Cleveland Browns to host Smith, Orakpo, Maclin, Moreno and Maualuga
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Moreno and Maualuga
Wednesday April 08, 2009, 12:53 PM
Associated PressTexas defensive lineman Brian Orakpo is one of the draft prospects who will visit with the Browns in Cleveland.CLEVELAND -- Baylor offensive tackle Jason Smith, Texas pass-rusher Brian Orakpo, and USC linebacker Rey Maualuga are among a handful of big-name draft prospects who will visit the Browns next week, a league source told The Plain Dealer. Two others coming to town are Georgia running back Knowshon Moreno and Missouri receiver Jeremy Maclin. The Browns will also travel to Ohio State to work out defensive back Malcolm Jenkins, who is being viewed by most NFL teams as a safety.
The Browns sent offensive line coach George Warhop to Baylor to work out Smith, who would start at right tackle for the Browns. Warhop was apparently impressed enough to invite Smith back to Cleveland for a pre-draft visit.
Smith, 6-4 1/2, 305, is thought by some to be the best tackle prospect in the draft, including ESPN's Todd McShay, who projects him to go No. 2 to St. Louis. Smith is one of a half-dozen or so players the Browns are seriously considering with their No. 5 overall pick in the draft, set for April 25-26.
Another is Orakpo, the Texas edge-rusher whom many experts have the Browns picking at No. 5. The Browns have already invested a lot of time in Orakpo, both at the NFL Combine and during a private workout at Texas on March 18. He will come to Cleveland next Tuesday or Wednesday, and the Browns might tab him to help their anemic pass-rush -- one that finished second-last in the NFL last season with 17 sacks.
The Browns are intrigued by Maclin, who is projected by some to go to the Raiders at No. 7, and Moreno, who is pegged for the second half of the first-round. Moreno (5-10 1/2, 215) is a player the Browns might consider if they trade down in the round. Same thing with Jenkins and Maualuga, who are projected as mid-round picks.
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I was waiting for them to bring Rey in......
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