previously been diagnosed as having stenosis, the narrowing of the spinal column that has shortened NFL careers. But the Steelers couldn't pass on a disruptive rusher like Jones. Since leading the NFL in sacks in 2010, the Steelers ranked 17th in 2011 and 15th in 2012. Taking Jones is the first step to turning the NFL's top-ranked defense into more of a playmaking one.

Making the best move doesn't mean the Steelers had the best draft in the AFC North. That honor goes to the Bengals. The Steelers reached in the second round by taking Bell, a finesse back who will remind many of Rashard Mendenhall. Pittsburgh chose Bell over more explosive backs like Alabama's Eddie Lacy and UCLA's Johnathan Franklin.

Outside of drafting Jones, the Steelers' other great move was trading up in the fourth round to select Syracuse safety Shamarko Thomas, a high-energy and hard-hitting defensive back. Pittsburgh had to give up a 2014 third-round pick for him, but the Steelers could get a third-round compensatory pick next year for losing wide receiver Mike Wallace.

RISKIEST MOVE

The AFC North team that needs the most infusion of talent in this draft decided to play spectator. The Browns added two players in the first 174 picks of this week's draft. New general manager Mike Lombardi channeled Bill Belichick in trading picks in the fourth and fifth rounds of this draft for selections in the third and fourth rounds in 2014.

These moves make sense because next year's draft should be deeper than this one, but this offers little immediate help to a franchise that has lost 57 games in the past five seasons. Plus, there are no guarantees that Lombardi or chief executive officer Joe Banner will be making those picks next year. The federal investigation into owner Jimmy Haslam's family-run truck stop business has put a cloud of uncertainty over the franchise.

Some can argue the Browns' first pick was a risky move as well. Instead of filling the team's biggest need with Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner, the Browns went with the highest-rated player on their board, Mingo, a pass-rush menace with tremendous upside, at No. 6 overall. The decision was the right one, although I would feel better about it if the Browns addressed cornerback in free agency.

Sitting with a league-high $33 million in salary-cap room entering the draft, the Browns refused to spend money on a veteran starter, whether it was Brent Grimes, Sean Smith, Aqib Talib, Keenan Lewis or Cary Williams. Instead, it looks like the Browns will start either Buster Skrine or the 68th player taken in this draft (McFadden). According to ESPN Stats & Information, Cleveland allowed 22 touchdowns to opposing wide receivers last season, tied for second-most in the NFL.

It was a quiet final day for the Browns. Cleveland used a sixth-round pick on Notre Dame free safety Jamoris Slaughter, who hasn't fully recovered from a ruptured Achilles tendon, and a seventh-rounder on defensive end Armonty Bryant, a character risk from East Central Oklahoma.

MOST SURPRISING MOVE

The Bengals were full of surprises, and I mean that in a good way. Everyone knew the Bengals were going to take a safety, linebacker or running back in the first round. Wrong. Cincinnati went with the draft's best tight end, Eifert, with the No. 21 overall pick even though they drafted Jermaine Gresham with the No. 21 overall pick three years ago. Eifert is a matchup nightmare for defenses, from the red zone to deep downfield. The Bengals took advantage of a draft that featured a run of offensive linemen and pass-rushers in the top 20. That allowed Eifert, the best offensive playmaker in the draft behind Tavon Austin, to fall unexpectedly to Cincinnati.

The Bengals delivered a milder surprise in the second round, when they made Bernard the first running back taken. Rated as the fourth-best back in this draft by Mel Kiper Jr., Bernard has the chance to be the next Ray Rice. Later in the second round, Cincinnati added to an already deep defensive line with Southern Methodist's Margus Hunt, a world-class discus thrower. In total, the Bengals brought in three of the best athletes at their positions, which is a strong foundation for any draft.

FILE IT AWAY

The Ravens solidified the middle of their defense for years to come with their first three picks: Elam, Kansas State inside linebacker Arthur Brown and Missouri Southern State's Brandon Williams. The problem is the Ravens did nothing of significance to improve their wide receiver group. (They drafted Elon's Aaron Mellette in the seventh round.) Baltimore gave quarterback Joe Flacco a $120.6 million contract and then took away his go-to receiver in Anquan Boldin. The Ravens didn't replace him in free agency and, as of the start of the seventh round, didn't draft a wide receiver. Baltimore's first pick on an offensive player was Harvard fullback Kyle Juszczyk.

