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It won't be considered a scintillating move, but it was a smart one for the Cleveland Browns to re-sign cornerback Dimitri Patterson.

I expect a potential ripple effect from the Browns keeping Patterson. Judging by the size of his contract -- three years for $16 million with $6 million guaranteed, according to the Akron Beacon Journal -- the expectation is for Patterson to go from nickel back to starter.

Patterson, 28, would push Sheldon Brown, who got picked on by quarterbacks last season, to nickel back or to a different position entirely. The Browns could move Brown to safety depending on their faith in speedy Buster Skrine becoming the No. 3 cornerback. Shifting Brown to safety would eliminate the need for Cleveland to re-sign free agent Mike Adams, who is visiting the Denver Broncos.

Excelling last season as the nickel back, the 5-foot-10, 200-pound Patterson broke up 12 passes and made 26 tackles. While keeping Patterson is a solid move for the Browns -- I had him as the ninth-best free agent available in the AFC North -- it doesn't preclude them from using the fourth overall pick on LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne.

The Browns continue to be the most active AFC North team in signing free agents, adding defensive end Frostee Rucker and retaining Patterson, tight end Alex Smith and offensive lineman John Greco.

The AFC North is running a series where every position will be ranked and what could change at that position.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

1. STEELERS: Pittsburgh had the top-ranked pass defense, and it wasn't all about the pass rush this time. Actually, the pass rush was extremely inconsistent this season, so that No. 1 ranking is more of a reflection of the Steelers' secondary. Cornerback Ike Taylor and free safety Ryan Clark had career years. Taylor's season, though, was marred by a late-season decline that ended with him getting stiffed-armed by the Broncos' Demaryius Thomas on the touchdown that ended the Steelers' season. Clark had the best season of any safety in the division, which is saying a lot when Troy Polamalu and Ed Reed are in the AFC North. He finished second in the division with 100 tackles. Polamalu was solid, but didn't play up to his usual spectacular level. William Gay was a pleasant surprise, taking back the starting cornerback job that he lost in 2010. What could change: Gay is an unrestricted free agent, but it shouldn't take much to retain him. Look for rookie cornerbacks Cortez Allen and Curtis Brown to make more of an impact in their second seasons.

2. RAVENS: This group exceeded expectations, and did so in a surprising manner. Instead of starting Domonique Foxworth and Chris Carr at cornerback, the Ravens finished fourth in pass defense with Lardarius Webb and Cary Williams. Webb was the division's top cornerback, recording five interceptions and breaking up 20 passes (and that doesn't include three interceptions in the playoffs). Williams was a physical presence at corner. The biggest disappointment was Reed, who intercepted three passes -- his fewest in a season where he played more than 12 games. The Ravens' other safety, hard-hitting Bernard Pollard, provided more of an impact than Reed. First-round pick Jimmy Smith endured an up-and-down rookie season. What could change: Smith should take over for Williams as a starting cornerback this season. Foxworth is expected to get cut, and the same could happen to Carr. Both backup safeties, Tom Zbikowski and Haruki Nakamura, are free agents, but I suspect Nakamura will get re-signed.

3. BROWNS: Joe Haden showed signs of being a shutdown corner, even though he failed to make an interception. He held his own against some of the best receivers in the NFL, from Larry Fitzgerald to Brandon Marshall. His worst games came against Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green. While Haden is among the division's best cornerbacks, Sheldon Brown was the worst starting corner in the AFC North. Brown's biggest asset is the experience he provides to a young secondary. The defensive backfield was hurt by the loss of strong safety T.J. Ward, who missed the final 10 games with a foot injury. Teams took advantage of Ward's replacement, Usama Young. Free safety Mike Adams beat out Young for a starting job in training camp. Dimitri Patterson was a reliable nickelback, breaking up a dozen passes. What could change: The Browns might replace Adams, who is a free agent, and they could give rookie seventh-round pick Eric Hagg a shot at doing so. Cleveland is very interested in bringing Patterson back. It wouldn't be a surprise if Patterson starts in place of Brown.

Here are the player reps for each AFC North team, according to the NFLPA:

Baltimore Ravens: WR Derrick Mason

Alternates: CB Chris Carr, C Matt Birk

Skinny: Mason is one of the most experienced and outspoken players on the Ravens. Therefore he fits great in this role. Carr and Birk are also two great alternatives from Baltimore.

Cincinnati Bengals: LT Andrew Whitworth

Alternates: G Bobbie Williams, TE Reggie Kelly

Skinny: This trio comprises Cincinnati's locker room leaders. Whitworth has taken an increased role and is usually the one who briefs the rest of the Bengals on player issues. Williams and Kelly are both elder statesmen and combine for 25 years of NFL experience.

