Browns could deal

CLEVELAND (AP) — Since taking over as Cleveland’s coach in January, Eric Mangini, who earned his NFL communication degree at the Bill Belichick School of Non-Broadcasting, has revealed very little about his plans to rebuild the beleaguered Browns.

On Saturday, he must open up.

With only five draft picks, and presumably looking for more, Mangini gets his first chance to bring an influx of young talent to the Browns, who began last season with enormous expectations and finished it as a 4-12 embarrassment that didn’t score an offensive touchdown in its final six games.

But Mangini may also shake up his roster.

Wide receiver Braylon Edwards’ days in a Browns helmet may be down to hours.

Same for quarterback Brady Quinn — or Derek Anderson.

“Draft day is a great day,” new general manager George Kokinis said. “It’s a funny day. A lot of things happen.”

In Cleveland, they haven’t always been good.

The Browns have the No. 5 overall pick and Mangini could use it to address a number of pressing defensive needs, the most prominent being a pass rusher (Texas end Brian Orapko), ball-hawking outside linebacker (Wake Forest’s Aaron Curry) or an inside run stuffer (Boston College tackle B.J. Raji or USC linebacker Rey Maualuga).

Kokinis offered no hints about the Browns’ intentions during a recent pre-draft news conference.

“We’ve got to pick the right guy for this city, the right guy for this team, the right guy for the Cleveland Browns,” he said.

Heard that before.

Former Cleveland GM Dwight Clark, coach/GM Butch Davis and GM Phil Savage all said something similar, but the Browns’ inability to make a smart top pick — Tim Couch, Courtney Brown, Gerard Warren — since their 1999 expansion return has contributed to their current state.

For months, there have been rampant rumors, fueled by blogging babble, that the Browns intend to trade Edwards to the New York Giants. The teams have discussed several potential deals.

The Browns are reportedly asking New York for its first-round pick (No. 29 overall) and a third-rounder or defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka. The Giants feel that’s too much and are willing to give up a second- and fifth-round pick with a wide receiver thrown in.