NFL Draft 2012: Looking at the 3 Biggest Needs for Each AFC North Team

Now that the NFL season is actually, entirely over, much of the discussion now shifts to April's draft.

With all four teams in the AFC North division needing depth at certain areas while also keeping their respective cap situations in mind, they will all have to rely heavily on the draft to fill those holes.

Here are my estimations of each team's three biggest needs for 2012.

Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens are a strong team that needs depth at a number of positions.

However, with the 29th pick in each round (save the sixth, where they have no pick), the top players at those positions will likely be gone.

For years now, the talk has been that the Ravens need an inside linebacker to be Ray Lewis' ultimate successor. This year might just be the year, considering that fellow ILB Jameel McClain is an unrestricted free agent, and the Ravens have cap issues.

Ideally, they could get a top linebacker in the first round, but they might have to settle for the best available player when they make their first round selection and then search for a solid second-round linebacker.

Wide receiver was a position the Ravens hoped they wouldn't have to fill out for a second consecutive year, but the talent level on the team's roster drops off significantly beyond Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith.

Look for the team to try to find a mid-round receiver who can hopefully develop chemistry with quarterback Joe Flacco. A slot receiver would be a great addition to the team and could take some of the receiving pressure off of running back Ray Rice.

Center is another position the Ravens will need to shore up in the draft. Veteran Matt Birk may retire this offseason, and though Andre Gurode hasn't been a liability, he's not a long-term solution.

They might use their first-round pick on a center if they aren't sold on the linebackers available to them. Nabbing Wisconsin's Peter Konz or Georgia guard Cordy Glenn and converting him to center are options.

Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns' most glaring issues are on offense, though they could be well-served by building depth on defense in this year's draft, especially when it comes to the pass-rush.

First, the team needs to determine the future of current starting quarterback Colt McCoy. McCoy, who was a third-round draft pick in 2010, hasn't produced to the level of a true starter, and with the fourth overall draft pick, they have a real shot at nabbing Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III in the first round.

If they choose to stick with McCoy or pursue a free-agent passer instead of Griffin, then the Browns would be well-served to take top-rated Alabama running back Trent Richardson.

While the team claims they are going to try to make a deal to keep running back Peyton Hillis around, the sense right now is if they can find another solution, they'd gladly take it.

Should the Browns ultimately not offer a longer-term deal to Hillis or it's not to his liking, then running back will be a draft priority.

Wide receiver is also a position where the Browns are lacking depth. Though this year's receiving class isn't particularly deep, if they can find a middle round gem, they would be well-served to take him.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers have the worst salary cap situation of any team in the AFC North, which means they'll need to heavily rely on the draft to build depth.

They're dealing with the effects of age on some of their key defensive players, namely linebacker James Harrison and safety Troy Polamalu.

First-round linebackers will all, more than likely, be off the board by the time that the Steelers pick 24th, but they've generally been intelligent at that position and won't need a first-round talent to make an impact on the roster in both the short and long-term.

Safeties are a bit deeper this year. If they can find one with similar physicality and speed as Polamalu in a later round, it will be a miracle, but they might find themselves with someone relatively special in the third or fourth rounds.

A nose tackle is a very high priority for the Steelers this year too, as Chris Hoke retired after a series of neck injuries and Casey Hampton had to undergo offseason ACL surgery. Should they go that direction, Memphis' Dontari Poe is an excellent option, though they may have to use their first-round pick to take him.

Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals have found themselves in the enviable position of having $40 million in cap room along with nine 2012 draft picks.

That means the Bengals can be a bit more discerning on which of their unrestricted free agents they extend new contracts to, which free agents they pick up in March and what their draft priorities are.

The Bengals are a few key components away from having a highly-competitive team for years to come. They need a cornerback to replace Johnathan Joseph (who they lost in free agency last year) and to improve their pass-rush.

One area that the draft could prove fruitful for the Bengals is at running back. With two first-round picks, they can easily use one on a defensive back and another on a running back.

The team isn't likely to retain veteran Cedric Benson, who is coming off of a one-year deal, and I wouldn't be surprised if they made a play to nab a free-agent veteran as well as a younger player in the draft.

Also, look for the Bengals to nab some offensive linemen in the draft. Though it's not likely a first-round need, they'll look to shore up their depth at tackle in middle and later rounds.