Cleveland Browns: TE Robert Royal

Alternates: OT Tony Pashos, CB Sheldon Brown, TE Ben Watson

Skinny: Lately the Browns have been a strange team when it comes to union reps. With three regime changes the past few years, it's been a rotating door. Royal was recently released by the Browns, meaning Cleveland will have another player rep next season. All the alternatives spent their first year with the Browns in 2010.

Pittsburgh Steelers: S Ryan Clark

Alternates: WR Antwaan Randle El, LT Max Starks

Skinny: Like Mason, Clark is never afraid to speak his mind. He recently had a lot to say on the pending NFL lockout during Super Bowl week. Randle El and Starks are both intelligent alternatives, as well.

The Cleveland Browns received reaction from around the NFL this evening on the hire of new head coach Pat Shurmur.

Browns CB Sheldon Brown

"As a rookie coming into the National Football League (in 2002), he was our quarterbacks coach in Philadelphia. I knew he demanded a lot of respect, for one, Donovan McNabb was the guy that was already established there and Donovan had the utmost respect for Coach Shurmur. He is a sharp guy. He always took notes in meetings and he was one of those guys that (Eagles head coach) Andy (Reid) could depend on to get the guys ready to play, motivate and do well on game days. That's what you are looking for when you are looking for a coach.”

Eagles head coach Andy Reid

"I'm extremely proud of and happy for Pat Shurmur and his family. He is a proven commodity in the NFL and has paid his dues as a successful assistant coach. Pat is smart, very well organized and has a great command and great feel for the ins and outs of the business of pro football. I believe, to a man, all of the players and coaches that have worked with and for Pat Shurmur have the utmost respect for him as a person and as a coach. And I'm right at the top of that list. He'll do a great job for the city of Cleveland as their head football coach."

Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb

"I think it is a great choice for the Cleveland Browns. Pat Shurmur is a hard-working, dedicated and determined individual who demands perfection from all his players. The team will love playing for him."

In one of the most unpredictable seasons in recent memory, one thing is clear in the AFC North: Pass defense is the division's Achilles' heel.

An 0-4 Week 10 highlighted the AFC North's secondary woes. Whether it was Tom Brady picking apart the Pittsburgh Steelers, Roddy White running circles around the Baltimore Ravens, or Santonio Holmes zipping by the Cleveland Browns in overtime, it was an ugly week for defensive backs in the division.

Can anything be done about the AFC North's flimsy pass defense? We teamed with Scouts Inc.'s Matt Williamson to diagnose the problem and offer some solutions.

Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3)

Total defense: No. 9

Pass defense: No. 26

Scouts Inc.'s diagnosis: "All their cornerbacks are mid-round picks, and that's what they do. They bring in mid-round corners and spend first-round picks on other positions and groom them for a year or two. Pittsburgh's cornerbacks play a lot of 'off coverage,' and a team like New England can exploit that. The Patriots took what they gave them with short and intermediate passes, and it's a really bad fit for the Steelers. They've been successful giving you a lot of the smaller stuff. But what worries me is the pass rush has fallen off a little bit." --Williamson

AFC North blog's solution: Pittsburgh has by far the NFL's best run defense at 63.2 yards per game. At the beginning of the season, opponents were banging their heads against the wall trying to establish the run in the first half, and that played right into Pittsburgh's hands. Now teams have adjusted and determined it's better to throw for 5-7 yards on first and second down instead of trying to get it on the ground. This is where the Steelers have to adjust. More press coverage would help. Although that's not Pittsburgh's identity, mixing in cornerbacks playing closer to the line of scrimmage could reduce the short and intermediate passes against its defense. Also, taking a look at young cornerbacks Keenan Lewis and/or Crezdon Butler may not be a bad idea in sub packages, where William Gay has really struggled.

Baltimore Ravens (6-3)

Total defense: No. 10

Pass defense: No. 13

Scouts Inc.'s diagnosis: "They have very average corners, and I think they only have one pass-rusher. They need a LaMarr Woodley-James Harrison pairing. The Ravens have Terrell Suggs, but they don't have the other guy. They drafted Sergio Kindle and he got hurt, obviously. Baltimore has one pass-rusher who is very good, but you can take Suggs away by chipping him or keeping your better players on him. So, to me, they need either one better corner or a better pass-rusher. But with the combination Baltimore has now, it's going to be a liability." --Williamson

AFC North blog's solution: Don't be fooled by Baltimore's No. 13 ranking. The Ravens were No. 1 against the pass through the first several games, which is an indication of how much they are struggling. As Williamson mentioned, the Ravens are in a tough spot. Baltimore says it has four or five starting-caliber cornerbacks, but none is playing like a No. 1 corner. I don't like the musical chairs Baltimore is playing with Lardarius Webb, Fabian Washington, Josh Wilson and Chris Carr. The Ravens need to pick who they believe are their two best players and go with them. Being shuffled in and out of the lineup has seemingly thrown everyone off rhythm and perhaps made each cornerback unsure of his role in the defense. Suggs had his first multi-sack game of the season against the Atlanta Falcons, and that could go a long way to helping the pass rush. Getting safety Ed Reed 100 percent healthy as well will be a major boost. There is hope for this pass defense despite a midseason slump.

Cleveland Browns (3-6)

Total defense: No. 24

Pass defense: No. 23

Scouts Inc.'s diagnosis: "I think the Browns are a well-coached defense. They are physical in the front seven and obviously want to stop the run first. But the Joe Hadens of the world, and Eric Wright and T.J. Ward are working to get better. So I tend to think inexperience is the issue as opposed to these guys just can't get it done. In the case with Baltimore and the Steelers, and lately with the Browns, if you're going to game plan against these defenses, you're going to throw." --Williamson

AFC North blog's solution: Indeed, the blitz-heavy Browns are being tested through the air and giving up too many big pass plays. That is a major reason they are 3-6. Wright has been the biggest culprit and admitted as much to the media this week. But Cleveland plays hard on defense. The Browns' secondary simply needs experience and to avoid mistakes at the worst possible times, such as overtime last week against the New York Jets. Haden, Cleveland's first-round pick, is starting to improve, and it's time to insert him into the starting lineup permanently. With Sheldon Brown (shoulder) injured, Haden could start Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Cincinnati Bengals (2-7)

Total defense: No. 15

Pass defense: No. 12

Scouts Inc.'s diagnosis: "I think they're weak at safety, but they're very strong at corner. I also thought Adam Jones looked great when he played. It looked like he was coming back to form [before a season-ending neck injury]. But injuries have taken a toll, and the pass rush is worse than people even realize. I think that deserves a lot of blame. They don't have anybody exceeding expectations as a pass-rusher. I know Carlos Dunlap got a lot more snaps this past week, and it may be time to see what he has. For Michael Johnson and a lot of those young guys, it may be time to put those guys in." --Williamson

AFC North blog's solution: I have the least amount of worries about the Bengals' pass defense. It still has the highest rating in the division despite the worst pass rush. Health has been an issue, too. If cornerback Johnathan Joseph and veteran safety Chris Crocker can remain in the lineup the rest of the season, that's two starters who will provide stability. The pass rush looks pretty hopeless, and I don't see much potential to improve. With the exception of Dunlap, who is very raw, there isn't a natural pass-rusher on the Bengals' defense. That should be a major priority in next year's draft. Cincinnati showed signs of playing good pass defense last week against the Indianapolis Colts, and it needs to build off that. Colts quarterback Peyton Manning had some trouble against this secondary, and that's a good sign.

The hottest topic of the week has been the NFL's aggressive attitude toward eliminating some violent hits, a movement that goes against established football culture.

ESPN.com senior writer Jeffri Chadiha examined the violence debate in a comprehensive piece to which the other bloggers and I contributed.

There are several strong comments throughout the piece, but the one I found most compelling was from Cleveland Browns cornerback Sheldon Brown.

"The NFL is the No. 1 sport for a reason," added Brown. "Fans love violence. I like to see it, too, because I know the courage it takes to be involved in some of those plays.

"But as long as people get up, I'm fine with the way things are. When we get to the point where somebody dies because of a big hit, that's when I'll say we need to change something about how we play this game."

Also quoted in the story are Buffalo Bills safeties Donte Whitner and George Wilson.

Whitner made the point defensive players would make themselves vulnerable -- physically and professionally -- if they slowed down.

"It won't adjust the way I play the game," Whitner said. "You try to adjust the game right now and slow down a little bit, you're either going to get beat for a touchdown or somebody's going to get hurt. When you start playing slow, you get hurt. When you start thinking too much, you get hurt."

Chadiha's story was so long and thorough, he couldn't include everything Whitner said.

Here's an insightful quote that ended up on the cutting room floor:

"The middle of the football field is supposed to be fast and dangerous," Whitner said. "If you come across the middle of the football field you're supposed to be hit and hit hard and know not to come around there again.

"That's why there's not a lot of guys who can go there and make catches. That's why those guys get paid a lot of money. You take that out of the football game, then you got receivers running all through the football field without getting hit."

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is back. But is he all the way back? Not quite.

