FREE-AGENCY PREVIEW.

Baltimore

TO-DO LIST: The No. 1 priority is resigning C Jeff Mitchell, who wants to stay but will command top dollar. He is intelligent, durable, strong at the point of attack and can get into the second level of a defense. Mitchell will get a decent offer but it won't be out of line. Team officials feel that if it has to pay a significant salary, it should go to a right tackle instead of a center. If Mitchell signs elsewhere, RG Mike Flynn will be moved to center. The team also wants to improve its passing game and will court QB Brad Johnson, who played for Brian Billick in Minnesota. There are some people around the league who believe Johnson's arm is shot, but he should be able to fit in with Billick's short passing attack. One problem, though, is the pass protection. The offensive line didn't do a great job of protecting Trent Dilfer last season, but he survived on sheer toughness. Would the line be reliable enough to protect the injury-prone Johnson? Look for the team to attempt to re-sign reserve OLB Cornell Brown, as it may need some help at that spot. The Ravens also will need some backup help at running back and outside linebacker.

GOING, GOING ...: The team most likely will lose OLB Jamie Sharper. He is not a dominating player like Ray Lewis, but his speed allows him to make several impact plays per game. His lone weakness is he occasionally gets careless with wrapping up on tackles. The team already has a lot of money invested in LBs Lewis and Peter Boulware, so it's unlikely to cough up big money for Sharper. The ideal replacement is Brown, but he should draw heavy interest on the free-agent market. Another starter who could be lost from the top-notch defense is SS Kim Herring. When he was injured during the postseason, replacement Corey Harris played well and will cost a lot less money. RB Priest Holmes should land a starting job somewhere. He knows Jamal Lewis is the team's runner of the future. --Mike Preston

Buffalo

TO-DO LIST: Salary-cap problems will keep the team out of the free-agent market, and the top priority already has been accomplished by the re-signing of WR Eric Moulds to a six-year, $40 million deal. Re-signing DE Marcellus Wiley is next on the agenda. Wiley, 27, had a breakout year, but would have to take significantly less money to stay. With four free agents on the offensive line, depth could be a problem. RT Marcus Spriggs and RG Jamie Nails are starters who will have a chance to test the open market. Reserve OT Robert Hicks and C Bill Conaty will be brought back. Assuming his asking price isn't too high, CB Donovan Greer will be retained because he is a solid cover man despite being undersized. The team probably will hold on to Daryl Porter, who can play corner and safety. Backup DE Shawn Price might return given his low market value.

GOING, GOING ...: If Wiley leaves, the team will turn to Erik Flowers, a terrific athlete who's not yet in Wiley's class. The loss of NT Ted Washington, released after refusing to take a pay cut, could be a big one. The mountainous Washington (6-5, 350) was the immovable anchor of a defense that ranked no worse than fifth in the NFL against the run the past three seasons. His ability to occupy more than one blocker allowed fellow defensive linemen and linebackers to make plays. Washington's replacement, Pat Williams, is a force whose forte is slipping past one-on-one blocks. But he'll have to prove he can handle double teams. Don't be surprised if OLB Sam Rogers gets released, too. Rogers is coming off a strong season, but his high salary-cap figure makes it difficult for the team to retain him. Corey Moore got some valuable playing time as a rookie last year when Rogers suffered a season-ending groin injury. Though undersized, Moore (5-11, 235) has the speed, power and aggressiveness to thrive in the new "46" scheme. --Allen Wilson

Cincinnati