AFC North Free Agency: Thoughts on Every Team's Strategy

Free agency in the AFC North has heated up—sort of—with increased action but, again, most of the headlines are about departures rather than arrivals.

The Cincinnati Bengals, despite having the most salary cap space with which to work in the division, have yet to make any additions, though they do have meetings scheduled with running backs BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Michael Bush.

Signing either Green-Ellis or Bush is critical for the Bengals, who have let Cedric Benson walk away a free agent. Bush has the higher price tag, but Cincinnati has the money to spend and I'd be surprised if Bush turns down their offer should they make one.

But their two losses on defense currently have the most impact on what the Bengals will do, not just in free agency but also in the upcoming NFL draft. They lost defensive end Frostee Rucker to division rival Cleveland Browns and his fellow DE Jonathan Fanene agreed to a three-year deal with the New England Patriots.

It's fascinating that a team with so much cap space would allow two of their highest-priority free agents walk without negotiating a new deal first. That doesn't bode well for their chances to retain safety Reggie Nelson, who may wind up a Miami Dolphin, and forces them into a few more bold moves than it appears they were willing to make right off the bat.

The Cleveland Browns added Rucker, but lost two players on the offensive side of the ball, releasing guard Eric Steinbach, who was set to make $6 million in 2012 (they could bring him back at a lower rate) and running back Peyton Hillis, who accepted an offer from the Kansas City Chiefs without receiving a counter-bid from Cleveland.

Running backs haven't been snapped up as rapidly as wide receivers during free agency, so there are a number of available players the Browns could look at to replace Hillis. There's also been a rumor circulating—but nothing more—that Cleveland is looking into making a trade with the Houston Texans for Ben Tate.

There's also the possibility the Browns don't make any additions at running back and instead wait for next month's draft in order to pick up top rushing prospect Trent Richardson with their No. 4 overall pick.

The one thing that's been most surprising about the Browns' free-agency strategy is that they have yet to make a move to add a wide receiver. Most of the top names were snapped up in the first 12 hours of bidding. Former New York Giant Mario Manningham is still available, but his high financial demands are likely what has kept him from finding a new team.

That means he may be too expensive for the Browns to add, but it's still clear they need to improve their receiving corps. Talent is dwindling, however, and it would behoove the team to avoid stocking their ranks with a glut of also-rans and No. 3 wideouts if they want to give quarterback Colt McCoy a fighting chance in 2012.

In Baltimore, the Ravens have also lost two defenders—linebacker Jarret Johnson and defensive end Cory Redding—with the latter joining former Ravens defensive coordinator and current Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano.

These are needs they can fill in the draft as well as from their own depth chart, so it's of less concern than losing offensive guard Ben Grubbs to the New Orleans Saints as a replacement for Carl Nicks, who they lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Ravens are hosting Evan Mathis, a free-agent guard most recently of the Philadelphia Eagles, today, and it's not likely he will leave Baltimore without an offer. That would be the most ideal situation the Ravens could hope for after losing Grubbs, and wouldn't be much of a downgrade at all.

In Pittsburgh, the focus is still squarely on wide receiver Mike Wallace and whether a team will offer him a new contract and steal him away from the cash-strapped Steelers. What little cap space they have left will have to be reserved for Wallace should they need to match a competitor's offer.

They were at one time linked to tight end Kellen Davis, who Chicago allowed to hit free agency, but the Bears wised up and gave him a new contract, and it's doubtful the Steelers will be taking a look at any other players any time soon.

The AFC North is one of the most conservative divisions when it comes to free agency, but teams like the Browns and Bengals need to get a bit more aggressive in the coming days if they are to replace the players they've lost with talented new blood, as well as fill their most important roster holes.

Follow @FBALL_Andrea