View full size

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns are intrigued enough by former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor to do their due diligence on him for the supplemental draft, a league source told The Plain Dealer.

Whether or not the Browns submit a bid for Pryor remains to be seen. Because Pryor hasn't yet officially entered the draft -- which could take place in mid-to-late July -- the Browns can't comment on him.

Coach Pat Shurmur, speaking Monday at Cleveland Browns Stadium after working with kids at the team's youth football camp, declined to say whether or not the Browns would make a pitch for the controversial quarterback. Teams can submit bids in the round they wish to draft the player and are awarded the player if he's still there. The team then forfeits the corresponding pick in next year's draft.

The Browns will start camp with Colt McCoy as their starting quarterback and Seneca Wallace as the backup. Jake Delhomme, currently under contract at $5.4 million for next season, will only return if the two sides agree to a reduced salary. But Delhomme might want a chance to go somewhere as a No. 2.

If the Browns deem Pryor a worthwhile project, they could draft him and use him as their No. 3. But opinions on him vary.

NFL Network's Mike Mayock recently said "I would set the over-under line on the fourth round. Can somebody take him in the third round? Absolutely."

Mayock said Pryor can be used in wildcat packages in his rookie year "while you develop his skill set."

ESPN's Jon Gruden -- a protege and close confidante of Browns President Mike Holmgren -- thinks Pryor has tremendous potential. Gruden, who highly recommended McCoy to Holmgren, has already filmed a Terrelle Pryor QB Camp special to air on ESPN June 30.

"This is a freak of nature," Gruden said in April at Ohio State's annual football clinic. "This guy is really something with the ball in his hands."

Gruden disagreed with colleague Mel Kiper Jr., who thinks Pryor would make a better NFL tight end.

"Terrelle Pryor can run and he can throw and he's a hell of a competitor," Gruden said. "You might have to cater your offense, to a degree, towards his strengths, but I think this guy can develop his passing."

Extra points: Shurmur said running back Montario Hardesty should be ready for full participation in training camp after recovering from surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament.