2014 NFL Draft Grades: AFC North

The Cincinnati Bengals won the AFC North in 2013, but were eliminated in a surprising home playoff loss to San Diego. It marks the first time in franchise history that the Bengals made the playoffs three years in a row, but with a roster as talented as theirs they are looking for more going into the 2014 season. Perhaps the biggest surprise was that Cincinnati was the only team from the AFC North to make the playoffs. Baltimore followed up their Super Bowl campaign with an 8-8 season, and Pittsburgh missed the playoffs for the second year in a row with an 8-8 record as well. Cleveland brought in a new coach and GM and they were loaded with two first round picks for 2014. Baltimore: B+ Best Pick: C.J. Mosley Late Round Sleeper: John Urschel Baltimore looks to have found its heir apparent for Ray Lewis in first round pick C.J. Mosley, who many saw as a Top 10 talent. He is a tough, smart hard hitter who will start from Day 1. Tim Jernigan will give the Ravens depth in the defensive line in Round 2. As usual, the Ravens had a strong draft from top to bottom, getting players in later rounds like Lorenzo Taliaferro and Mike Campanaro who can contribute this year. A late round sleeper looks to be John Urschel, a guard who might find a place in the offensive line right away but who is also perhaps the smartest player in draft, after getting his Masters degree from Penn State and teaching math classes there while playing football for the Nittany Lions. Cincinnati: B+ Best Pick: Darqueze Dennard Late Round Sleeper: Russell Bodine The Bengals needed depth in the defensive secondary, and had one of the three best corners in the draft fall into their lap with Darqueze Dennard falling to #24. The Bengals found the bruising back to pair with Gio Bernard in Round 2 with the pick of Jeremy Hill, and also got the eventual replacement for Michael Johnson on defense with Will Clarke in Round 3. Cincinnati also had another potential future starter fall for them when they picked up A.J. McCarron in Round 5. A late round sleeper looks to be Russell Bodine, a center selected in Round 4 who can also play guard. Cleveland: B+ Best Pick: Johnny Manziel Late Round Sleeper: Terrence West The Browns traded down in Round 1, then traded back up to get Justin Gilbert, a cornerback who will team with Joe Haden to form potentially the best tandem in the NFL. Then they traded up with their second 1st Rounder and got the quarterback they wanted all along in Johnny Manziel, who will have a chance to start from Day 1 depending on the health of Brian Hoyer. The offensive line got a healthy dose of big and nasty with the pick of Joel Bitonio, who can play on the right side and open up holes for late round sleeper Terrence West, a bruising back from Towson who will split reps with newly acquired Ben Tate. Pittsburgh: A- Best Pick: Ryan Shazier Late Round Sleeper: Daniel McCullers The Steelers went for defense, and got tow potential starters in Ryan Shazier and Stephon Tuitt. Dri Archer is a multi purpose speedster who will give defenses fits with his blazing speed. In need of a wide receiver, the Steelers picked up Martavis Bryant, who could start opposite Antonio Brown from Day 1. A late round sleeper could be Daniel McCullers, the massive nose tackle who can fill up the middle and free up defenders to make plays around him.

Defense Wins Championships

The Seattle Seahawks proved the old adage true tonight in putting a WWE-style smackdown on the Denver Broncos 43-8 to capture the Super Bowl. My prediction of a 3 point Denver win was off just a little (to say the least!), but I'm not sure too many people saw this coming. But I think it is safe to say that the rout was spotted about 12 seconds into the game when a botched snap led to a safety, and it was all downhill from there for Denver. I can't help but think what this win for Seattle will do for the draft stock of defensive players going into the upcoming 2014 NFL Draft. Yes, having a franchise quarterback is important, don't get me wrong, but if you have a defense that can go facemask to facemask with the best in the game and completely shut them down like the Seahawks did then there are going to be a lot of teams rethink their draft plan and who they might take in May. After all, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. It was pointed out during the broadcast that the Seahawks defense was built from the back forward, and that is very much against the norm. A front four can get pressure on the quarterback if he doesn't have any one to throw to, and with Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor and friends in the secondary, it was nearly impossible all season for opponents of Seattle. Looking at the top draft prospects, I can easily see Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix, Calvin Pryor, Justin Gilbert, Darqueze Dennard, Jason Varrett and all of the top secondary prospects moving up the draft boards for the next three months. And if I were scouting for an NFL team, I'd take a look at corners that can physically match up with receivers even though they may not have the speed one has usually coveted. If a corner can win the battle off the line of scrimmage, it is easier to keep coverage throughout the play. Who needs catch up speed if you are already blanketing the target. With the season over, I'll start gathering my DSA Player Ranking data and putting out my own mock drafts. This is a time that I always look forward to, the time when hope springs eternal. Until that first bad draft pick for your team makes you yell out 'WHAT THE BLEEP WERE THEY THINKING!!!'