AFC North draft needs Browns must add offensive playmaker

With the 2015 fast approaching, Bucky Brooks is breaking down the biggest areas of need for every team in the NFL, division by division. Below is his look at the AFC North. (NOTE: Click on tabs to see other divisions; click on team names to see a full list of draft picks.) Biggest needs: Receiver, tight end, cornerback. General manager Ozzie Newsome and his staff are masters at identifying blue-chip players at various stages of the draft. The consistently land -caliber talent in the early rounds, which is e sential to remaining a title contender in today's game. Losing receivers and via free agency has created a huge void in the team's pa sing attack. Baltimore could use a big-bodied pa s catcher, such as Arizona State's , Mi souri's or UCF's , to help take more shots in coordinator Marc Trestman's offense. With ' departure to the and 's durability a major question, Baltimore will likely look to snag a tight end. But this is an underwhelming cla s; only one, Minnesota's , stands out as a po sible first-rounder, while Miami's is more likely a Day 2 pick. If the decide to addre s this need later on, they might target a big-bodied weapon like Penn State's . On defense, LSU's , Washington's and Wake Forest's would add much-needed depth to the secondary. Biggest needs: Offensive tackle, receiver, safety. The have quietly a sembled one of the most talented rosters in the league through clever drafting and impre sive player development. That said, they still have areas to tighten up, including the safety spot. With entering his ninth season, don't be surprised if Marvin Lewis and Co. go after a ball-hawk to shore up the back end. Alabama's is the crown jewel of the 2015 cla s; he would give Lewis the rangy, playmaker he covets in the middle of the field. Offensively, the need to put together a succe sion plan for at left tackle. The veteran, who's played his entire nine-year Marquis Hayes Jersey career with Cincinnati, could help groom a developmental prospect like Texas A&M's or Stanford's to eventually take over. After injuries decimated the ' receiving corps down the stretch last season, the team might target a young pa s catcher in the early rounds. Miami's and Kansas State's are electric slot receivers, while USC's would be an ideal WR2 to pair with on the perimeter. Biggest needs: Receiver, offensive tackle, tight end. After getting minimal production from their pair of 2014 first-round picks ( and ), the must nail each of their two Day 1 selections this year to keep pace in the AFC North. Despite facing public pre sure to pick up a quarterback, the would be wise to keep adding talent around the position, to ensure succe s for the eventual starter. An electric playmaker like or Louisville's could provide the team with a No. 1 receiver for the future, but landing a big-play threat like or Ohio State's on Day 2 might be a better value play. The lo s of tight end puts the team in the market for a dynamic threat over the middle. and could fill the role, and both could be available on Day 2. The might also look to upgrade their offensive line with a rugged edge blocker like LSU's or Miami's . Biggest needs: Cornerback, safety, tight end. Coach Mike Tomlin is on record as stating the ' offense should rank as in football, but he must retool a defense that's reeling from the lo s of several key veterans this offseason. The secondary in particular must be addre sed, after the of Troy Polamalu and . , and are long, rangy cover corners that fit the ' mold. At safety, is certainly on the wish list, but the team could target a combo player like Utah's or USC's to fill multiple roles in the back end. Tight end is nearing the end of a solid career, and the don't yet have a viable replacement in the pipeline. , and are all potential options. Follow Bucky Brooks on Twitter . David Mayo Jersey