ESPN.com continues its examination of each AFC team's master plan with a look at the Central, where no team has been caught watching from the sidelines during free agency.

	Shannon Sharpe left Denver for a four-year, $14 million deal in Baltimore.

Baltimore Ravens
1999 record: 8-8.
First-round pick: Fifth and 15th overall.
Offseason plan: No offensive genius can be happy unless he has enough toys to play with in his game plan. Brian Billick clearly wants more weapons this offseason. In addition to re-signing QB Tony Banks, he found a playmaking TE in Shannon Sharpe. Now Billick is in the desirable position of deciding what to do with the fifth and 15th picks in the draft. A rampant rumor at the combine had the Ravens dealing for unhappy Bengals RB Corey Dillon. Even if Baltimore dips into the draft's deep RB pool (can you say Thomas Jones?), it might still pursue Dillon. Don't rule out the selection of Michigan State's Plaxico Burress, a WR with Randy Moss-like size.
Big-name acquisitions: TE Shannon Sharpe.
Significant re-signings: QB Tony Banks, DE Rob Burnett and PK Matt Stover.
Most pressing question: How distracting will Ray Lewis' trial be for the Ravens?
Sean Salisbury's answer: It's huge. Fortunately, Lewis isn't going on trial in August when it would be terribly damaging. Brian Billick will settle them down. The players also understand that it's the offseason. They can almost remove themselves from the situation. If Lewis can't play, though, the distraction looms much larger because the league's best middle linebacker would be behind bars. It's better that the trial happens sooner rather than later. Hopefully, the trial will get done, and the Ravens can get back to football.

Cincinnati Bengals
1999 record: 4-12.
First-round pick: Fourth.
Offseason plan: Nothing ever seems to be easy for the Bengals. And we're not even talking about the "Get Me Outta Town" twins, RB Corey Dillon and WR Carl Pickens. With the No. 4 pick, Cincinnati is guaranteed one of the draft's four impact players, most likely DE Courtney Brown or OT Chris Samuels. Problem is, the Bengals need cornerbacks in the worst way. Since none of this year's prospects are top-four material, team president Mike Brown might trade down to fill that need with two late first-rounders. A resolution to the Pickens situation would eliminate the need for a WR and make Alabama's Samuels the perfect person to protect the franchise, QB Akili Smith.
Big-name acquisitions: DT Tom Barndt, DE Vaughn Booker and SS Darryl Williams.
Significant re-signings: OT Rod Jones.
Most pressing question: Will Carl Pickens and Corey Dillon be around to play another season for Bruce Coslet?
Sean Salisbury's answer: If Pickens and Dillon are not around, Coslet should go with them. Dillon is a good, young running back. When he is not a malcontent, Pickens is a great talent at receiver. The Bengals can build around those two players. You can compare the Bengals in football to the Clippers in basketball. They get good players who stick around for a few years. Then, the team doesn't want to pay them and the players leave. If you want to learn how not to run a NFL franchise, look at the Bengals. They have to start paying their players and make good decisions. Good decisions start with keeping your best football players. And the two best players for the Bengals are Pickens and Dillon. That said, I think they will be around.

Cleveland Browns
1999 record: 2-14.
First-round pick: First.
Offseason plan: With the most cap room going into free agency (over $20 million), the Browns addressed their needs at DE with Orpheus Roye and Keith McKenzie and at RB with Errict Rhett. Their spending spree continued on the offensive line with the signing of OT Roman Oben. At the draft, Cleveland will welcome another franchise player with the No. 1 overall pick. Last year's top pick, QB Tim Couch, prefers WR Peter Warrick, but GM Dwight Clark may bolster the defense further with LB LaVar Arrington or DE Courtney Brown.
Big-name acquisitions: S Percy Ellsworth, DE Keith McKenzie, OT Roman Oben, RB Errict Rhett and DE Orpheus Roye.
Significant re-signings: DT Darius Holland.
Most pressing question: Can the Browns afford not to deal the No. 1 pick for more players, and, if they keep it, who will they take?
Sean Salisbury's answer: If any team has the No. 1 pick, it can afford not to deal it. The Browns don't need to make a deal for more players because they are trying to build instead of trying to win a championship or save a coach's job. There are four or five "can't-miss" players in the draft, including Peter Warrick, Courtney Brown and LaVar Arrington. Unless a team offers the Browns an offer they can't refuse -- like two No. 1 picks and a player -- Warrick will suit up for the Browns. To me, the Jerry Rices of the world don't come along very often.