The AFC North blog covered Roethlisberger's 2010 debut Sunday against the Cleveland Browns and later broke down the game film of every throw to grade his performance. It's a new feature that we will do periodically in the blog.

Points are awarded or deducted on a five-point scale, depending on how Roethlisberger performed each play. Here is what we found:

Roethlisberger's first drive

• Roethlisberger's first throw was a quick out to tailback Rashard Mendenhall, who gains 3 yards to get a first down. Nice play call to get Roethlisberger warmed up. (+1 point)
• Good pump fake by Roethlisberger and read to spot receiver Antwaan Randle El in single coverage deep against cornerback Sheldon Brown. Roethlisberger causes Brown to bite and draws a pass interference penalty. (+2 points)
• Browns blitz to Roethlisberger's left. He sees it, shuffles to the right to buy an extra second to hit Mendenhall out of the backfield, who gains 4 yards. (+1 point)
• On third down, the Browns field seven defensive backs, four linebackers and zero defensive linemen. Roethlisberger is confused by the formation and calls a timeout. (-2 points)
• Browns bring same formation after the timeout. Cleveland only rushes three and Roethlisberger's pass intended for Mewelde Moore sails high and into the hands of Browns rookie cornerback Joe Haden, who returns it 62 yards. (-5 points)

Grade for drive: -3 points

Second drive

• Roethlisberger throws another quick hitch to receiver Hines Ward for 3 yards. Basic play to get Roethlisberger back in rhythm after the pick. (+1 point)
• Good hook route by receiver Mike Wallace. Roethlisberger throws it in the open area of Cleveland's zone for 11 yards. (+2 points)
• Browns read the screen play and it's not there. Roethlisberger scrambles for 5 yards to make something out of a broken play. (+1 point)
• On third-and-13, Cleveland rushes three and Roethlisberger still finds rookie receiver Emmanuel Sanders for 22 yards. Ball has good zip. Sanders is celebrating his first NFL catch as though he won the Super Bowl. (+3 points)
• Browns blitz again and Roethlisberger holds the ball a little too long this time, which he's prone to do. He barely avoids the sack by throwing the ball out of bounds. (-1 point)
• Browns blitz again and Matt Roth goes untouched to the quarterback. Roethlisberger shows great strength and toughness by taking a hit and still getting enough on the ball downfield to Mike Wallace for a 29-yard touchdown. Not many quarterbacks can make that play. (+5 points)

Grade for drive: +11 points

Third drive

• Roethlisberger throws a pass a little high but Ward catches it for 7 yards. Some basic timing throws are sailing on Roethlisberger. (+1 point)
• Pass protection breaks down and Browns linebacker Chris Gocong wraps Roethlisberger up but can't make the tackle. Roethlisberger still looking down the field, throws incomplete and gets hit by three Browns in the process. He tries too hard to make something happen. (-2 points)
• Steelers max protect against Cleveland's blitz and Roethlisberger has time. Just overthrows Ward for what could have been a big gain on third down. Pittsburgh punts. (-1 point)

Grade for drive: -2 points

Fourth drive

• In the first throw of the second half, Browns blitz and Roethlisberger finds Ward open on the hot route for 10 yards and a first down. Good read and throw. (+2 points)
• Mendenhall picks up the safety blitz with a great block on T.J. Ward. Roethlisberger finds Hines Ward, who beats Wright for 26 yards. Roethlisberger is picking on Wright for big plays. (+3 points)
• Another screen call doesn't work and Roethlisberger throws it away. It's apparent the Browns did a good job of studying Pittsburgh's screen game this week. (-1 point)
• On a long third down, Roethlisberger tries to force the ball into double coverage and it's batted away. Poor read, poor throw. Steelers punt. (-1 point)

Grade for drive: +3 points

Fifth drive

• Deep in Pittsburgh's territory, Roethlisberger eludes the cornerback blitz and finds Wallace, who blows by the safety with ease for 50 yards. Roethlisberger took a tough shot on the arm but the throw was still on a rope. It's another play not many quarterbacks can make under that kind of duress. (+4 points)
• On next play, Roethlisberger drops in a touch pass to tight end Heath Miller for 36 yards against Cleveland's zone. Last two passes accounted for 86 yards. (+4 points)
• On the same hot read from the previous drive, Roethlisberger points out the pre-snap blitz and finds Ward on a square in against -- guess who? -- Wright. Ward easily shakes off Wright's attempt to strip the ball and barrels in for an 8-yard touchdown. Three sterling throws and the best drive of the day for Roethlisberger. (+4 points)