The only proven receivers on the roster are Torrey Smith and Jacoby Jones, who is more of a returner than a starting wideout. Of the remaining receivers -- Tandon Doss, David Reed, Tommy Streeter, Deonte Thompson and LaQuan Williams -- none was drafted in the first three rounds and two went undrafted. It's a group that has combined for 21 receptions and one touchdown. That said, please spare me the repeated questions about the Ravens' signing Chad Johnson or Terrell Owens.

The best way to follow the draft for your favorite AFC North team is by checking this blog for updates. I can assume, by you reading this, that you already know that. You'll also want to click on ESPN's DraftTracker. It's part of Insider, so you'll need a subscription for the full effect.

If my endorsement means nothing to you, here's a sampling of what you missed with the first-round picks Thursday night:

6. Cleveland Browns

Pick: OLB Barkevious Mingo, LSU

DraftTracker: Mingo gives them three athletic speed-rushers, and they can also show some 4-3 fronts at times -- especially in nickel and sub packages. The athleticism that this defensive front now has is going to be very tough to block in space. (New defensive coordinator Ray) Horton loves to change his fronts and bring a variety of aggressive blitzes. Cleveland wants to play fast, but under control. This probably fits Mingo's skill set nicely.

17. Pittsburgh Steelers

Pick: OLB Jarvis Jones, Georgia

DraftTracker: If Jones can step in immediately at right outside linebacker, it gives Pittsburgh a nice three-man rotation. What we have to keep in mind is that almost all of the Steelers' pass rush comes from the outside linebackers, with occasional blitz help from safety Troy Polamalu. But this defense, year in and year out, is only as good as its edge pressure, and Jones must give them that.

21. Cincinnati Bengals

Pick: TE Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame

DraftTracker: Eifert is an excellent matchup tight end. He can play in-line or flex, and what makes him interesting is that the Bengals have been looking for a quality No. 2 wide receiver to complement A.J. Green. Eifert may give them some of those matchup plays. Where he will really help this offense is in the red zone. In this new era of multiple tight-end sets, Eifert will allow the Bengals to get creative.

32. Baltimore Ravens

Pick: S Matt Elam, Florida

DraftTracker: This is a defense that expects a lot of range out of its corners, and the Ravens want a skill package that includes the ability to play both man and zone schemes. A year ago, Baltimore played a lot of dollar coverages, with six defensive backs on the field at times. They obviously hope to get center-field range from Elam, and he should be an immediate starter because of need.

The AFC North had a strong start to the NFL draft. That's not the AFC North homer in me saying that. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. named three teams as winners in the first round, and two of them came from this division: the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals.

It's an Insider piece, so you'll need a subscription to view the whole article. But here are some excerpts ...

On the Steelers taking Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones at No. 17, Kiper wrote: "Jones was No. 1 on my Big Board for much of the year, but dipped some during the evaluation process after not working out in Indy and then not running well at his pro day. Well, turns out he's better wearing football pads than Under Armour. Love the value here."

On the Bengals selecting Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert at No. 21, Kiper wrote: "He finished the draft season as the No. 8 player on my Big Board, and the Bengals took advantage of a major value and the fact that they don't have a ton of needs."

The Steelers and Bengals are winners mainly because of a domino effect started by West Virginia wide receiver Tavon Austin. The St. Louis Rams moved up to take Austin instead of drafting Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro. The New Orleans Saints then went with Vaccarro over Jones at No. 15. That allowed Jones to fall to No. 17 to the Steelers, who would've gone with Eifert otherwise. And that's how Eifert landed in Cincinnati.

Last year's first round of the NFL draft ended up being a disappointing one for the AFC North. Injuries lessened the impact of Cleveland Browns running back Trent Richardson, Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick and Pittsburgh Steelers guard David DeCastro. Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden played like a rookie quarterback, and the Baltimore Ravens didn't have a first-round pick after trading back. The best first-round pick for the division turned out to be Bengals guard Kevin Zeitler, who looks like a future Pro Bowl player.

This year has the makings of a bounce-back year for the AFC North's first-round picks. On Thursday night, each team in the division came away with an impact player. In terms of value, the Bengals and the Steelers were the big winners.

The Browns drafted their targeted player at No. 6 (LSU outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo). The Steelers found the heir apparent to James Harrison (Georgia outside linebacker Jarvis Jones). The Bengals landed what may be the steal of the draft (Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert). And the Ravens addressed a pressing need in the secondary (Florida safety Matt Elam).

Here's how I graded the newest additions to the division:

CLEVELAND BROWNS

Grade: A-minus.

