Cleveland Browns in a rush to work out Texas DE Brian Orakpo

The Browns will travel to Austin, Texas on March 18 to privately work out University of Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo, a source close to Orakpo told the Austin Statesman.

Orakpo, a candidate for the Browns' No. 5 overall pick, will also participate in Texas' Pro Day workout on March 25. But the extra workout by the Browns indicates strong interest on their part.

The source said that other teams showing interest are Cincinnati at No. 6, Green Bay at No. 9 and Denver at No. 12.

Orakpo, who would play outside linebacker in the Browns' 3-4 scheme, could be the edge-rusher they need to jump start their anemic pass rush. Last season, they had just 17 sacks, the second fewest in the NFL. Meanwhile, Orakpo was busy recording 11 1/2 sacks as a senior at Texas.

Browns coach Eric Mangini said at the NFL Combine that he would never draft a player who could only rush the passer, but Orakpo (6-3, 263) insists he can do it all, including stopping the run and dropping into coverage.

But ideally?

"In a perfect world, I just want to rush the passer, first through fourth down," he said at the Combine. "Any position where I can be effective doing what I naturally do best, and that's getting after the passer and affecting him. It's not all about the sacks, it's all about pressure."

NFL Network's Mike Mayock compares Orakpo to Cowboys' three-time Pro Bowl linebacker DeMarcus Ware, who has averaged more than 13 sacks in his four seasons, and had 20 in 2008.

"I think he's athletic enough to stand up like (the Cowboys') DeMarcus Ware," Mayock said at the Combine. "I thought Ware was the best player in that (2005) draft and Orakpo is pretty close. I think he's a 3-4 linebacker. I like him a lot. He fits (the Browns') scheme. To me, he's not a reach at 5."

Baltimore Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said at the Combine that new Browns general manager George Kokinis was part of a study in Baltimore that showed that college sack production was an indicator of NFL success."

"If you were a great pass rusher in college and you had double digit sacks, you're probably going to have that on our level too," said Newsome. "So you may not have the notoriety of some of other guys, but when they have good sack production in college, they're going to have good sack production in the NFL."

Orakpo told WKNR's Kenny Roda on Thursday that his meeting with the Browns in Indianapolis went well, "and it's a huge possibility" they would draft him at No. 5. "The Cleveland Browns are a great up and coming team with Eric Mangini coming in there. I'm proud to have my name associated with them."

Orakpo said the Browns grilled him on his knowledge of the game beyond rushing the passer and he assured them he's versatile. "I picked up a good vibe (from the Browns)," he said. "Cleveland seemed like they were very interested. We'll see how it goes."

Now, the Browns have to hope that his stellar Combine workout doesn't put him out of their reach. Before tweaking a hamstring, Orakpo finished third among defensive linemen in the 40-yard dash at 4.7, second in the vertical jump at 39.5, and eighth in the bench press with 31 reps.