BEREA: Coach Hue Jackson likes the idea of the Browns pursuing Jeremy Maclin, the best wide receiver on the open market.
Jackson’s preference doesn’t mean they’ll sign Maclin, but it supports the logic that the Browns must at least kick the tires on a player of his caliber at a position of need.
The Kansas City Chiefs shocked the rest of the NFL by cutting Maclin on Friday.
ESPN reported he had been scheduled to visit the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday with plans to meet with the Baltimore Ravens on Wednesday.
The Browns and Philadelphia Eagles also have expressed some interest, per the report.
Jackson was asked Tuesday after the seventh practice of organized team activities whether the Browns have inquired about Maclin, whose release saved the Chiefs $10 million in salary-cap space.
“I think that’s a good thing, if we did,” Jackson said. “I don’t know much about that, but to have an opportunity, one thing I know about our group is we’re going to continue to look at ways to improve our football team. I’ve said that numerous times, and I give [head of football operations] Sashi [Brown] a lot of credit for that.
“I think we’re always out there looking. If there’s a player available, then we’re going to take a peek at him and see if he can help our football team.”
Maclin, 29, had 44 catches for 536 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games last season. He missed four with a groin injury.
The previous two seasons, he had 87 catches for 1,088 yards and eight touchdowns with the Chiefs after they signed him to a five-year, $55 million contract in 2015 and 85 catches for 1,318 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2014, his final year with the Eagles.
Free-agent acquisition Kenny Britt and Corey Coleman, the 15th overall pick in last year’s draft, are the Browns’ projected starting receivers, but they’re dealing with injuries.
Britt has practiced in OTAs, a team spokesman said, but not in the three sessions open to media.
Asked if he’s battling a major injury, Britt said, “No, not at all. It’s just the schedule they’ve got me on right now, and I’m pretty sure it’s going to change.”
Coleman hasn’t practiced since May 24, when he caught a pass, fell awkwardly on the ball and absorbed cornerback Jason McCourty landing on him. Jackson has said Coleman might not practice June 13-15 during mandatory minicamp, meaning he’ll likely be shut down until training camp starts in late July.
The injuries have created more uncertainty at one of the most unproven positions on a team that went 1-15 this past season.
“We have had Corey a little bit, we’ve had Kenny more, so there’s things that I want to make sure that they understand and know the foundation and what we’re doing,” Jackson said. “Corey probably more so than Kenny right now cause Corey’s been here, he knows the language and understands it. Kenny, it’s important that he’s out there as much as he’s been because he needs to make sure he understands how to do things. I think the group, once we get them all back, get them healthy, I think we’ll represent ourselves well.”
Still, reinforcements would be welcomed.
Britt, 28, is coming off the most productive season of his eight-year NFL career. He had 68 catches for 1,002 yards and five touchdowns with the Los Angeles Rams before the Browns signed him to a four-year, $32.5 million contract in March to brace for the eventual departure of leading receiver Terrelle Pryor in free agency.
Coleman, 22, had a disappointing rookie season, compiling 33 catches for 413 yards and three touchdowns in 10 games and missing the other six with a broken hand.
“[Coleman] was having a great OTAs [before his injury],” Britt said. “This was my first time actually getting to see him practice out there on the field to tell you the truth, and he’s a great complement to any other guy that’s on the other side. Regardless of who’s at quarterback, he’s out there making plays.”
That’s good to hear because Jackson has challenged Coleman to ascend to the team’s lead receiver. But the bottom line is Coleman has yet to stay healthy.
The Browns’ only other receivers of note are the three they drafted last year: Ricardo Louis (fourth round), Jordan Payton (fifth) and Rashard Higgins (fifth).
Louis, 23, had 18 catches for 205 yards. Higgins, 22, had six catches for 77 yards. They played in all 16 games. Payton, 23, played in four and had one catch for 3 yards. The NFL suspended him for four games for violating its policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
So can they make the leap after combining for a mere 25 catches for 285 yards?
“They don’t look like rookies out there on the practice field,” Britt said. “I know a game is different than practice, but those guys have come along. I watch them. I learn from them each and every day, how they get off the line of scrimmage, how they study in the classroom. They actually help me out with the playbook. So those guys, you can’t really tell they were rookies last year because those guys came along.”
But not enough for the Browns to not be interested in Maclin.
“Don’t know Jeremy personally. All I know is that we got drafted in the same year,” Britt said. “But if they do bring him in, we’ll welcome him with open arms like they welcomed me.”
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Browns blog at www.ohio.com/browns. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/NateUlrichABJ and on Facebook www.facebook.com/abj.sports.