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The AFC's newest division has seen a dramatic shift of power during the past year.

Last April, the rest of the NFL cringed as the dominant Baltimore Ravens added the draft's top tight end, Todd Heap. There was little hope of keeping up with the Joneses, er, Modells. This year, those same Ravens are hoping Draft '02 can somehow fill all their open starting slots at every position.

Instead of trying to keep the pace with Baltimore, the surprising Steelers are now resting comfortably atop the division, the pesky Browns have narrowed the gap and the lowly Bengals are one quarterback away from being, well, not-so-lowly anymore.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers are the ultimate model of the how to draft for need. Coach Bill Cowher, former personnel man Tom Donahoe and current personnel whiz Kevin Colbert have done a tremendous job over the past few seasons replenishing their massive free-agent losses via the draft. For years the Steelers' cupboard was raided and for years they were one "solid-playing" Kordell Stewart away from being a playoff contender.

Needs: S, CB, FB, DL depth, QB

DB Lamont Thompson could be a part of rebuilding the Steelers' secondary. (AP)

Their secondary was by far the weakest link on a solid defense last season. Picking third to last in the first round, the Steelers should go with the best available safety or cornerback (provided another player who they rate much higher does not drop to them). If Miami safety Edward Reed drops to them, he'd be a superb pick at No. 30 and an instant challenger for a starting safety slot. Lamont Thompson of Washington State might be a little high here, but with 24 career interceptions, probably will not be available at No. 62. Colorado safety Michael Lewis is also rated as a high second-rounder.

Florida corner Lito Sheppard probably won't drop to No. 30, but if he does he would be a strong choice to become the newest Steeler.

The Steelers had injury problems at fullback last year and can grab a solid blocking back in the draft's latter rounds. Syracuse's Kyle Johnson, an intelligent and athletic fullback, would be a solid late-draft addition.

The Steelers did have a linebacker need before signing James Farrior. But they probably would have found one in the draft if they hadn't landed the ex-Jet. After all, the Steelers have found young stars Kendrell Bell in the second round last year and Joey Porter in the third in '99.

Baltimore Ravens

Can the Ravens pick up another 20 or so draft picks? No? Uh oh. Bodies, bodies and more bodies are what Baltimore needs. The Ravens have now officially joined the ranks of the 49ers, Packers and Cowboys as solid championship teams forced to shed talent to adhere to the strict guidelines of the salary cap. It's the ugly price of building a winner.

One major plus for the Ravens is their personnel department. The ferocious defense that led them to Super Bowl silver included six first-round draft picks, most of which also happen to be Pro Bowl players. The Ravens draft very well and will need to pull off the draft of a lifetime to return to playoff prominence.

Needs: RB, WR, OT, OG, NT, DE, OLB, ILB, S, CB

They have so many letters up there in the needs department it looks like an eye chart.

Do they try to rebuild their vaunted defense or do they give offensive-minded Brian Billick more toys with which to work? Considering Johnny Unitas' favorite, Chris Redman, will be a first-time starter, the Ravens would like to give him help early. Although Jamal Lewis is rehabbing well from his torn ACL, the team needs a solid, scare-the-heck-out-of-a-defense running back. They like Michigan State's T.J. Duckett. If he can slip past the Browns at No. 16 and somehow drop to the Ravens at No. 24, he'd be a very, very strong consideration.

They have tried unsuccessfully in recent years to turn a first-round receiver into a star on the next level. They lost Patrick Johnson and starter Qadry Ismail to free agency. They will likely go with a deep threat after Round 1, such as Auburn's burner Tim Carter in Round 2 or a speedy project in the middle rounds.

There was also strong contention last season that much of Elvis Grbac's problems were due to the fact that the right side of his offensive line looked eerily like something from the movie The Replacements. However, they have too many other pressing needs elsewhere to grab a guard or project tackle in the opening stanza.

Where are those needs? De-Fense ... De-Fense ... De-Fense. This is the team's bread and butter. They know what brought them to the Super Bowl. They know what makes opponents quiver in their cleats. But they also return a mere two members from their starting front seven from a year ago -- linebacker Ray Lewis and DE/OLB Peter Boulware (possibly three depending upon if Michael McCrary takes a big pay cut). Plus, they lost crucial DL backup Lional Daulton to the Broncos last week.

