AFC North Draft Preview
By Jerry DiPaola

The Steelers might be the favorite next season in the newly formed AFC North, but the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals could be their chief rivals ­ not the Baltimore Ravens.

The Ravens have so many holes to fill in the draft that they might be better served to apply for membership in the Atlantic Coast Conference, but they'll have to settle for the 24th pick in the first round to start addressing their considerable needs.

With their shoddy credit-card mentality that, admittedly, helped win a Super Bowl championship in 2001, they have no salary cap money to address their many concerns with veteran players.

Look for the Ravens to finish last in the division.

Here's a look at what each of the Steelers' three division rivals will look for in the draft:

BALTIMORE RAVENS

After gutting their starting lineup to get under the $71.1 million salary cap, the Ravens must restock their defensive line, find another outside linebacker, look for depth behind running back Jamal Lewis, who is coming off a season-ending knee injury, rebuild the offensive line and give their new quarterback ­ probably untested Chris Redman ­ another reliable target at wide receiver. Other than that, the draft really won't be that critical for the Ravens.

Seriously, the Ravens could be headed for a disaster, unless they find immediate help in the draft. That's an unlikely prospect, but their only one. The team will count on youngsters such as Redman, defensive back Gary Baxter and center Casey Rabach to be starters.

The defensive line might be the most critical need, with tackles Sam Adams cut and Tony Siragusa retired. The Ravens haven't drafted a defensive lineman before the fifth round since joining the league in 1996, but that must change this season. Possibilities include tackles Ryan Sims of North Carolina and Anthony Weaver of Notre Dame.

Sims, 6-4, 309, impressed scouts at the Senior Bowl, finally getting out of the considerable shadow of Tar Heels teammate Julius Peppers, who is a top-five selection. Weaver, 6-3, 285, could be an end in the 3-4 defense that new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan is planning to install.

Perhaps the team should take a hard look at Division I-AA All-American Clenton Ballard of Southwest Texas. Ballard, 6-2, 325, could be the anchor at nose tackle that the Ravens need now that Sam Adams and Tony Siragusa are gone.

The Ravens won't overlook their secondary, either. Safety Rod Woodson was released, so maybe University of Miami (Fla.) safety Ed Reed could be the Ravens' first-round pick.

CINCINNATI BENGALS

The Bengals haven't made the playoffs since 1990 ­ so long ago that Chuck Noll was still the Steelers' coach ­ but that could change this season.

Bengals' coach Dick LeBeau has built a solid run defense, the best pass rush in team history (48 sacks last year) and a good running game with one of the NFL's most reliable backs, Corey Dillon. Even the wide receivers are productive and deep, with Steelers' castoff Danny Farmer added to starters Peter Warrick and Darnay Scott.

But the Bengals need a cornerback or two to possibly complete what could become another of those worst-to-first stories that the NFL features every year. The Bengals intercepted only 13 of 512 pass attempts last season. Look for Miami (Fla.) cornerback Phillip Buchanan to be the Bengals' chief target at No. 10.

However, President Mike Brown will got a lot of heat from fans if Oregon quarterback Joey Harrington falls to the 10th spot and he declines to take him. Brown would be foolish to ignore Harrington, merely on the basis that Jon Kitna is returning. Yeah, Kitna torched the Steelers in December, but he struggled most of the season.

In the meantime, Brown might try to lure Elvis Grbac out of retirement or convince Drew Bledsoe to accept a trade to Cincinnati. But the Bengals need a quarterback somewhere in the draft, even if it's a late-round prospect.

CLEVELAND BROWNS

The Browns can afford to be selective with the 17th pick after kicking off free agency by signing offensive lineman Ryan Tucker, defensive end Kenard Lang and safety Robert Griffith to contracts totaling $40.8 million. They also traded for Miami Dolphins running back J.J. Johnson.

Nonetheless, no one will be surprised to see the Browns try to further improve their running game by selecting one of several backs ­ William Green of Boston College, T.J. Duckett of Michigan State, DeShaun Foster of UCLA or Clinton Portis of Miami (Fla.).

Overall, the Browns must address the offensive side of the ball, if only to keep quarterback Tim Couch upright. He was sacked 51 times last year. They need more than Tucker on the offensive line, and a wide receiver to take some pressure off Kevin Johnson.

If Texas offensive tackle Mike Williams falls into the middle of the first round because of concerns about his knee, he could be a steal for the Browns.

But the more likely scenario is the Browns selecting Duckett, a 6-1, 249-pound battering ram who reminds many people of Jerome Bettis.

Duckett and a few adjustments on the offensive line to complement the signing of Tucker might make the Browns a playoff contender this season.