Grade for drive: +12 points

Sixth drive

• Roethlisberger stands patient in the pocket and finds Sanders again for 15 yards and the first down. Sanders doesn't celebrate his second career catch like he did his first. (+2 points)
• Randle El runs a quick out to the sideline and Roethlisberger throws it to the wrong (inside) shoulder. Randle El still makes the catch but is hit pretty hard by Brown. (+1 point)
• Browns continue to blitz on third down, and the pressure forces Roethlisberger to throw an incomplete pass to Randle El. Steelers punt. (-1 point)

Grade for drive: +2 points

Seventh drive

• Steelers come out in a tight run formation and fool the Browns badly with a play-action pass. Wallace streaks down right sideline but Roethlisberger misses him by throwing several yards out of bounds. Roethlisberger smiles to the sideline, because he can't believe how badly he missed the open target. (-3 points)
• On third down Roethlisberger throws too high again for Ward. Rust is definitely a factor. (-1 point)

Grade for drive: -4 points

Eighth drive

• After Browns receiver Chansi Stuckey fumbles the punt, Roethlisberger finds Mendenhall coming out of the backfield three plays later for a first down. Mendenhall runs it in on next play to give Pittsburgh a 21-3 lead. (+1 point)

Grade for drive: +1 point

Ninth drive

• Steelers running out the clock on first and second down. But Roethlisberger throws incomplete to Miller on third down. (-1 point)

Grade for drive: -1 point

Tenth drive

• Steelers stay aggressive on final possession. On third down Roethlisberger finds Miller, who beats Brown in the corner of the end zone for final pass of the day. Steelers win, 28-10. (+3 points)

Grade for drive: +3 points

Roethlisberger's game grade: +22 points

AFC North blog's analysis: This was a great starting point to build on for Roethlisberger, who had not played in a meaningful game since January. As you can see above, there were some vintage plays but also several missed throws that Roethlisberger will probably make once he gets back in midseason form. I've covered plenty of Roethlisberger's starts over the past three seasons, and this was more of a B-level performance by his standards. When Roethlisberger gets back on his "A" game, the Steelers will be very tough to beat.

BEREA, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns began Day 2 of their mandatory minicamp Friday.

Here are some notes and observations:

• Cleveland's offense looked much better in Friday morning's practice. The quarterbacks threw too many interceptions Thursday, but they made big plays Friday. Starting quarterback Jake Delhomme showed good command of the huddle and led the offense down the field in team drills and in the 2-minute offense.
• Two key members of the secondary sat out again Friday. Starting cornerback Eric Wright dressed but didn’t participate in team drills. The same goes for rookie safety T.J. Ward. Browns coach Eric Mangini described both players as having "tightness."
• It was a tough practice for veteran cornerback Sheldon Brown. Acquired in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, Brown was beat by Brian Robiskie in the corner of the end zone on one play, and Mohamed Massaquoi got inside leverage on Brown with a skinny post for another big gain.
• Running backs Jerome Harrison and Montario Hardesty got work with the first-team offense. This could be a good competition to watch in training camp, because both runners have very different styles. Cleveland's coaching staff has been really impressed with Hardesty this offseason.

Andre Johnson returned to the Houston Texans' organized team activities and clearly felt badly about causing any sort of stir. I expect his contract issues will be resolved well before the Texans open camp.

What are the chances he gets a new deal? Veteran agent Ralph Cindrich and cap analyst J.I. Halsell of Football Outsiders chime in:

Cindrich: "It sounds like he’s in the best situation. Houston is flexible. He’s the No. 1 receiver out there with a team and in a city that wants to see things happen. The owner is more malleable as [is] the GM."

Halsell: “Andre Johnson finds himself in the same situation as players like Sheldon Brown and Lito Sheppard found themselves in in Philly. The Andre Johnson case highlights the importance of one of my favorite contract metrics, guaranteed money/year. In the case of Johnson, he did an extension for six new years with a guarantee of $15M; resulting in a guarantee per year of $2.5M. To put that into context, Buffalo’s Lee Evans' guarantee per year on his four-year extension with a guarantee of $18.25M was $4.56M.

“So Johnson's deal at 15M guaranteed should've been a three- or four-year extension and not a six-year extension. Does this inequity get rectified? I think the Texans will redo him and pay him a market deal. He's clearly one of the top WRs in the league and a consummate pro. He's what you want as a team, so let’s not turn him into a malcontent.”

PHILADELPHIA -- The Eagles have nine picks remaining in the final four rounds -- more than any other team. Philadelphia came into the draft on Day 1 with a chance to control its fate, and it can finish in the same fashion. The question is, what happened in between? Why did the Eagles intentionally miss most of the second and third rounds?

