NFL Draft 2012: Every AFC Team's Biggest Need and Player to Fill It

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The parade has paraded, New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning has mugged it up with Mickey Mouse and the 2011-12 NFL season is now complete.

However, there is no rest for the weary, as general managers across the league will now begin poring over their rosters in an attempt to identify the weaknesses on their team and how best to address them in free agency or April's draft.

(OK, Mike Brown in Cincinnati will probably just do Mad Libs for three weeks, but you get what I mean.)

Let's don the caps of those general managers for a moment and take a look around the AFC, focusing on each team's biggest need and a player available in April's NFL draft that could fill it.

Buffalo Bills

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Biggest Need: Defensive End

The Buffalo Bills struggled to get after the quarterback in 2011, ranking 27th in the NFL in sacks, and with a switch to the 4-3 defense looming, the Bills not only need pass rush help, but also personnel to fit with their new scheme.

Good Fit: Melvin Ingram: DE, South Carolina

Miami Dolphins

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Biggest Need: Offensive Line

The Dolphins need a quarterback too, but it doesn't matter who's under center if he's running for his life, so the Dolphins should look to upgrade on the woeful Marc Colombo at right tackle if they miss out on the Robert Griffin sweepstakes.

Good Fit: Riley Reiff: OT, Iowa

New England Patriots

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Biggest Need: Cornerback

I've been beating on this drum for so long that my arm is going to fall off, but as was once again demonstrated in the Super Bowl, the New England secondary is a mess, and the Patriots have to spend an early pick on that position.

Good Fit: Chase Minnifield: CB, Virginia

New York Jets

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Biggest Need: Wide Receiver

The New York Jets could use pass rush help too, but even if the Jets can mend fences with wideout Santonio Holmes (and vice versa), the New York offense could desperately use another target to complement him, which Plaxico Burress failed to do last season.

Good Fit: Michael Floyd: WR, Notre Dame

Baltimore Ravens

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Biggest Need: Inside Linebacker

I'm not about to disparage Ray Lewis (what am I, nuts?), but he will be 37 years old when the 2012 season starts. He seemed to wear down a bit towards season's end, and there are a couple players that could be available to Baltimore in the late first that would make for excellent understudies.

Good Fit: Vontaze Burfict: ILB, Arizona State

Cincinnati Bengals

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Biggest Need: Running Back

Cornerback is also definitely an area the Cincinnati Bengals need help in, and the Bengals have two first-round picks.

Unfortunately, the free agent classes at both positions are shallow, so it's hard to say which way the Bengals would go first, although my decision would be easy if a certain player falls far enough.

Good Fit: Trent Richardson: RB, Alabama

Cleveland Browns

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Biggest Need: Euthanasia

Where do I start?

Assuming for a moment that they don't trade up for Griffin, whoever starts at quarterback for the Browns is going to need offensive playmakers in the worst way, and while I'm a big fan of Trent Richardson, fourth overall is an awfully high price to pay for a running back in the NFL nowadays.

Good Fit: Justin Blackmon: WR, Oklahoma State

Pittsburgh Steelers

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Biggest Need: Offensive/Defensive Line

The Pittsburgh Steelers have gotten old and could use upgrades on both the offensive and defensive lines.

There are a few more available 3-4 defensive linemen I could see the Steelers pursuing in free agency than offensive linemen, so that leaves protecting Big Ben as Pittsburgh's top priority in the draft.

Good Fit: Kelechi Osemele: OT, Iowa State

Houston Texans

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Biggest Need: Wide Receiver

If there's one glaring hole in the Houston Texans lineup, it's at wide receiver opposite Andre Johnson, as Kevin Walter's getting old and Jacoby Jones is much better at running quickly than he is at catching stuff.

Like passes. Or punts.

Good Fit: Kendall Wright: WR/KR, Baylor

Indianapolis Colts

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Biggest Need: Defensive Tackle

After the Luck pick, so don't go freaking out.

One of the keys to the transition to a 3-4 defense the Colts are likely planning under new Indianapolis defensive coordinator Greg Manusky is finding the right nose tackle to anchor the defensive line, and the Baltimore Ravens (where Manusky and head coach Chuck Pagano came over from) have generally favored smaller "penetrating" nose tackles to huge line-cloggers.

Good Fit: Alameda Ta'amu: DT, Washington

Jacksonville Jaguars

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Biggest Need: Defensive End

Opposing quarterbacks didn't exactly cower in fear of the Jacksonville Jaguars' 25th-ranked pass rush in 2011, and with leading sacker Jeremy Mincey set for free agency, the Jags are borderline desperate for help on the defensive front.

Good Fit: Quinton Coples: DE, North Carolina

Tennessee Titans

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Biggest Need: Defensive Line

Only one team in the NFL got to the quarterback fewer times than the Tennessee Titans in 2011, who managed a measly 28 sacks all season.

However, if the Titans miss out on one of the "elite" 4-3 defensive ends in the first, they may address the offensive line there, waiting until the next round to bolster their pass rush.

Good Fit: Andre Branch: DE, Clemson

Denver Broncos

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Biggest Need: Defensive Tackle

The Denver Broncos don't have a lot of glaring needs, although the team could use upgrades both at the front and back end of the defense.

Better talent will be there for the former with Denver's first pick, and they should be able to grab a player that will instantly improve their 22nd-ranked run defense from last year.

Good Fit: Fletcher Cox: DT, Mississippi State

Kansas City Chiefs

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Biggest Need: Offensive Line

When you rank in the bottom 10 of the National Football League in total offense and the bottom half in sacks allowed, that's generally an indication that your offensive line may need some work, and the Chiefs should have a number of excellent options to choose from.

Good Fit: David DeCastro: G, Stanford

Oakland Raiders

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Biggest Need: Inside Linebacker

If the Oakland Raiders make the rumored switch to a 3-4 defense, there's going to be all sorts of personnel flip-flops, but what Oakland could really use is a solid SILB to pair with Rolando McClain inside.

Unfortunately, the Raiders won't pick until at least the end of the third round, and trying at this point to predict who might be there is like trying to predict who Al Davis would draft with any given pick.

Draft's not going to be the same this year. Miss you, Al.

Good Fit: Tank Carder, ILB, TCU

San Diego Chargers

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Biggest Need: Outside Linebacker

With the exception of linebacker Antwan Barnes, the San Diego Chargers pass rush was anemic last year. ranking 23rd in the National Football league in sacks.

Given the number of quality 3-4 rush OLB available early in this year's draft, the Chargers may have the luxury of filling a need and getting the best player available all in one shot.

Good Fit: Whitney Mercilus: DE/OLB, Illinois