Hensley's comment: The Browns made the smart choice here at No. 6. It was too early to reach for a playmaker like wide receiver Tavon Austin, and it didn't make sense to take cornerback Dee Milliner at this spot because he hasn't proven to be an elite playmaker. The Browns went with a potential game-changer in Mingo. The one drawback is you would like to have a more polished prospect when taking in the top 10, but Mingo has a high ceiling. The Browns also wouldn't have gotten Mingo if they had traded out of the top 10. My guess is the New York Jets would've taken Mingo at No. 9.

What the Browns are saying ... Head coach Rob Chudzinski: "His athleticism speaks for itself. He’s an extremely gifted athlete, explosive, great speed off the edge and a developing player. Obviously, he’s been battle tested in the SEC. He has played a lot. He still has plenty of room for growth. But, we really see him as an outstanding pass-rusher and somebody that is going to be able to bring that to our team.”

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Grade: A.

Hensley's comment: The Steelers were extremely lucky to get Jones, a top-five talent when you watch film. The only reason he fell was because of a disappointing pro day (ask Terrell Suggs how that affected him) and medical concerns. Jones is exactly the type of player that the Steelers need to add some punch back into their defense. Pittsburgh has been great at limiting yards, but the defense has been underwhelming when it comes to generating sacks and turnovers. I believe the Steelers would've taken Jones if they had a top-10 pick. Instead, thanks to the New Orleans Saints going with Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro, the Steelers got Jones at No. 17.

What the Steelers are saying ... General manager Kevin Colbert: "He definitely is one of the guys I talked about the other day as being a special player in this draft. He's a solid kid, a great player. He was dominant at a major college. He plays the run, chases the ball and, most important, he gets after the passer."

CINCINNATI BENGALS

Grade: A-plus.

Hensley's comment: The Bengals didn't need a tight end. But teams that draft based on need usually end up picking in the top 10 every year. The Bengals went with the best athlete on the board in Eifert, an excellent red-zone target who is a match-up nightmare for defenses. Eifert was rated the 12th-best player in the draft (one spot behind Austin) by Todd McShay and the 13th-best prospect by Mel Kiper Jr. And the Bengals landed him at No. 21. If the Bengals were going for need, they would've picked a safety like Elam or Florida International's John Cyprien. But Cincinnati can pick up a safety with one of its two picks in the second round. A top-rated tight end like Eifert wasn't going to be there.

What the Bengals are saying ... Offensive coordinator Jay Gruden: "I’m sure (quarterback) Andy Dalton is happy right now. We try to make Andy happy, and the more weapons you have, obviously, the better. We need to take pressure off (wide receiver) A.J. Green, and this is one step in doing that.”

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Grade: B.

Hensley's comment: Elam fits the Ravens' defensive profile: He's aggressive, intense, tough and finds a way to make plays. While some will say Elam is a replacement for Ed Reed, he is also an upgrade from Bernard Pollard, who was cut by Baltimore. Elam can make the violent hits like Pollard but he has more ball-hawking skills. The drawback is his lack of size (5 feet 10) and length, which could become a problem in defending tight ends like Eifert. In the end, the Ravens chose Elam over Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o. Both Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay had Te'o rated higher than Elam, and Te'o would've also filled a need for the Ravens.

What the Ravens are saying ... General manager Ozzie Newsome: "Even though it was a position of need, whether you all believe it or not, he was the highest-rated player on our board. Matt Elam is our guy. I think if you would have asked any of the four of us (Newsome, head coach John Harbaugh, assistant GM Eric DeCosta and director of college scouting Joe Hortiz) what one player we would have liked to have had today, I think each one of us if we would’ve wrote a name down on a sheet of paper, we would’ve said Matt Elam.”

BEREA, Ohio -- If you missed any of the first-round action from Thursday night, check the blog for my instant reaction on all the newest members of the division: Browns outside linebacker Barvekious Mingo, Steelers outside linebacker Jarvis Jones, Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert and Ravens safety Matt Elam. I also had a column on what the addition of Mingo means for the Browns.

It was a late night, but I will return shortly to post more thoughts on the first-round picks and a look ahead to Day 2 (second and third rounds are Friday night).

Here's what the local columnists are saying about the first round:

BROWNS: The Plain Dealer's Bud Shaw feels the Browns gave themselves a chance to land a game-changer in Mingo. "Balloons, not jaws, should drop when picks are made at the very top of the NFL draft," Shaw wrote. "The choice of Barkevious Mingo with the sixth pick falls somewhere in between. But say this: the Browns wanted a dynamic pass-rusher. And they at least got a fast, athletic one even if he takes some time to develop."

