NFL Combine 2012: Notes for Every AFC North Team

The NFL scouting combine concludes on Tuesday, and each team in the AFC North will have a lot of information to pore over between now and April's draft. Here's an overview of what each team will be looking at in the coming weeks.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Coming Up With a Plan C

Headed into the combine, two players who seemed to both be perfect fits for the Steelers as well as realistic targets with their 24th overall first-round pick now appear destined to be off the board once it's time for the team to pick.

Those men, guard Cordy Glenn and nose tackle Dontari Poe, had such impressive combine performances that they're likely to go in the first 20 picks, meaning it's now time for the Steelers to put together a Plan C when it comes to their first-round draft pick.

It's not as though Pittsburgh will find themselves in the lurch, however. The team appears to have interest in inside linebackers Dont'a Hightower of Alabama and Vontaze Burfict of Arizona State, despite the latter's poor showing at the combine.

There's also a good deal of depth at offensive line in this year's draft class. If the Steelers cannot get Glenn in the first round, they could target someone like Wisconsin guard Kevin Zeitler in the second round.

Cleveland Browns: Morris Claiborne in Play?

The assumption is that the Cleveland Browns will use both of their first-round picks to improve their offense, drafting running back Trent Richardson No. 4 overall and using their No. 22 pick on a wide receiver or trading both picks to move up and draft quarterback Robert Griffin III.

However, the Browns could also choose to improve their defense and select LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne with that No. 4 overall pick.

The Browns had a good 2011 season, on paper, when it comes to pass defense. Teams didn't throw against the Browns defense very much, attributable as much to their stout secondary as to their poor run defense, which ranked 25th according to Football Outsiders.

The only defender worthy of a top-five pick in the draft is Claiborne, and he would be an ideal complement to Browns corner Joe Haden. Further, the team is likely to lose Dimitri Patterson to free agency and starter Sheldon Brown just ended his 10th year in the NFL.

While it doesn't seem likely that the Browns decide to go defense with the No. 4 overall pick, if they do, the choice would undoubtedly be Claiborne.

Baltimore Ravens: Looking Away from Peter Konz?

Heading into the scouting combine, it seemed as though the Baltimore Ravens would be looking closely at centers, with the possibility that the team's veteran center, Matt Birk, would retire before the start of the 2012 season.

Now, it's looking less and less likely that Birk will retire, and though the Ravens will still need to build depth at the position, they won't necessarily need to look to the first round to provide it.

At first, it seemed as though Wisconsin center Peter Konz would be a perfect first-round pick for the Ravens, who select 29th overall. Now that Birk is going to stick around for one more season, the Ravens are free to address other areas with that first-round pick, namely wide receiver or linebacker.

Cincinnati Bengals: Running Back Doug Martin Could Fit

The Cincinnati Bengals will need to add at least one running back this offseason, likely turning to both free agency and the draft to bolster their ranks. While Washington's Chris Polk's name has been thrown around in connection with the Bengals, another option, Boise State's Doug Martin, made quite a case for being the team's choice.

Cincinnati has two picks in the first round and, in my estimation, will use one of them on a running back. Martin ran a solid 4.55-second 40-yard dash and tied for first in bench press reps for the position, with 28.

Similarly to Polk, Martin is versatile, with good pass-catching abilities and blocking skills. Look for Cinci to examine both Martin and Polk closely between now and April; I wouldn't be surprised if either player ends up with the Bengals this year.

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