Kamalei Correa entered the NFL Scouting Combine hoping to convince the Browns and other teams he could make a successful transition from a defensive end at Boise State to a 3-4 outside linebacker.
He showed he’s certainly fast enough Sunday as defensive linemen and linebackers worked out at Lucas Oil Stadium. He finished third among defensive linemen in the 40-yard dash (4.69 seconds) and 11th among linemen and linebackers combined.
While Correa went through agility drills, NFL Network analyst and former New England Patriots and Browns edge rusher Willie McGinest said, “That’s a linebacker.”
Correa has never played outside linebacker, but he’s preparing to do so at the next level.
“I’m willing to accept the challenge,” Correa said Saturday. “It’s going to be something new to me, but I love a new challenge. I love playing football. It’s always been a dream of mine to play linebacker, and I feel like my body structure is built for that position.”
The Browns — whose defensive coordinator, Ray Horton, is seeking an edge rusher for his 3-4, multi-front defense — are among several teams that met with Correa at the combine. Correa received a second-round grade from the draft advisory board, so he could be targeted by the Browns with the 32nd overall pick.
The 6-foot-3, 243-pound Correa explained he lined up in a three-point stance about 80 percent of the time during his three seasons as a defensive end at Boise State, where he had 20 sacks and 31.5 tackles for loss. He rushed from a standing position, like an outside linebacker would, in some blitz packages.
“I feel like I do need to fine-tune my moves and my techniques,” Correa said. “But I feel like my get off is probably the best part of my game.
“This past month and a half, I’ve been training and working on my drops, of course, because I know that’s a weaker side of my game.”
As Correa gears up for the conversion, he’s been studying Pro Bowl edge rushers Clay Matthews, Von Miller and Ryan Kerrigan.
“Those three have just a natural ability at what they do, and I kind of feel my game is similar to theirs,” Correa said. “But I’ve still got a lot to work on.”
Last week, NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock said Correa is “really quick and twitchy off the edge. Tough kid. I like him a lot.”
Correa played high school football in Hawaii with Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota, so he knows where he can turn for advice about life in the NFL.
“He’s someone that you want your kids to be like,” Correa said. “He’s a great role model. He’s a great friend. He’s a great son. I was very privileged to be at the same high school with him and be a friend.”
Disappointing run
Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa told NFL Network the Browns, Titans, New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys were among the 13 teams that interviewed him during the combine.
The 6-5¼, 269-pound Bosa tied for 14th among defensive linemen in the 40 (4.86) and said he was disappointed with his time. He was aiming for a time of 4.6 or 4.7.
However, he said if teams’ hand-timed results “come out pretty well, I probably won’t run” again at Ohio State’s pro day March 11.
A projected top-five pick, Bosa could be a candidate for the Browns at No. 2 overall if they surprise people by passing on quarterbacks Carson Wentz or Jared Goff there.
Some analysts are skeptical about Bosa’s ability to play outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. He participated in linebacker drills Sunday, and McGinest said he looked “a little stiff” at one point during the workout.
Mayock was more complimentary.
“The 3-4 teams have to be looking at him seriously as someone who could do that job,” he said.
Not interested after all
The Browns aren’t interested in trading for San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, a source familiar with the situation confirmed Sunday.
NFL Network reported Saturday night the Browns and Houston Texans would have interest in dealing for Kaepernick, whose agents have reportedly asked the 49ers for a trade.
However, the source said the report about the Browns being interested is inaccurate.
The Houston Chronicle reported the Texans are not interested, either.
There had been speculation about Kaepernick possibly joining the Browns since they hired coach Hue Jackson on Jan. 13.
The head coach of the Oakland Raiders in 2011, Jackson ranked Kaepernick as the best quarterback in his draft class, which included No. 1 overall pick Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers. Three years ago, Jackson told Sports Illustrated the Raiders considered trading up from the second to first round for Kaepernick, but they stopped short of making a deal.
“We wanted the kid in the worst way,” Jackson said.
Kaepernick, 28, went 2-6 before being benched last season and has had surgeries on his shoulder, knee and thumb since November.
His career record is 27-20 in the regular season and 4-2 in the playoffs. He helped the 49ers advance to the Super Bowl during the 2012 season, when they lost 34-31 to the Ravens.
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.