Head coach Andy Reid came into Round 2 of the draft with two highly-coveted second-round picks in what is being called a very rich draft class, especially on defense, where the Eagles need help. But instead of coming away with two players capable of at least competing for a starting job, they chose only one -- safety Nate Allen of South Florida, who is considered a tweener. He is a corner or safety who may not be ready to start at either need position.

Then new general manager Howie Roseman, not liking what he saw on the second-round board, started moving down and down, accumulating more late-round picks. But the result did not go over well in this town. The Eagles watched the rest of the league make 49 selections -- in other words, about a draft round and a half -- before Philadelphia finally picked another player, defensive end Daniel Te'o-Nesheim of Washington, who is considered a solid special-teams player at best.

Coming into the draft, Roseman said the Eagles would be aggressive . They started the draft with 10 picks and seven in the top four rounds, which was more than any other team. Few interpreted that aggressiveness to mean moving back in the heart of this draft and passing on so many potential impact players. So far, the Eagles have taken just three of the first 98 players after starting the draft with five of the first 87 picks.

"What you do is you sit and evaluate the strengths of the draft by round," Reid said. "We felt the latter part of the second round and into the third round and fourth rounds were the strengths of this draft."

Here's the problem with that explanation: The Eagles didn't pick a single player in the latter part of the second round or the early third round. Philadelphia picked Allen with the so-called "Donovan pick" -- the 37th pick it got from the Redskins for Donovan McNabb. And then the Eagles went dark, making no picks until the 22nd pick of the third round.

What really happened was this: After packaging their two third-round picks and their No. 24 pick in the first round to jump to No. 13 to make Brandon Graham the first defensive end taken in this draft, the Eagles explored moving back into the first round to take one of the top-rated corners left on the first-round board. Reid admitted late Thursday night that that was a possibility. But they didn't want to depart with both their second-round picks, according to league sources.

As a result, there was a run on cornerbacks late in the first round, including Kyle Wilson of Boise State (Eagles defensive coordinator Sean McDermott ran his pro day), who went to the Jets, and Devin McCourty of Rutgers (defensive assistant Dick Jauron worked him out), who went to New England. In all, five cornerbacks were picked in the first round. Five more were selected in the second and third round, while the Eagles did not pick one -- even though they don't have a starting right cornerback right now.

Longtime starter Sheldon Brown was dealt to Cleveland. Veteran Ellis Hobbs is coming back from neck surgery. Reid insisted that Allen, who played mostly safety at South Florida, would be an option at corner. Reid rarely starts rookies. Are the Eagles after a veteran corner? Rumors were rampant Friday night that the Eagles were snooping around with the Raiders to see if Pro Bowl corner Nnamdi Asomugha was available. "No, that's not where we're at," Reid said Friday night.

So, in the fourth round Saturday morning, the Eagles now have four picks. If they don't pick a cornerback -- Owusu-Ansah Akwasi of Division II IUP is apparently on their radar -- there will be a lot more head scratching in Philly.

BEREA, Ohio -- Cleveland Browns first-round pick Joe Haden has the charisma to light up a room.

Haden described himself as "outgoing, funny, and just likes to have a good time" in his introductory news conference. "I can't stand being around people trying to bring me down."

But the Browns are hoping Haden's abilities help bring down opposing offenses. The former Florida cornerback is the first and signature pick of the Mike Holmgren era in Cleveland.

The team landed the draft's top-rated cornerback at No. 7 with hopes of improving its No. 31-rated defense. Haden will combine with new teammates Sheldon Brown and Eric Wright to form arguably the deepest group of cornerbacks in the AFC North.

With quality receivers such as Anquan Boldin, Chad Ochocinco and Hines Ward within the division, Haden definitely has his work cut out for him. The aforementioned trio all recorded more than 1,000 yards receiving last season.

"It's going to be a challenge, of course," Haden said. "But I'm ready for everything. I'm just so blessed and honored too, because when I played at Florida I played against Andre Caldwell, Louis Murphy and Percy Harvin every day in practice. So playing against those dudes definitely got me ready for the next level."

There have been a lot of reports about Cleveland's draft intentions. The Browns attempted to trade up to the No. 1 overall pick to get former Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford, and they also had interest in former Tennessee safety Eric Berry, who went No. 5 to the Kansas City Chiefs.

In the end, the Browns stood pat and took the best player on their draft board.

"He's one of the great young men that I've ever had the privilege of studying and meeting," Holmgren said. "So as far as how we feel about this first pick, I really believe we hit a home run."

PHILADELPHIA -- On Day 2 of the draft, the debate among the Eagles brain trust is what to do with the Donovan pick -- the No. 37 pick in the second round, which Philadelphia obtained from the Redskins for Donovan McNabb.

