Report: Browns 'considering' paying up for Ndamukong Suh

Ndamukong Suh will have plenty of suitors when he hits free agency next spring, and they won't all be big-market teams.

According to ESPNCleveland.com, the Cleveland Browns "are considering" making a run at Suh this coming off-season and "may be willing to make him the highest-paid defensive lineman in NFL history."

Suh leads the Detroit Lions' No. 2-ranked defense with 8.5 sacks, but his rookie contract voids five days after the Super Bowl.

The Lions tabled negotiations on a new deal for Suh before the start of training camp, and the two sides have not yet resumed talks.

Suh, who was selected for his fourth Pro Bowl in five seasons earlier this week, is seeking a contract that will make him one of the highest-paid defensive players in the game, and the Lions have balked at his demands so far.

If they clear cap space, the Lions may be willing to keep Suh from becoming a free agent by using the franchise tag on him at the whopping cost of $26.9 million next year.

Short of that, Suh, who makes $12.5 million this year but carries a $22.4 million cap number, will be the rare free agent who hits the open market still in the prime of his career -- he turns 28 on Jan. 6 -- and coming off maybe the best season of his career.

The Lions project to have about $20 million of cap room in 2015 on a $140 million cap before signing players to futures deals and not accounting for their rookie class. The Browns will have more than $35 million in cap room.

The Chicago Bears, New York Jets and New York Giants also have been mentioned as possible destinations for Suh.