By Tony Moss, NFL Editor (Sports Network) – The Bengals are coming off their first playoff appearance in four years, and if they want to take the next step and get that elusive first postseason win in two decades, they must upgrade their offensive line talent. Whether that means taking an o-lineman at No. 21, just one year after selecting tackle Andre Smith at No. 6, remains to be seen, but they can’t go through another season afraid to let Carson Palmer drop back. Wide receiver also seems like a natural target in the early rounds, with Dez Bryant (Oklahoma State), Golden Tate (Notre Dame), and Demaryius Thomas (Georgia Tech) all potential running mates for Chad Ochocinco. The Bengals were awarded the first compensatory pick of the draft (No. 96 overall) after losing T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Stacy Andrews to free agency prior to last season, and may focus on a pass rusher or safety candidate with this or its other third-round selection.

2009 Record: 10-6First Three Picks: No

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By Tony Moss, NFL Editor (Sports Network) – Fans who have watched the Bills mishandle a large number of important draft picks over the past decade will keep a very skeptical eye on the initial efforts of the Buddy Nix/Chan Gailey regime in that regard. Though there will be some pushing for Buffalo to pick a quarterback like Jimmy Clausen (Notre Dame) at No. 9, it would make way more sense for the Bills to anchor their JV-looking o-line by taking a tackle like Bryan Bulaga (Iowa), Trent Williams (Oklahoma) or Anthony Davis (Rutgers). The quarterback need might be better filled in round two, where someone like Colt McCoy (Texas) or, yes, even Tim Tebow (Florida) would offer less risk. Elsewhere in the draft, greater reinforcements at running back, wide receiver, and on the defensive front seven should be mid-round concerns.

2009 Record: 6-10First Three Picks: No. 9, No. 41, No. 72Number of Selections: 9 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7)RECENT FIRST ROUND HISTORY: 2009 – Aaron Maybi

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By Tony Moss, NFL Editor (Sports Network) – The Broncos will pick three selections sooner than they would have thanks to the Jay Cutler deal, but will have fewer overall picks after moving up a couple of times in last year’s draft, and also acquiring the likes of Le Kevin Smith and Russ Hochstein from the Patriots. The first-round approach could depend on what the team plans to do with Brandon Marshall, who appears increasingly likely to return to Denver but can’t be counted on long-term. That said, picking consensus top receiver Dez Bryant (Oklahoma State) at No. 11 could be a reach. The more prudent approach could be to shore up a defensive front seven that doesn’t quite have the personnel to excel in a 3-4. Perhaps Josh McDaniels will envision Rolando McClain (Alabama) being the Broncos’ version of New England’s Jerod Mayo.

2009 Record: 8-8First Three Picks: No. 11, No. 45, No. 80Number of Selections: 6 (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7)RECENT FIRST ROUND HISTORY: 2009 – Knowshon Moreno

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By Tony Moss, NFL Editor (Sports Network) – The Browns are flush with selections in Mike Holmgren’s first draft as team boss, as deals that sent the likes of Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow, Kamerion Wimbley, Corey Williams, and Louis Leonard out of town will put Cleveland in a position of power during the three-day selection meeting. With the No. 7 overall pick, the Browns figure to take a long look at cornerback Joe Haden (Florida), who would be expected to fill the team’s most immediate need. If safety Eric Berry (Tennessee) is still available, he would be a possibility as well. Elsewhere on defense, it would be a surprise if a team that traded top pass rusher Wimbley to the Raiders didn’t come out of the third round with at least one credible OLB candidate. On the offensive end, Cleveland presumably filled its need at quarterback (Jake Delhomme, Seneca Wallace) and tight end (Benjamin Watson) during free agency, but a running back to complement Jerome Harrison and another pas

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By Tony Moss, NFL Editor (Sports Network) – With LaDainian Tomlinson a Jet and Darren Sproles not viewed as an every-down ball-carrier, San Diego is expected by many to take a running back at No. 28 overall. If they’re set on a RB, the Bolts could be forced to reach slightly for a Jonathan Dwyer (Georgia Tech) or Toby Gerhart (Stanford). Or, general manager A.J. Smith could seek to shore up the nose tackle or offensive line after both areas had their difficulties a year ago. The Chargers’ second pick (No. 40 overall) will be scrutinized by many, since it was this selection that San Diego was able to acquire from Seattle in the deal that sent relative unknown and Bolts’ third-string quarterback Charlie Whitehurst to the Seahawks. Seattle also gave up the No. 60 overall pick in that deal, and traded its sixth-rounder to the Texans for lineman Travis Johnson.