STEELERS: The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Dejan Kovacevic believes the Steelers are looking to reclaim their edge by taking Jones in the first round. "Jones is, for lack of a better Mel Kiper-ism to describe him, a QB-busting, ballhawk of a beast," Kovacevic wrote. "He's 6-foot-2, 245 pounds, and his style is all seek-and-destroy. Opponents marked the menacing figure wearing No. 29 and draped in those Bob Marley braids. They schemed for him. Avoided him. Feared him. Remember what that used to look like?"

BENGALS: The Cincinnati Enquirer's Paul Daugherty says drafting Eifert gives quarterback Andy Dalton what he needs -- another big target. "It’s a good pick," Daugherty wrote. "The 2013 Bengals will rise or fall depending on how much better Dalton becomes, not on their deficiency at safety. Anything to help Dalton is more valuable in Round 1 than a safety. Besides, a team built to win now needs its top pick simply to fit in and not be disastrous."

RAVENS: The Baltimore Sun's Mike Preston sees Elam being a good fit for the Ravens defense for his temperament as much as his play. "In the past, the Ravens haven't drafted a defensive player in the first round who didn't have a great passion for the game," Preston wrote. "When you listen to Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome and assistant GM Eric DeCosta talk about Elam, they have a genuine excitement about the guy. It's not the manufactured hype that you sometimes get with picks taken late in the first round, but a legitimate belief that they were fortunate to have gotten such an outstanding player so late."

The biggest first-round surprise in the AFC North came from the Cincinnati Bengals, who selected Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert with the No. 21 overall pick.

The Bengals had been expected to take a safety (like Florida International's Jonathan Cyprien) or a running back (like Alabama's Eddie Lacy). Instead, they went with the top-rated tight end in the draft.

In a league that is emphasizing tight ends, the Bengals can team Eifert with Jermaine Gresham, a first-round pick three years ago. This provides an excellent red-zone target for quarterback Andy Dalton. Eifert was targeted 15 times in the end zone last season, nine more than any other Fighting Irish player, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

Eifert has excellent size at 6-foot-5 and plays like an oversized receiver. The knock is he doesn't have top-end speed but he can catch in traffic.

Scouts Inc. pros: Displays elite focus and body control. Uses long frame, good leaping ability and exceptional body control for size to establish excellent positioning for the in the air. No pass catcher in college football did a better job of winning jump ball opportunities the past two seasons (2011-'12). Shows exceptional competitiveness, concentration and hand strength when attacking the ball in a crowd. Has experience lining up all over the field.

Scouts Inc. cons: Not as effective working against man coverage as he is versus zone. Telegraphs too many of his routes. Has good quickness but can be a bit too choppy in and out of breaks. Has improved as a route runner but still can do a better job. Is not going to create many yards after the catch. Not going to make many defenders miss and there are times when he takes too long to reach top-end speed after the catch.

BEREA, Ohio -- For the second straight year, I will be at the Cleveland Browns headquarters for the NFL draft. There has been a lot of drama surrounding what the Browns will do at the No. 6 overall pick.

Will they trade up to take quarterback Geno Smith? Will they trade down with a team looking to move up for an offensive tackle? Could a pass-rusher like Dion Jordan or Ezekiel Ansah fall out of the top five? Or do the Browns take the best cornerback in the draft in Dee Milliner?

Here are the six popular picks for the Browns at No. 6:

Ezekiel Ansah, BYU outside linebacker: Gifted athlete who has potentially high ceiling. His inexperience and lack of durability are concerns.

Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame tight end: One of the fastest risers in this year's draft. The Browns have been connected to him because both coach Rob Chudzinski and offensive coordinator Norv Turner love to use the tight end.

Dion Jordan, Oregon outside linebacker: Has been compared to Jason Taylor. Shoulder surgery in February could sideline him for the start of training camp.

Dee Milliner, Alabama cornerback: Doesn't have any noticeable weakness in terms of coverage and run support. But he isn't considered a playmaker.

Barkevious Mingo, LSU outside linebacker: Explosive athlete who plays with power. Like Ansah, he's an unpolished player.

Geno Smith, West Virginia quarterback: Accurate passer with an NFL arm. There are concerns with his small hands and history of fumbling.

If those six weren't enough, there has been speculation that the Browns could take West Virginia wide receiver Tavon Austin, Alabama guard Chance Warmack and North Carolina guard Jonathan Cooper. Did I leave anyone out?

ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. put together his Mock 5.0 which is not his final version. Kiper could make changes before the first pick is announced, and the AFC North blog will relay any tweaks to the picks for the AFC North teams. As always, you'll need an Insider subscription to see the entire post. But I can give you some of Kiper's predictions on the AFC North teams:

6. Cleveland Browns

Kiper's first-round pick: Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama

Hensley's comment: This pick makes a lot of sense, even though Milliner isn't considered a playmaking corner. The Browns need a starting cornerback opposite Joe Haden. Kiper did mention that West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith could be in play at this spot.

17. Pittsburgh Steelers

Kiper's first-round pick: Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame

Hensley's comment: Once again, this pick fills a big need. The Steelers don't know if Heath Miller will be ready for the start of the season, which puts a major question mark at tight end. Eifert can replace Miller as a top target in the red zone.

21. Cincinnati Bengals

Kiper's first-round pick: Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama

Hensley's comment: The Bengals want to add a running back to share the load with BenJarvus Green-Ellis, but none of the running backs deserve to be taken in the first round. If they did, the Steelers would take on at No. 17. I still like the Bengals taking a safety at this spot.

32. Baltimore Ravens

Kiper's first-round pick: Kevin Minter, ILB, LSU

Hensley's comment: You can't fault the logic. The Ravens need to replace Ray Lewis, and Rolando McClain's latest arrest puts his future in question. But it's debatable whether Minter is a first-round talent.

So, you're tired of all the first-round mock drafts, and the three-round one by Mel Kiper, Jr. didn't satisfy you, either. Well, this seven-round mock draft is the one for you. Scouts Inc. projects every pick in this week's draft. It's an Insider post, so you'll need a subscription to view pick by pick. But I can disclose the selections for each of the AFC North teams. Enjoy.

CLEVELAND BROWNS

First round: Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame

Third round: Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma

Fourth round: Kiko Alonso, ILB, Oregon

Fifth round: Steve Williams, CB, California, and Kerwynn Williams, RB, Utah State

Sixth round: Alvin Bailey, G, Georgia

Seventh round: Dustin Hopkins, K, Florida State

Hensley's comments: The Browns upgrade at tight end and find another potential franchise quarterback (this time, taking the Colt McCoy third-round route). The concern is the Browns failed to draft a starting cornerback or address the free safety spot.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

First round: Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia

Second round: DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson

Third round: Le'veon Bell, RB, Michigan State

Fourth round: Mike Gillislee, RB, Florida

Fifth round: T.J. McDonald, S, USC

Sixth round: Jake Stoneburner, TE, Ohio State, and Josh Johnson, CB, Purdue

Seventh round: Braden Brown, OT, BYU

Hensley's comments: Jones and Hopkins are considered risks for different reasons, but both address needs for the Steelers. Jones can step into James Harrison's spot, and Hopkins adds a physical presence to the wide receiver group. With Isaac Redman and Jonathan Dwyer both scheduled to be free agents next year, Scouts Inc. has the Steelers taking a top-10 running back in Bell and a projected backup in Gillislee.

CINCINNATI BENGALS

First round: Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee

Second round: Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State, and D.J. Swearinger, S, South Carolina

Third round: Khaseem Greene, OLB, Rutgers

Fourth round: Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina

Fifth round: Oday Aboushi, OT, Virginia

Sixth round: Rod Sweeting, CB, Georgia Tech, and Sean Renfree, QB, Duke

Seventh round: A.J. Klein, ILB, Iowa State, and John Lotulelei, ILB, UNLV

Hensley's comments: It would be a mild surprise for the Bengals to take Patterson in the first round considering the coaches' high hopes for Mohamed Sanu. The Bengals would get good value with Watson in the second round, especially if he's going to be the starting right tackle. I like the choices of the aggressive Swearinger and Lattimore, who could end up being the best running back of this draft.

BALTIMORE RAVENS

First round: Eric Reid, S, LSU

Second round: Quinton Patton, WR, Louisiana Tech

Third round: Jonathan Bostic, ILB, Florida

Fourth round: Brandon Jenkins, OLB, Florida State, and Reid Fragel, OT, Ohio State

Fifth round: Joseph Fauria, TE, UCLA, and J.C. Tretter, G, Cornell

Sixth round: Johnny Adams, CB, Michigan State, Josh Boyd, DT, Mississippi State and Ryan Boyd, QB, Tulane

Seventh round: Jamoris Slaughter, S, Notre Dame, and Kapron Lewis-Moore, DE, Notre Dame

Hensley's comments: The Ravens' three biggest needs are addressed with the first three picks. Reid would start right away, but Patton and Bostic might need more time to develop. Patton projects to be a No. 3 receiver, and Bostic has to become more consistent.