<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%"><u>Baltimore Ravens</u></span>Cornerback: Chris McAlister is a fixture at one cornerback spot, but other than him, the Ravens do not have another starting-caliber cornerback on their roster. Samari Rolle is the other starter, but he was toasted with regularity, made very few plays and was the glaring weakness on a great defense. Rolle's best days are well behind him. Given their lack of depth at cornerback, the Ravens were unable to replace him with a better option. Adding a top young talent at the cornerback position would make a great defense even better and really would pay dividends in Baltimore's nickel and dime packages.Running back: Jamal Lewis only averaged 3.6 yards per attempt for the season, and only averaged over four yards per carry once in his last six games. He has become a dancer who doesn't attack defenses like he once did. Lewis carried the ball so much earlier in his career that it is unlikely he will ever return to his old form. He is also an expensive cap hit for 2007 and could be on his way out. At a minimum, Baltimore needs to add a change-of-pace runner who is capable of breaking long runs and adding explosive plays.Linebacker: Adalius Thomas is a star, but he is a free agent and will be very expensive to bring back. The Ravens do not have a player ready to take over if Thomas departs. Even if Thomas does stay, Baltimore's linebacker depth at all three positions is very suspect and an injury to one of their starters could hurt this outstanding defense. If they lose Thomas, adding two linebackers would be a real good move. One is required either way.Offensive line: There is not a specific need here and this cannot be considered a glaring hole, but Baltimore could benefit from adding a versatile, young lineman. Much of the Ravens' starting offensive line is aging and injuries have become a problem, especially at guard. Baltimore has spent draft picks on linemen lately, and players like Chris Chester and Jason Brown could become fixtures, but adding one more talented, versatile big man is the right move.Safety: Baltimore is fine with starters Ed Reed and Dawan Landry, but the depth behind these two is suspect. In fact, the overall depth in the secondary must be improved and adding another safety would help the nickel and dime packages quite a bit. Baltimore does not have to be specific in targeting a free safety or strong safety, but if it could find someone, maybe a veteran, who can play both positions and be the third safety, it surely would pay dividends.<span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%"><u>Cincinnati Bengals</u></span>Defensive tackle: Cincinnati's pass rush, especially on the interior, could use work. The Bengals would love to get their hands on a quality two-way defensive tackle, but players of that caliber are not easy to find. Sam Adams is old and an injury risk. John Thornton is average in just about all areas. Domata Peko was a pleasant surprise as a run stopper last year as a rookie, but Cincinnati will be in the market for a game-changing big man to anchor the interior of its defense.Tight end: Reggie Kelly and Tony Stewart are both exceptional role players who make their living blocking, and complementing the Bengals' plethora of dangerous weapons. The problem is that both players are free agents and there is no one behind them. The Bengals could fill this need by re-signing one or both players, but unless both come back, expect Cincinnati to bring in some new blood at tight end. If the Bengals can find a more dynamic pass catcher in the draft, while re-signing one of the aforementioned players, their offense would become even more difficult to game plan against.Offensive line: Rich Braham has retired after missing the better part of the season with a severe knee injury, and his replacement, Eric Ghiaciuc, showed a lot of promise last year in Braham's absence. However, Ghiaciuc isn't an overly physical mauler and the AFC North is loaded with wide-bodied defensive tackles. More pressing, Eric Steinbach is likely to leave via free agency and surely will be missed. Andrew Whitworth might have a bright future as Steinbach's replacement, but adding one more interior lineman would help.Defensive end: Justin Smith had his best season as a pro, but he is a free agent and will demand big money. Even if he is re-signed, adding another end would not be a terrible idea. The Bengals did not do a great job of getting after the quarterback in 2006. Robert Geathers is a fine rotational defensive end and situational pass rusher, but he will certainly need another talented end to lessen his load.Quarterback: There is no reason to worry about Carson Palmer, but the Bengals need to find a mid-round draft pick to groom as his backup, or a veteran free agent they could trust in spot duty. Anthony Wright is not a suitable backup and if Palmer were to miss extended time, the Bengals would suffer dramatically.