There is a lot of pressure on the Eagles to turn that pick into a productive player. And there will be a lot of pressure on that young player. No matter how much head coach Andy Reid will try to minimize it, the question in this often unforgiving town will always be: What did the Eagles get for trading their franchise quarterback? For better or worse, that player will have to live with that.

So, what will the Eagles do? After moving up 11 spots in the first round and making Brandon Graham of Michigan the first defensive end taken in the 2010 draft, the Eagles must address their depleted secondary. Trading Sheldon Brown to Cleveland has left a big hole at right cornerback. New general manager Howie Roseman has tried to peddle the idea that Ellis Hobbs, who is coming back from neck surgery, will be ready to step in. But that has been greeted with skepticism.

Then there is the free safety position -- also up for grabs. Free-agent signee Marlin Jackson, after back to back knee injuries, is said to be ready to participate in some team activities in the three day minicamp beginning next Friday, but that is another iffy proposition. The Eagles have moderate interest in Southern Cal safety Taylor Mays, who is still on the board.

But Reid is smitten with Dexter McCluster, a 170-pound scatback out of Mississippi. He's quick and has good hands -- perfect for what the Eagles ask of their running backs: catch the football and work in space. But taking McCluster at No. 37 might be a reach.

Another option would be this: Move back from No. 37, perhaps picking up a third-round pick (the Eagles traded both of their third-round picks to Denver to move up for Graham) and take McCluster later in the second round and pick up a corner or safety with their other second-round pick (No. 55). Indiana offensive tackle Rodger Saffold also is someone the Eagles are considering in the second round.

"That's the debate their having right now," said one league source familiar with the Eagles' thinking.

As Roseman said last week, "I like having the fifth pick on Day 2." Well, now the pressure is on to turn that pick into a player or players as memorable as McNabb.

BEREA, Ohio --The first draft of the Mike Holmgren era in Cleveland started off extremely busy.

Thursday began with the Browns president trying diligently to trade with the St. Louis Rams for the No. 1 overall pick to take quarterback Sam Bradford. That didn't happen.

Cleveland then hoped former Tennessee safety Eric Berry would fall to No. 7. That didn't happen, either.

In the end, the Browns feel they selected the best available player in Florida cornerback Joe Haden. On a day when Holmgren tried to make a huge splash by trading with St. Louis, Cleveland made a solid -- albeit not very sexy -- pick.

Rest assured there will be some skeptics wondering if Haden fills a big enough need with such a high pick, which comes with a huge financial commitment. Last year's No. 7 overall pick -- Oakland Raiders receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey -- signed a contract in the range of $38 million. Haden likely will command about a $40 million package.

Yet at this point there's no guarantee Haden will be a starter, and that could be a point of contention as a top-seven pick for a rebuilding team.

Cleveland just acquired veteran cornerback Sheldon Brown in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles. He will be the No. 1 corner, while Haden competes with a pretty good player in Eric Wright for the No. 2 cornerback job.

"You can never have enough good corners," Browns coach Eric Mangini said.

Cleveland was in an odd spot to begin with.

There were five sure-fire players, but after that the draft board became dicey. According to most projections, there was not a huge difference between the No. 7 pick and the No. 13 or No. 14 pick in this year's draft. That is why the Browns explored moving up and down the draft board in the past few weeks.

Browns general manager Tom Heckert said the team didn't get or field any offers to move down Thursday. Former Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen was available at No. 7. But no team got hot on Clausen and was willing to move up, which was probably Cleveland's best chance to acquire more picks. Instead, Clausen was this year's free-falling prospect.

As the roster is currently built, having Wright or Haden coming off the bench next season seems like an unnecessary surplus when Cleveland has so many other needs across the board.

For example, Mangini refused to name the team's two starting safeties Thursday night because, frankly, the team doesn't have two starting-caliber safeties. The Browns also could use help at running back, defensive line and receiver.

Mangini also said there are no thoughts of moving Brown to safety, which would make some sense if Cleveland wanted all three players on the field at the same time. With the way the draft board played out, former Texas safety Earl Thomas appeared to be a more logical fit in terms of need. The Browns admitted Thomas was in the conversation.

"Yes, Earl is a really good player," Heckert said. "We all liked him."

But the Browns were more happy with Haden. So was the former Florida star, who was ecstatic to come to Cleveland.

"I am just trying to soak it all up," Haden said. "It's crazy. Just a dream come true. I feel like this is a blessing."

The Browns got a unique recruiting partner for Haden. Former Florida teammate and quarterback Tim Tebow, who shockingly went in the first round to the Denver Broncos on Thursday, spoke extremely highly of Haden during his visit to Cleveland. That carried a lot of weight with the Browns' front office.

