The way I see it, Brown has already tweeted he will not miss this season. He has some gripes with his guaranteed money being next to nothing if he gets injured. The team will be fair but firm in how they work it out,IMO.
As far as drafting a WR in the 1st, sure, IF that represents the best value of the pick...which it might. I think the team has been looking at those 'special' WRs who might end up being their best option (at the same time sending a message to Rosenhaus that they aren't afraid to make a move to replace a #1 WR).
That being said, I also feel Brown's absence from the workouts now only helps the guys who are there. Brown grabbed a career high targets this year because of Ben's comfort level with him. Ben didn't have much time to develop much with Bryant or Wheaton because Lance Moore, DHB and Justin Brown were thick in the mix.
This year we have no more Moore, who will be replaced with a kid I really liked in L'Damian Washington. He is 6-4 and fast. He had 50 rec and 10 TDs alongside DGB who had 59 rec and 12 TDs. He's as long and fast as DGB without the troubled past. Like to see him get some reps.