<span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%"><u>Cleveland Browns</u></span>Offensive tackle: Kevin Shaffer started the season slowly, but improved as the season went along, becoming Cleveland's best offensive lineman last year. Shaffer can play on the left side, but isn't the ideal athlete for the position. He is better suited for right tackle, a position that was a complete nightmare for the Browns. In a perfect world, the Browns could acquire a true left tackle and move Shaffer to the right, but elite left tackles don't grow on trees. Even if LeCharles Bentley recovers fully from his knee injury, the Browns probably will need more help with their interior line, and must get younger at guard.Defensive end: Orpheus Roye is really getting up in age and is only slightly above average to begin with. Alvin McKinley is extremely ordinary as well. Other than those two, the Browns really do not have players they should feel comfortable with at defensive end. Adding two or three ends would be wise.Cornerback: Cleveland could not have had worse luck with this position in 2006. The Browns basically got nothing from their second and third cornerbacks, Gary Baxter and Daylon McCutcheon. It is still unclear how these players will return from injury. Leigh Bodden is one of the most underrated cornerbacks in the league, but also missed substantial time with injuries last year, forcing Cleveland to play with sub par corners week in and week out.Running back: The Browns' running backs were not given a lot of room to run by the offensive line in 2006, but the guys with the ball in their hands did very little to gain yardage on their own. Reuben Droughns is incapable of making big plays, and lost some quickness and tenacity last year. He seems to be on the decline and is much more suited to be a backup. The problem is Cleveland is missing its horse.Nose tackle: Ted Washington is the oldest defensive player in the NFL. With his age, body type and conditioning, he wears out very quickly and has to be considered an injury risk. Needless to say, he is not the future at the most important position in a 3-4 defensive scheme. The players behind Washington might be considered adequate for depth purposes, but they are not the anvil that Cleveland needs in the middle of its defense.<span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%"><u>Pittsburgh Steelers</u></span>Outside linebackers: Joey Porter is more talk than production. He is an expensive cap hit and his game is on the decline. Clark Haggans is a suitable starter, but isn't an overly dynamic playmaker. If Pittsburgh could find a right outside linebacker who struck fear in opposing pass blockers, Haggans' production would increase dramatically. Pittsburgh also has James Harrison, who is a valuable player, but can wear down if left on the field too long. Two players could be needed to best fill this need, but one difference maker is required without question.Offensive line: Pittsburgh needs to find its center of the future. The right side of the offensive line also struggled last season and Pittsburgh might need two players to plug its holes. The Steelers also do not have linemen that offer much versatility, so if they could pick up a center who is capable of playing guard, and/or a right tackle who could move inside, it would help. The cupboard isn't bare for the Steelers and they have some young players who could step up, but age has become a factor in the trenches and new blood would be welcome.Wide receiver: The Steelers spent last year's first-round pick on Santonio Holmes, and he showed signs of becoming a star in the second half of the season. Hines Ward remains the ultimate professional and his production is very strong when healthy, but Ward is getting up in age. With his physical playing style, Ward began to show signs of becoming an injury concern. Nate Washington and Cedrick Wilson are best suited as fourth receivers, and the Steelers have a wild card in Willie Reid. He was drafted as a returner with upside at wide receiver, but missed almost all of his rookie year due to injury. Adding a big, physical wide receiver who excels in the red zone could make this group exceptional.Cornerback: Deshea Townsend took a step backwards last year, and age could be starting to catch up with him. Ike Taylor also regressed quite a bit in 2006, but has a much better chance of returning to the impressive form he showed in 2005. Pittsburgh has Bryant McFadden, who seems to have a bright future, but adding one more player into the mix for depth would not be a bad idea.Running back: Willie Parker made the Pro Bowl, was the Steelers' MVP, and it seems he only will only improve as he learns the nuances of the position. As good as Parker has been, the Steelers' running game would be better if they had a much bigger power back in the mold of Jerome Bettis to complement Parker's talents. A big physical runner would help Pittsburgh regain its identity, while extending Parker's career by lessening the number of collisions he is forced to withstand.</div>
