Sportsnet has you covered for NFL free agency with extensive breakdowns of every team heading into the 2014 league year. For every division, click here.
Cincinnati Bengals (11-5, 1st in AFC North)
Team needs: DE, CB, S
Projected salary cap space: $27.5 million
Key free agents: DE Michael Johnson, OT Anthony Collins, S Taylor Mays, S Chris Crocker, WR/KR/PR Brandon Tate
Candidates for release: None
Free agent fit: Walter Thurmond, cornerback
The skinny: Don’t expect a lot of spending from the Bengals this off-season – this year will be about locking down what they already have. Cincinnati will likely focus on re-signing Collins while working on extending A.J. Green, one of the league’s best wide receivers. Depth in the secondary could be an issue for new defensive coordinator Paul Guenther, so a move in that direction could come this week but could also be addressed in the draft.
Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8, 2nd in AFC North)
Team needs: WR, OL, CB
Projected salary cap space: $2.7 million
Key free agents: WR Emmanuel Sanders, DE Ziggy Hood, S Ryan Clark
Candidates for release: CB Ike Taylor (cap savings of $7 million), cut LB Larry Foote, OT Levi Brown and CB Curtis Brown last week
Free agent fit: Tarell Brown, cornerback
The skinny: Pittsburgh has dug themselves a major salary cap hole and it’s going to be tough to climb back out. Until last week the Steelers were over the cap, and likely won’t have many options heading into free agency. Troy Polamalu and Heath Miller have been re-signed but now Pittsburgh will most likely have to upgrade via the draft in May. The Steelers could address a gaping hole at cornerback with Brown gone and Taylor’s future with the franchise in question.
Baltimore Ravens (8-8, 3rd in AFC North)
Team needs: OL, S, LB
Projected salary cap space: $24.9 million
Key free agents: OT Eugene Monroe, DT Arthur Jones, WR-KR Jacoby Jones, LB Daryl Smith, OT Michael Oher, SS James Ihedigbo, CB Corey Graham, TE Ed Dickson
Candidates for release: Cut FB Vonta Leach and LB Jameel McClain last month
Free agent fit: Hakeem Nicks, wide receiver
The skinny: Baltimore will most likely focus on re-signing key players before venturing out into the free agent market. The most important of those pieces is Monroe, who the Ravens acquired from Jacksonville last season to protect Joe Flacco’s blindside. Smith and Jones should also be priorities. If re-signing doesn’t work out, Baltimore will have to make some savvy moves to fill big holes on the roster.
Cleveland Browns (4-12, 4th in AFC North)
Team needs: RB, OL, S
Projected salary cap space: $45.7 million
Key free agents: C Alex Mack (transition tag), S T.J. Ward, G Shawn Lauvao
Candidates for release: QB Brandon Weeden, QB Jason Campbell (Cap savings of $3.25 million)
Free agent fit: Jairus Byrd, safety
The skinny: If they can get it together in the front office, the Browns can take advantage of a great situation heading into the most important part of the off-season. Stacked with draft picks (thanks in part to the incredibly one-sided Trent Richardson trade) and with one of, if not the best cap situation in the NFL, Cleveland has the opportunity to make a big splash this spring. Locking up Alex Mack, extending cornerback Joe Haden, finding a quality running back and replacing T.J. Ward are all viable options before May’s draft, in which the Browns have 10(!) picks.
