Browns talking to prospects

By Mary Kay Cabot

Cleveland Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND

Notre Dame receiver Michael Floyd and Boise State running back Doug Martin are among the big-name draft prospects the Browns are hosting for pre-draft visits this week.

Others are Oklahoma State receiver Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden, Alabama running back Trent Richardson, Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill, LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne, Illinois defensive end Whitney Mercilus, Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins, Virginia Tech running back David Wilson and LSU defensive tackle Michael Brockers.

Teams are permitted to bring in 30 players for visits, not including local players who grew up within 50 miles of the facility. The visits must be concluded a week before the draft, which is April 26-28.

The visits by Floyd and Martin indicate the Browns are keeping their options open with their No. 4 pick. Floyd is gaining some momentum as a top 10 pick, and could be a candidate for the Browns if they trade down from No. 4, or up from No. 22. They currently own the fourth, 22nd and 37th picks.

Browns general manager Tom Heckert has said he’d be willing to trade down, but only a few spots.

Floyd has good size (6-foot-3, 229 pounds) and speed (4.47 seconds in the 40-yard dash) and was the most productive receiver in Notre Dame history. In 2011, he caught 100 passes for 1,147 yards and nine touchdowns.

The knock on Floyd is that he had three alcohol-related incidents in college, and teams will have to feel certain those issues are behind him.

Martin, the Boise State back, is a player the Browns will strongly consider with their No. 22 or 37 picks if they pass on Richardson. At 5-9, 223, Martin rushed for 1,299 yards and 16 touchdowns last season, and caught 28 passes for 255 yards and two TDs.

Heckert has said the Browns are strongly considering about five players with their No. 4 pick who are equally good. Therefore, he’d be willing to trade back if he can.

“But it’s still early,” Heckert said. “We might fall in love with one of those guys when we have everyone in and say ‘hey, we’ve got to have this guy, just forget it. We’re going to stay there and take him,’ which could happen.”

The Browns will also conduct private workouts with some of their top prospects, including Tannehill and Richardson. During visits to Cleveland, players can be interviewed and examined but not worked out.