If a guy like Duckett is no longer on the board, they can hope for Napolean Harris of Northwestern to begin rebuilding their linebacking corps. If they go with a defensive lineman in Round 1, UAB's 6-5¾, 310-pound Eddie Freeman is a solid prospect with tremendous upside. Plus, he's the big-body they need to keep blockers off Lewis, the game's best defensive player. CB Sheppard would also be solid value at this slot and would give the Ravens a potential replacement for the departed Duane Starks.

Cleveland Browns

RB T.J. Duckett might become the answer for the Browns. (Allsport)

Do they go with the best available Hurricane? The only player who would fill a major need and is worthy of such consideration with the draft's 16th pick is tight end Jeremy Shockey. Though Cleveland needs a solid complement to TE Rickey Dudley, they have a much more pressing and immediate need.

Needs: RB, TE, OT, WR

The Browns are looking to come out of this draft with their running back of the future. Previously, it looked as if Duckett would be it. But team sources say that recent off-field questions regarding Boston College's William Green might drop him down to 16. If he is the next Fred Smoot, Randy Moss or Warren Sapp, stars whose stock plummeted after off-field problems came to light, Green won't get past coach Butch Davis. If the draft's top rated back is already taken, Duckett would be a top consideration.

The Browns also need a solid tackle and they have Arizona State's Levi Jones rated very high. However, The Browns say they expect the Giants will take him one pick before at No. 15.

Another goal is to give quarterback Tim Couch additional firepower. Top-rated receiver Donte Stallworth will not be on the board. Florida wideout Jabbar Gaffney's stock has risen dramatically in the past week and is now considered by many teams to be a worthy pick as high as No. 16. He has leap-frogged Hawaii's Ashley Lelie as the draft's No. 2 wideout on many team's boards.

If the Browns don't go with a running back early, they can grab former Hurricane Clinton Portis at pick No. 47. The team will more likely go with RB in Round 1 and then fill in the missing links after.

Cincinnati Bengals

To trade or not to trade? That is the question.

The Bengals have done a nice job in recent years to build up every skill position except quarterback. They've tried and failed over and over. Jon Kitna is not the answer. Akili Smith is not the answer. Drew Bledsoe or Joey Harrington might be their answer.

Believe it or not, the Bengals appear to be one good quarterback away from serious contention.

Needs: QB, TE, CB, S, OT, C

They are stacked at wide receiver and have one of the best in the game at RB in Corey Dillon, but have nobody to lead the troops into battle on Sundays. There is strong contention within the NFL that Cincy will trade up to grab Oregon's Joey Harrington (gee, he must be thrilled with this prospect). They can probably find a dance partner with a team such as Buffalo if he's still on the dance floor with the draft's fourth pick. Harrington is rated higher than Fresno State QB David Carr on many draft boards and has the moxie and leadership that Cincy has not enjoyed since Boomer Esiason last played there. Many teams also believe that Harrington is in a better position to provide an immediate impact than Carr.

An option that appears to have dwindled, then grown, then dwindled, then grown, then fizzled again is the team's chance to swing a deal for Bledsoe. However, Bengals' top dog Mike Brown is telling those close to him that he will not trade the 10th pick in the draft for Bledsoe and is currently against swapping first-rounders with the Pats. Two weeks before the draft, Harrington appears to be their best hope.

The Bengals are also in dire need of help at safety and tight end. They have little talent in the starting unit and have 32-year-old Darryl Williams as the only backup safety on the roster. They can grab Washington's Lamont Thompson or Colorado's Michael Lewis with the draft's 41st pick. Miami safety Edward Reed has an outside chance to drop to them at this slot.

Cincy had terrible injury problems at the tight end slot a year ago and the Bengals are looking for a starting caliber type of solution in the first three rounds. BYU's Doug Jolley, Washington TE Jerramy Stevens or TCU's Matt Schobel are all strong considerations.