	Key Arrivals
	Player, Pos.	New team
	Tom Barndt, DT	Bengals
	Vaughn Booker, DE	Bengals
	Percy Ellsworth, S	Browns
	Randall Godfrey, LB	Titans
	Kent Graham, QB	Steelers
	Keith McKenzie, DE	Browns
	Fred Miller, OT	Titans
	Hardy Nickerson, LB	Jaguars
	Roman Oben, T	Browns
	Scott Rehberg, OL	Bengals
	Errict Rhett, RB	Browns
	Orpheus Roye, DE	Browns
	Shannon Sharpe, TE	Ravens
	Rich Tylski, G	Jaguars
	Darryl Williams, SS	Bengals
	Key Departures
	Player, Pos., Team	New team
	Jeff Blake, QB, Bengals	Saints
	Lomas Brown, OT, Browns	Giants
	Jay Fiedler, QB, Jaguars	Dolphins
	DeRon Jenkins, CB, Ravens	Chargers
	Everett Lindsay, OL, Ravens	Browns
	Jamie Martin, QB, Browns	Jaguars
	Ryan McNeil, CB, Browns	Cowboys
	Chris Oldham, CB, Steelers	Saints
	Scott Rehberg, OL, Browns	Bengals
	Errict Rhett, RB, Ravens	Browns
	Orpheus Roye, DE, Steelers	Browns
	Jon Runyan, OT, Titans	Eagles
	James Stewart, RB, Jaguars	Lions
	Mike Tomczak, QB, Steelers	Lions
	Rich Tylski, G, Jaguars	Steelers
	Regan Upshaw, DE, Jaguars	Raiders
	Possible flights
	Player, Pos.	Central destination
	Willie Clay, CB	Steelers
	Randall Cunningham, QB	Ravens
	Trent Dilfer, QB	Ravens
	Steve Israel, CB	Bengals
	Scott Mitchell, QB	Bengals
	Larry Tharpe, T	Steelers

Jacksonville Jaguars
1999 record: 14-2.
First-round pick: 29th.
Offseason plan: The Jaguars are clearly learning from their mistakes, particularly the ones committed in their three losses to Tennessee. Hardy Nickerson provides experience and toughness. More importantly, he adds some much-needed cover skills at MLB, something Jacksonville lacked against the Titans TEs. The issue of franchise player Tony Brackens still hasn't been resolved. If the DE doesn't get his wish (a new deal at $8 million per), he'll hold out. For now, the team has targeted offensive line and wide receiver as its primary draft needs.
Big-name acquisitions: LB Hardy Nickerson.
Significant re-signings: LB Lonnie Marts.
Most pressing question: Is the Hardy Nickerson signing the move that finally puts the Jags in the Super Bowl?
Sean Salisbury's answer: What a great deal. The Jaguars were good enough to get in the Super Bowl last season. Adding Nickerson is one of the great offseason coups. He is another stud added to a great defense to give Dom Capers more latitude. Jacksonville has been my preseason pick the last two seasons. Looking at that deal, the Jags will probably be my pick again. There is no reason why the Jaguars shouldn't once again be the AFC favorites.

Pittsburgh Steelers
1999 record: 6-10.
First-round pick: Eighth.
Offseason plan: Another offseason, another group of free-agent defections. This year's big loss was DE Orpheus Roye, who signed with the hated Browns. The Steelers, however, have broken from their conservative approach to free agency by restructuring contracts to bring in QB Kent Graham and G Rich Tylski. The signings of Kimo von Oelhoffen and Chris Sullivan won't stop Pittsburgh from looking for more D-line help. At the top of Bill Cowher's draft wish list is WR Plaxico Burress.
Big-name acquisitions: QB Kent Graham.
Significant re-signings: None.
Most pressing question: Would open competition with Kent Graham for the starting QB job hurt or help Kordell Stewart?
Sean Salisbury's answer: I like Stewart's athleticism, but I don't care whose feelings get hurt. Stewart needs to compete. If he wins the job, fine. If he loses it to Graham, then the Steelers will either find another place for Stewart or he will sit down. It's that simple. Stewart needs to feel comfortable with offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride. That's a big issue. If Stewart plays like he did two years ago, he will be the quarterback. But he will get no red-carpet treatment.

Tennessee Titans
1999 record: 13-3.
First-round pick: 30th.
Offseason plan: Well, Fred Miller won't have to worry about Jevon Kearse and vice versa. The Titans signed Miller, whom Kearse abused in a well-documented, regular-season mismatch and then got neutralized by the ex-Rams RT in the Super Bowl. The most important move on offense was keeping QB Neil O'Donnell as Steve McNair's backup. The defensive front seven will be stronger with LB Randall Godfrey, while the secondary remains intact with the re-signing of S Marcus Robertson. The suspension of DT Josh Evans is a bigger loss than most people think. Tennessee, which scrutinized the safety crop at the combine, now must figure an interior D-lineman into its draft plans.
Big-name acquisitions: LB Randall Godfrey and OT Fred Miller.
Significant re-signings: QB Neil O'Donnell and S Marcus Robertson.
Most pressing question: How much will Les Steckel's departure affect Steve McNair's progress?
Sean Salisbury's answer: Any time an offensive coordinator leaves, it affects the quarterback. But McNair now has a good foundation. He is far enough along in his career that his coach is not his crutch. I believe Jeff Fisher will hire someone who will keep McNair progressing. Having Neil O'Donnell still around is a big boost. But remember, the quarterback coach always has a closer relationship with the quarterback than the offensive coordinator because the quarterback coach is with the quarterback at every meeting, every day, all the time. So McNair will be fine.

Joe Lago is the NFL editor for ESPN.com.