Ask Andrea: The AFC North Mailbag

It's a robust AFC North Mailbag this week, with questions regarding both free agency and the draft. Remember to follow me on Twitter for the next call for submissions—this doesn't work without you!

Without further ado, let's get to this week's questions.

"

@FBALL_Andrea are the Ravens expected to pick up a G, WR or a DE in this years first round

— Drew Tourtillotte (@RAVENS17d) March 23, 2012"

Well, Drew, I don't think wide receiver is on the Baltimore Ravens' radar when it comes to their first-round pick. It's a deep draft class at the position, so the Ravens can certainly find a player who meets their needs in the second, third or fourth rounds.

I think whether they go with offensive guard or defensive end depends on who is still on the board. I believe they have their eye firmly on Georgia's Cordy Glenn, but they're not alone in that interest and the odds are good a team with a higher pick than them will take him.

If guard is their focus, however, their next-best option, Kevin Zeitler, might not be available by the time their second-round pick comes around. Zeitler can play guard or center, meaning he can be moved over in the future whenever Matt Birk decides to hang up his cleats.

At defensive end, North Carolina's Zach Brown or Boston College's Luke Kuechly would be their best first-round options.

Again, it all depends on who is still on the board when the Ravens pick. Defensive end and offensive guard are clearly the two positions they're most likely to go after in the first round; I think at this point it can go either way.

It will likely come down to draft day, with the Ravens beholden to the 28 teams who pick before them. Personally, if Glenn's already spoken for, I see them going guard in the second round and defensive end in the first.

"

@FBALL_Andrea - Why doesn't anyone want to play in Cleveland?#AskAndrea #Browns #sarcasm

— Chad Dinkins (@dinkdumpdish) March 23, 2012"

Hi Chad, I appreciate that you note the sarcasm in your question, but it's also a very valid one considering the number of reports that current top-10 draft prospects seem to have little to no interest in playing for the Cleveland Browns.

It's no secret that the Browns have been one of the NFL's most troubled, struggling teams for years now, and the team has been given the reputation of one that destroys their draft picks' chances for success simply by bringing them on board.

However, I find the comments from players and agents disparaging the Browns as distasteful and, honestly, rude.

Drafted players don't have a choice in where they land, true, and there's going to be an inevitable sense of disappointment for some players when they don't get picked by the team they'd hoped to join. But I am of the belief that a player is picked up by a struggling team in order to help turn things around, and that's a challenge they should embrace.

There's nothing glamorous about the Cleveland Browns, sure, and considering they're still in the middle of a long-term rebuilding plan, a Super Bowl is still far in the distance. But the only way for a team to get better is by adding talent to their roster.

For a player to be hand-picked to be part of that effort is a compliment. And besides, truly good players are good no matter what; the team simply doesn't matter.

"

@FBALL_Andrea is Corey Graham expected to compete for a starting CB job in BAL? #AskAndrea

— Bear Down CHI Bears (@1stdownroywill) March 23, 2012"

No, it doesn't look like Corey Graham was brought on to the Baltimore Ravens to compete for a starting job, though it's not out of the question that he impresses enough in camp to get some real time on the field.

Mainly, the Ravens have special teams issues and just lost two important members of their kick and punt coverage teams—safeties Tom Zbikowski and Haruki Nakamura—in free agency. Graham will be used as a complement to the recently re-signed Brandon Ayanbadejo to improve special teams tackling.

Graham could get some work in nickle and dime packages, but won't likely be an every-down starter, similar to his role with the Chicago Bears.

"

@FBALL_Andrea with the rumor that the #Browns called the #Bears about Forte. How much would the #Browns be willing to give for him?

— Travis Durand (@ModLangSlang) March 23, 2012"

Hi Travis. I saw this rumor making the rounds yesterday after the Chicago Bears signed free-agent running back Michael Bush and their current starter, Matt Forte, took none too kindly to the news.

Forte received the franchise tag from the Bears and has yet to be given a long-term deal with which he is comfortable, which I personally think he deserves.

Forte has also been rumored to be mulling a holdout should he not get a new deal by the time the summer rolls around, which helped along the talk that perhaps he could be traded.

I don't see the Bears entertaining any offer they receive for Forte—not from the Cleveland Browns and not from anyone. That doesn't mean that the Browns or any other team haven't inquired about Forte's availability with the Bears—in fact, I think it's almost guaranteed they've gotten some calls about him.

But there's almost no chance they trade him this year, regardless of what interested teams put on offer.

"

@fball_andrea with the Bengals signing Jason Allen and Pacman they have 5 corners. Are they still gonna take a Corner in the 1st Round?

— Benjamin J Miller (@BenSlabMiller) March 23, 2012"

I know it sounds crazy, Ben, but I still think the Cincinnati Bengals pick up a corner in the draft, and they certainly could do so with one of their two first-round picks. The Bengals generally keep six cornerbacks and four safeties on their active roster, which means they have room for one more.

They poked around in free agency and hosted both Aaron Ross and Tracy Porter before going with Jason Allen; today, they re-signed Adam Jones. But they need youth in their secondary, and that will only come from the draft.

If they go for a corner in the first round, South Carolina's Stephon Gilmore is my best fit, followed by Dre Kirkpatrick and Alfonzo Dennard. Should Cincy want to draft a cornerback in a later round, then Montana's Trumaine Johnson could be a steal.

That's all for this week's AFC North Mailbag. If you want to Ask Andrea (that's me) next time around, make sure you follow me on Twitter; the link is below.

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