The AFC North Mailbag for March 7

Yes, friends, it is that time of the week again when I send out a clarion call via Twitter for your most pressing questions concerning the AFC North.

It's a light mailbag this week, what with the New Orleans Saints' bounty scandal and Peyton Manning's release dominating the NFL discussion. But that doesn't mean there aren't issues facing the entire AFC North division as free agency looms and the draft draws ever nearer.

Here's what readers want answers about this week:

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@FBALL_Andrea Which AFC North impending free agent do you think is most likely to move to a divisional rival?

— Shaun Barrio (@ShaunBarrio) March 7, 2012"

The most likely candidate to stay within the AFC North is wide receiver Mike Wallace, who could be courted by the cash-flush Cincinnati Bengals to pair him up with soon-to-be second-year receiver A.J. Green.

Initially, it seemed as though the Baltimore Ravens would be a fit, as they need receivers themselves and aren't in bad shape in terms of the cap. But now they aren't considered a top contender.

Cincinnati Bengals safety Reggie Nelson will be in high demand in free agency if the team cannot tender him an acceptable contract (which I discuss below). The Ravens could be in play to make a move for Nelson, but I see him going out of the division if he leaves.

The Bengals also will need to add at least one and perhaps two running backs this offseason, and one of those will come via free agency.

If the Browns don't tender a deal to Peyton Hillis, the Bengals could express interest. But Hillis' red flags make him a risky addition, even for a team like the Bengals who have made some questionable roster choices in recent years.

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@fball_andrea What would you do with all that beautiful Bengal cap room?

— zach_law (@zach_law) March 7, 2012"

The Cincinnati Bengals are thought to have about $40 million in cap space this offseason, the most of any team in the league, and they have many options for what to do with it all.

They need more receiving targets for quarterback Andy Dalton, considering they'll potentially be losing one or both of Andre Caldwell and Jerome Simpson (especially after Simpson recently pleaded guilty to drug charges).

Cincinnati isn't likely to re-sign running back Cedric Benson after giving him just a one-year deal in 2011, so a free-agent running back (perhaps Michael Bush, BenJarvus Green-Ellis or Mike Tolbert) will be an important pickup.

There's also the issue with safety Reggie Nelson, who the team hopes to retain long-term. They certainly have the cap room to do so, but there are whispers he could head to the Miami Dolphins instead.

Both linebacker Jonathan Fanene and defensive end Frostee Rucker have generated free-agency buzz, and without a new contract, one or both of them could walk.

Hence the rumors that should Fanene or Rucker move on, the Bengals could spend some of that cap money on Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Jeremy Mincey to boost their pass-rush.

If it were up to me, though, I'd make a play for defensive end Mario Williams instead, who is easily the most coveted defensive free agent of the year. Adding Williams could be a huge improvement for the Bengals' defense.

The rest of the money could then go to shore up some odds-and-ends free agents, to perhaps pick up a free-agent offensive lineman if the price-to-talent ratio is right and then, of course, to sign their rookie class.

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@FBALL_Andrea Any news on Nelson's contract situation and the Bengals?

— Giorgos Kassakos (@Greek_QB) March 7, 2012"

According to the Cincinnati Enquirer's Joe Reedy, talks have been "quiet" between the Cincinnati Bengals and safety Reggie Nelson, and as the deadline looms for him to sign a new deal or hit the open free-agent market, it's looking more and more likely the latter will be the end result.

Now, that doesn't mean the Bengals are fine with this. Nelson is easily the team's top free-agency priority, but deals done with other safeties around the league may have driven Nelson's price higher than what the Bengals are willing to pay, regardless of their considerable cap space.

Most recently, the Atlanta Falcons signed a new deal with safety Thomas DeCloud, worth $17.5 million over five years. Reedy extrapolates that number out to a four-year deal with Nelson and estimates it would cost Cincinnati $20-25 million total, with $8-10 million of that guaranteed.

Even if the Bengals find that amount affordable (considering they opted to not franchise Nelson this year, which would have cost $6.4 million), Nelson still may not bite.

His former secondary coach in Cincy, Kevin Coyle, is now the Miami Dolphins' defensive coordinator, Nelson is a Florida native and the Dolphins desperately need to upgrade at safety. That all adds up to the Dolphins making a serious overture to Nelson, one that he may not be able to decline.

Unless contract talks heat up between the Bengals and Nelson in the next six days, there's a very good chance he ends up with another team, with Miami being the front-runner to land him.

Follow @FBALL_Andrea on Twitter to know the next time I will be asking for mailbag submissions.