INDIANAPOLIS — Alex Mack paid the Cleveland Browns a visit last week.

That is a sign of something as the date draws closer for Mack to decide if he is going to opt out of the final three years of his contact and become a free agent.

Alex Mack is listening to the Browns' pitch before he could become a free agent. Ken Blaze/USA TODAY Sports

Mack visited personally with coach Hue Jackson, director of football operations Sashi Brown and new offensive line coach Hal Hunter to see the direction of the Browns.

Brown said talks were about Mack's role and the new leadership's "vision for winning," which is all well and good and will say something to Mack.

But free agent contracts are a matter of dollars and cents, so rather than wait for the Pro Bowl center to hit the market after an opt out, the Browns are working to give him a restructured deal — and a raise. Mack has to make a decision on the opt-out by March 4, with unrestricted free agency beginning March 9.

"My estimation would be if he's going to be in Cleveland, we'll get to a deal before we get to the opt-out," Brown said.