Idk. I'd almost immediately rule out marine mammal due to cost alone. More water, more filtration, etc.
I'd also rule out any large ungulate. The space just isn't there for it.
Here's some off the wall in the other room without a real foundation speculation:
New North American section is right next to the tiny North American section (otters, skunks, foxes, porcupines, etc). Tiny NA section borders Wolf Woods, which I couldn't see them changing, but ties in semi-thematically.
The old Veldt aka Rhino Reserve borders Wolf Woods, which was once quite viewable as a cheetah exhibit from Rhino Reserve. The Rhino yards are directly across the road from the vacant lion holding.
Perhaps, just perhaps, with the knowledge of the old lion holding being co-opted into NA part whatever, AND the black rhinos imminently moving into the old Elephant House as recently reported; they are about to punt on the new giraffe-to elephant house concept. Elephant House becomes rhino house as outdated elephant houses tend to do. Giraffes remain in African section as is.
The only way I see a continuous exhibit for a NA section is through tying in these fragments of exhibits. Otherwise, it's a weird/non-continuous path from the old bear line to the old lion area.
I hope to god we don't get pinnipeds, but zoos love to build exhibits for them. It seems like a big waste of money compared to a revamped giraffe area.
Could also be that the exhibit will just be wonky by necessity. Knowing the flow of the re-purposing of the bear line, it will be used for something quite boring. Might be a big wild turkey enclosure. Maybe a place for bobcats. Wolverines might be a fit, but aren't much when it comes to public viewing.
Anyway I'm done. Gotta go cram my imagination back into the box.