Haden is a much safer pick than his former quarterback. But Cleveland needs Haden to develop into a shutdown corner quickly to stop the likes of Anquan Boldin, Hines Ward and Chad Ochocinco within the AFC North division. All three receivers gained more than 1,000 yards last season.

Haden believes he's ready.

"There's always pressure when you're out there on an island," Haden said. "It's just you versus him. At corner, you have to have a one-track mind and a short memory...When I'm out there, I know that I have to have a lot of film study and a lot of just knowing what‘s going on, and I have to be really comfortable."

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

Falling

Cleveland's chances of drafting Eric Berry: The Cleveland Browns made a wise trade with the Philadelphia Eagles to shore up their cornerback situation in acquiring veteran Sheldon Brown. But that also narrowed the Browns' defensive need to safety at a time when it's looking more and more like the top-rated prospect at that position -- Berry -- could be off the board at No. 7. The Kansas City Chiefs (No. 5), Seattle Seahawks (No. 6), and now the Washington Redskins (No. 4) after the Donovan McNabb trade, are all ahead of Cleveland and considered possible landing spots for Berry. It only takes one team. So that's not good news for the Browns, who may have to trade the No. 7 pick or take someone else who could be rated below Berry on their draft board.

Rising

Clarity for Ben Roethlisberger: After weeks of twisting in the wind, there was finally some significant movement this week concerning the sexual assault allegation against Roethlisberger in Milledgeville, Ga. The local police department completed its investigation and handed over the case to the district attorney's office, which will decide whether to bring charges. If no charges are filed, the case is closed and Roethlisberger will be able to move forward and hash out the rest with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. If charges are filed, the legal situation will continue to loom over Roethlisberger and the franchise this offseason.

» NFC Approach: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

» Draft Watch: Biggest needs (2/17) | Busts/gems (2/24) | Schemes, themes (3/3) | Recent history (3/10) | Needs revisited (3/17) | Under-the-radar needs (3/26) | History in that spot (3/31) | Draft approach (4/7) | Decision-makers (4/14) | Dream scenario/Plan B (4/21)

Each week leading up to the NFL draft (April 22-24), the ESPN.com blog network will take a division-by-division look at key aspects of the draft. Today’s topic: Draft approach.

Cleveland Browns

This year Cleveland's draft approach is a mystery. There's an entirely new front office led by team president Mike Holmgren and general manager Tom Heckert. The pair share many of the same philosophies but have never worked together -- particularly in the same draft room selecting players. Therefore, it's unknown whether the team will take a conservative or aggressive approach in two weeks. So far, the power pairing has made a lot of sense with its offseason moves. The Browns quickly got rid of two struggling quarterbacks and acquired veterans such as Sheldon Brown, Scott Fujita, Jake Delhomme, Benjamin Watson, Chris Gocong and Peyton Hillis to fill important roles. With 10 draft picks, it will be interesting to see what Holmgren and Heckert have in store for Cleveland.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers are very underrated for their wheeling and dealing on draft day. Because of their conservative approach to free agency, the Steelers probably don't get enough credit for frequently moving up and down the draft board to get players they covet. Last year they traded out of the second round to get more mid-round picks. The Steelers traded up to get receiver Santonio Holmes (2006) and safety Troy Polamalu (2003). This year Pittsburgh has 10 picks with a veteran-laden team that's just one year removed from a Super Bowl title. So it's debatable whether 10 rookies can make Pittsburgh's 53-man roster out of training camp. In other words, keep a close eye on the Steelers and director of football operations Kevin Colbert.

Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals, led by owner Mike Brown, are pretty conservative when it comes to the draft, particularly when they have picks later in each round. The Bengals typically will not trade to move up. The team traditionally doesn't enjoy giving out huge contracts and is widely regarded as one of the toughest teams to negotiate big-money deals with. Last year's contract dispute with No. 6 overall pick Andre Smith was a perfect example. Smith missed all of training camp because both sides were unable to reach an agreement. Therefore, expect the Bengals to stay put with the No. 21 overall pick. They should be able to land a good prospect because this is a very deep draft.

Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore is similar to Pittsburgh in its approach. The Ravens are prone to do anything -- which can include moving up, trading down or staying put. In the past two years alone, Baltimore has been a big mover and shaker. In 2008, the Ravens traded back and then up in the first round to land quarterback Joe Flacco at No. 18. Then Baltimore traded up three spots to select right tackle Michael Oher at No. 23 last April. Therefore, you can never put it past general manager Ozzie Newsome and the Ravens to be very aggressive. A major difference this year is the team doesn't have as many draft picks (five) to barter following the offseason trade with the Arizona Cardinals to land receiver Anquan Boldin.