Gregory Payan, Associated Press

Browns buzz on Myles Garrett, Mitch Trubisky, AJ McCarron and Malik Hooker as draft approaches

The Browns have wrapped up most of their private workouts and are working through their 30 pre-draft visits over the next couple of weeks.

They have Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson in Tuesday, and hosted his top target in receiver Mike Williams on Monday. They’ve also had in running backs Joe Mixon and Dalvin Cook, defensive backs Josh Jones and Quincy Wilson, edge-rusher Takkarist McKinley, receiver Corey Davis and tight end David Njoku, according to multiple reports.

The Browns are also still looking at the last wave of free agents, with former Saints cornerback B.W. Webb visiting on Tuesday.

With the draft just over three weeks away, the Browns still seem set on taking Myles Garrett No. 1 overall, but head of football operations Sashi Brown said last week they're still considering several players there — and that they'll use their full allotment of time to make their decision.



Here's the latest Browns buzz:

By Mary Kay Cabot, cleveland.com

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1. Myles Garrett still seems to be their No. 1 pick

Despite spending plenty of time with the top quarterback prospects over the past few weeks, the Browns still seem set on taking Garrett No. 1 overall. He’s widely regarded as the best player in the draft, and the Browns want an impact player who can help them win right away. Garrett has answered all the questions the Browns had about him, and they seem to be closing in on him. The only things that could change that are the Browns opting to go with a quarterback at No. 1 or them trading the pick.

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Gerry Broome, Associated Press

2. Mitch Trubisky still likely their top QB

After all the private workouts and most of the pre-draft visits, the Browns still likely have Mentor, Ohio native Trubisky atop their list of quarterbacks. Question is, do they like him well enough to take him at No. 1 overall? Right now, that seems unlikely. And if they don’t take him No. 1, he could be gone by No. 12, which means they’d have to trade up if they really want him. Over the next three weeks, the Browns will debate taking him at No. 1 or trading back up to get him before making their final determination. Hue Jackson said last week that they haven’t ranked the QBs yet. Like everyone else in the league, the Browns have investigated why Trubisky wasn’t able to win the job his first two seasons.

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3. The Browns are intrigued by Patrick Mahomes

If the Browns don’t take Trubisky in the first round, they like other quarterbacks, including the Texas Tech product. Mahomes’ big arm is attractive to Jackson, who puts a premium on arm talent. Mahomes has gotten more attention in the past few weeks, and is believed to have surpassed DeShone Kizer on some teams’ boards. Many draft experts now believe that Mahomes will go in the first round. If the Browns don’t land Trubisky, Mahomes will be an option.

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Rainier Ehrhardt, Associated Press

4. Deshaun Watson on the radar

Watson worked out privately for the Browns last week, and visited them in Berea on Tuesday. The Browns have done plenty of due diligence on Watson, and like other teams, they seem to like his ability to step it up on the big stage and win games. I don’t think they’re seriously considering him at No. 1 overall and I don’t think they’d trade back up to get him, but I think they’d give him some thought at No. 12 or later in the round if he starts to fall. Some teams don’t want to like Watson, but he keeps checking off boxes.

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5. OSU safety Malik Hooker has caught their attention

The Browns are in need of a safety and like Hooker, who visited on Friday. The problem is, most mock drafts have him going in the top 10. If he falls to No. 12, they’d be hard-pressed to pass on him. Would they trade up to get him? Only if they think they can still get one of the quarterbacks they like later. I think they’d be happy with Garrett, Hooker and Mahomes with their first three picks if it falls that way.

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Elise Amendola, Associated Press

6. What about Jimmy Garoppolo?

It seems as though the Browns have come to the conclusion that the Patriots really aren’t willing to part with Garoppolo, or that the price would be too high. The Browns could always inquire again on draft night, when things often heat up. But for now, it seems they aren’t counting on being able to pull off a deal. Still, as Jackson observed at the owner’s meetings, “anything’s possible until it’s not.’’

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Frank Victores, Associated Press

7. And AJ McCarron?

Jackson liked McCarron when he coached him in Cincinnati, and McCarron knows his system. McCarron has made it clear he wants to be traded, and the Bengals have said they’d listen to offers from anybody. McCarron, who filled in admirably for Andy Dalton in the final three games of the 2015 season and a close playoff loss to the Steelers, would be the perfect bridge quarterback until the Browns groom whichever rookie they draft. But would Sashi Brown be willing to trade for him? He said he’ll ‘stay aggressive’ in finding a QB. Would the Bengals deal him to the Browns? Some I’ve talked to say yes, others say no way.

“You guys know all kind of trades do happen regardless of what team it is, what division it is,’’ Jackson said. “Normally the saying (is) if the price is right, people do whatever you need them to do."

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8. Mike Williams and Corey Davis come to town

The Browns hosted receivers Mike Williams of Clemson and Corey Davis of Western Michigan this week. Williams is widely regarded as the top wideout in the class, and Davis is in the top five. The visits come on the heels of Jackson saying last week that last year's No. 15 pick Corey Coleman "needs to make the next jump'' in 2016. Are the Browns concerned about Coleman nailing down the No. 1 job? Or just trying to add weapons?

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Tony Dejak, Associated Press

9. A clue the Browns will keep the top pick

Chief Strategy Officer Paul DePodesta at the NFL owners meeting on how the draft philosophy has shifted from picks to players this year:

“This year, I think, even going back into the season, I think we were already shifting into a different phase. We traded for Jamie Collins. It was probably the first major shift that, 'Oh, wait. We're adding something to this team as opposed to just letting players go.' Certainly retaining him, being able to re-sign Joel Bitonio, signing free agents this year, now we're clearly building toward something as opposed to last year, I think we were first sort of clearing the deck and then wanting to build. But now we feel like we have the beginning of a foundation in place and a core group of players, and now our mission is to continue to build that out."

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10. On Brock Osweiler

The plan is still to move Osweiler, whether in a trade or an outright release. The Browns will continue to develop Cody Kessler, and don't have much interest in a $16 million backup. Osweiler could be dealt on draft weekend, or the Browns could cut him and try to recoup some of his $16 million salary. But one way or the other, he's still probably not long for this roster.