The "Insiders" grade the draft.

[BengalszoneBilly]

Grading the draft: AFC North

Lane Adkins, TheInsiders.com

April 26, 2004

Baltimore Ravens: D

PRE-DRAFT TEAM NEEDS

WR, DT

2004 DRAFT PICKS

Rd Pk (Ov) Player Pos School Notes

2 19 (51) Dwan Edwards DT Oregon St. (re-acquired from San Francisco)

3 19 (82) Devard Darling WR Washington St. (from Minnesota)

5 21 (153) Roderick Green DE Central Missouri St. (from Green Bay via Miami)

6 22 (187) Josh Harris QB Bowling Green

6 34 (199) Clarence Moore WR Northern Arizona (Compensatory)

7 43 (244) Derek Abney WR Kentucky (Compensatory)

7 45 (246) Brian Rimpf OT East Carolina (Compensatory)

FIRST-ROUND GRADE: N/A

Baltimore did not have a first-round pick.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

Dwan Edwards was an inconsistent player at the collegiate level. Devard Darling has shown to be an average talent at the wide receiver position. The best selection for the Ravens could be wide receiver Clarence Moore, but the jury is out on him until has faces top quality opposition. On paper, this Baltimore draft is extremely questionable at best.

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Cincinnati Bengals: C

PRE-DRAFT TEAM NEEDS

DL, DB, LB, RB, OL

2004 DRAFT PICKS

Rd Pk (Ov) Player Pos School Notes

1 26 (26) Chris Perry RB Michigan (from St. Louis)

2 17 (49) Keiwan Ratliff CB Florida

2 24 (56) Craig Terrill DT Purdue (from Miami via New England)

3 17 (80) Caleb Miller MLB Arkansas

3 33 (96) Landon Johnson OLB Purdue (Compensatory)

4 18 (114) Matthias Askew DT Michigan St.

4 21 (117) Jason Geathers WR Miami (Fl) (from Denver)

4 27 (123) Stacy Andrews OT Mississippi (from St. Louis)

6 18 (183) Greg Brooks CB Southern Miss

7 17 (218) Casey Bramlet QB Wyoming

FIRST-ROUND GRADE: C

With the trade of starting running back Corey Dillon to the New England, the Bengals were in need of a running back to play behind Rudi Johnson. Chris Perry from Michigan fits into the scheme of the Cincinnati offense. Not overly flashy, but with the ability to run the ball inside and be a compliment in the passing game, Perry is a solid selection for an improving Cincinnati team.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

The Bengals had plenty of picks to upgrade an improving team, but the results of this draft are questionable. Taking Perry over Jones was a risk, especially for a team that has issues at the cornerback position. Offensive linemen Matthias Askew and Stacy Andrews project to become solid offensive linemen, but the jury is out on the balance of the Cincinnati draft.

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Cleveland Browns: C

PRE-DRAFT TEAM NEEDS

OT, TE, OG, S, QB

2004 DRAFT PICKS

Rd Pk (Ov) Player Pos School Notes

1 6 (6) Kellen Winslow, Jr. TE Miami (Fl) (from Detroit)

2 27 (59) Sean Jones S Georgia (from Indianapolis)

4 10 (106) Luke McCown QB Louisiana Tech

5 29 (161) Amon Gordon DT Stanford (from Indianapolis)

6 11 (176) Kirk Chambers OT Stanford (from Buffalo)

7 7 (208) Adimchinobe Echemandu RB California

FIRST-ROUND GRADE: C

Tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. was equally rated with safety Sean Taylor on the Browns draft board, behind Robert Gallery. Once the Browns could not deal up for Gallery and had a deal fall through with the Giants to secure Taylor or Winslow, Cleveland moved up to the sixth-pick and selected Winslow. In Winslow, the Browns fill a large void and added a player who could prove to be the best offensive impact player in this draft.

When the Browns couldn't obtain the pick to select Gallery, Butch Davis knew he had to get one of three impact players the team targeted. Although the price to move up one spot (second-round selection) was a heft price to pay, the team got the standout talent it badly needed.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

Cleveland did very well in addressing critical needs at the tight end and safety positions, as well as securing the rights to the quarterback they had been keeping tabs on for the past year in Luke McCown from Louisiana Tech. Trading its second-round selection to select Winslow stripped the team of some of its punch, but day-one and its fourth round selection are solid. Selections in rounds five through seven are non-descript.

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Pittsburgh Steelers: B

PRE-DRAFT TEAM NEEDS

QB, CB, OT, LB

2004 DRAFT PICKS

Rd Pk (Ov) Player Pos School Notes

1 11 (11) Ben Roethlisberger QB Miami (Oh)

2 6 (38) Ricardo Colclough CB Tusculum College (from Atlanta via Indianapolis)

3 12 (75) Max Starks OT Florida

5 13 (145) Nathaniel Adibi DE Virginia Tech

6 12 (177) Bo Lacy OT Arkansas

6 29 (194) Matt Kranchik TE Penn St. (from St. Louis)

6 32 (197) Drew Caylor C Stanford (from New England)

7 11 (212) Eric Taylor DT Memphis

FIRST-ROUND GRADE: B

Pittsburgh headed into the draft looking for help at the cornerback, offensive line, and quarterback positions. After trades in the first seven picks of the round that favored the Steelers, Ben Roethlisberger fell to Pittsburgh at No. 11. Some scouts believe Roethlisberger has the tools to be the best quarterback in the draft. And for the Steelers, they have their quarterback of the future.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

Ricardo Colclough, Max Starks, and Nathaniel Adibi could challenge for starting roles at some point in the 2004 season. Adibi has the potential to step in and fill the pass rushing role from the outside linebacker position in the Steelers 3-4 defense.

Having the opportunity to select quarterback Ben Roethlisberger without having to trade up in the draft was a major benefit to the Steelers, as Roethlisberger will be counted on to be the future of the organization.