2009 Record: 13-3First Three Picks: No. 28, No. 40, No. 91Number of Selections: 7 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5, 7)RECENT FIRST ROU

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By Tony Moss, NFL Editor (Sports Network) – Kansas City ended up with the 50th overall pick as a result of the deal that sent Tony Gonzalez to Atlanta last year, and will now have three much-needed selections in the Top 50. With the first of those (No. 5), the Chiefs could be taking a long look at safety Eric Berry (Tennessee), a player with a chance to have a Troy Polamalu/Ed Reed-type impact at the next level. The team could also target a game-ready tackle candidate, with several such players likely to go in the top half of the first-round. The middle rounds should see Kansas City paying some attention to a deficient front seven, especially the linebacker position. The Chiefs aren’t scheduled for a pick in the final 111 selections, with GM Scott Pioli having swung a couple of deals with his father-in-law, the Dolphins’ Bill Parcells (including one that yielded Kansas City offensive linemen Andy Alleman and Ikechuku Ndukwe), to take the Chiefs off the clock there.

2009 Rec

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By Tony Moss, NFL Editor (Sports Network) – The reigning AFC champs saw an average group of defensive tackles overachieve last season, and simply can’t count on the same happening in 2010. If a tackle like Jared Odrick (Penn State) or Brian Price (UCLA) is available at No. 31, look for Indy to snatch him up. Given GM Bill Polian’s criticism of the offensive line’s play in the Super Bowl, another early-round target could be in the offensive trenches. Dwight Freeney’s advancing age and injury woes might spark some interest in an edge pass rusher as well. The Colts surrendered their sixth-round pick to the Eagles in order to move up and select punter Pat McAfee in the 2009 Draft (a good move, as it turns out), but will get a couple of extra bodies in the form of two compensatory selections in the seventh round.

2009 Record: 14-2First Three Picks: No. 31, No. 63, No. 94Number of Selections: 8 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 7, 7)RECENT FIRST ROUND HISTORY: 2009 – Donald Brown (RB, Connectic

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By Tony Moss, NFL Editor (Sports Network) – The Dolphins’ 10 selections might suggest that the team can come away from Draft weekend markedly better, but six of those 10 selections come in the final two rounds, and all will need some luck to make the roster. The worst-kept secret in football is that Miami is looking for a high-impact pass rusher with the No. 12 pick, and the Fins will do their due diligence on the likes of Jason Pierre-Paul (South Florida), Sergio Kindle (Texas), Brandon Graham (Michigan), and Derrick Morgan (Georgia Tech). Don’t be surprised if Miami’s draft board at OLB looks much different than those of the draftniks. Otherwise, the Fins could use a skill player on offense, and though wide receiver would seem to be a bigger need, Miami can’t count on the banged-up Ronnie Brown and the past-his-sell-by-date Ricky Williams much longer at running back. The secondary remains a work in progress, and a bunch of those late-round picks could be used on some rough diamo

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By Tony Moss, NFL Editor (Sports Network) – The Jaguars – who have just one of the Draft’s first 73 picks after dealing their second-rounder to the Patriots for the right to select cornerback Derek Cox last April – could be looking to move down from No. 10 in order to pick up another selection in the first three rounds. If they’re unable to do that, and quarterback Jimmy Clausen (Notre Dame) is still on the board, a team with flagging ticket sales and a less-than-stable QB situation could find it tempting to make that reach. The Jaguars filled their biggest need when they signed ex-Packers pass rusher Aaron Kampman, and their poor luck drafting defensive ends (see: Derrick Harvey) will likely prompt them to instead go after an interior offensive lineman and/or defensive back with two of their earliest selections. Additionally, one of the youngest receiving corps in the league could use at least one more body there.

2009 Record: 7-9First Three Picks: No. 10, No. 74, No. 108N

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By Tony Moss, NFL Editor (Sports Network) – The Jets made a splash during the free agency period by acquiring running back LaDainian Tomlinson and cornerback Antonio Cromartie, but there are still some needs to be addressed. Darrelle Revis remains the only sure thing in a secondary that parted company with safety Kerry Rhodes and corners Lito Sheppard and Donald Strickland, and another edge pass rusher might allow Rex Ryan to stop holding his breath in the hopes that Calvin Pace and/or Vernon Gholston can fit into his system. If the Jets look offense in the first two rounds, they figure to go after a pass-catcher to take some pressure off of Jerricho Cotchery and the hot-and-cold Braylon Edwards. The Jets’ relinquished their third-round pick to the Browns in the Edwards deal last season.

2009 Record: 9-7First Three Picks: No. 29, No. 61, No. 124Number of Selections: 6 (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7)RECENT FIRST ROUND HISTORY: 2009 – Mark Sanchez (QB, USC); 2008 – Vernon Gholston (OLB, O

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