The likelihood is still a long shot, the concept still in the formative stages, but tailback Lee Suggs, the unsigned fourth-round choice of the Cleveland Browns, is considering the possibility of skipping the 2003 season re-entering the draft in 2004.

Suggs, 22, is one of four draft choices leaguewide who remain unsigned. Two members of the group are first-round selections, Jackonville Jaguars quarterback Byron Leftwich and Buffalo tailback Willis McGahee, whose representatives are scheduled to meet with Bills officials on Saturday afternoon.

The fourth unsigned draft choice, Houston Texans quarterback Drew Henson, continues to play baseball in the New York Yankees organization and has reiterated several times his intention to not sign a football contract.

"Sitting out is something (Suggs) has discussed with his family and there is some strong support for taking that route," said a source close to the family. "The goal is still to get a deal with the Browns, but it's going nowhere, and maybe it's time for him to think about the alternative here. He would have a year to heal up and might actually go higher (in the 2004 draft) than he did this time."

Cleveland was adamant that all of its choices, even the middle- and low-round picks, sign five-year contract this year. Typically in the past, choices in those rounds have signed three-year contracts, with an occasional four-year deal.

In addition to the longer-term contracts, the Browns have included escalator packages, but they stipulate the player much reach very high levels to raise the level of their base salaries in latter years of the deals.

Sources said Suggs would consider a "premium" five-year deal, one that includes more realistic escalators. Last week, coach Butch Davis told ESPN.com that he still has plans for Suggs, a back whose potential he likes, and who he might use on kickoff returns.

The former Virginia Tech star underwent offseason surgery to repair a partially-torn rotator cuff and there is some question as to how much work he would be doing in camp, even if he were signed. Suggs also suffers from cervical stenosis, which means that he has an abnormally narrow spinal column, but Cleveland doctors have said the condition should not be a deterrent to his career.

If Suggs does not sign a contract, the Browns would retain his rights until the day before the 2004 draft. Were he still unsigned at that point, he would go into the 2004 pool.

Suggs played in 35 games at Virginia Tech, starting in 24 of them, and rushed for 2,767 yards and 53 touchdowns on 535 carries. He twice ran for more than 1,000 yards and he scored 27 touchdowns in 2000 and 22 touchdowns in 2002. He missed all but one game in 2001 because of a knee injury.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.