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Cleveland Browns general manager has experienced little free time since the close of the 2018 NFL regular season.
In his second offseason rebuilding the Browns, Dorsey has swung a deal for wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., opened up a potential starting role for guard Austin Corbett, added another pass rusher in defensive end Olivier Vernon, a force in the middle in defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson, and provided a boost to the running game with running back Kareem Hunt (once his eight-game suspension is finished, that is).
All those moves, combined with the work that Dorsey did in the 2017 offseason in drafting quarterback Baker Mayfield, cornerback Denzel Ward and running back Nick Chubb, has elevated Dorsey to the No. 4 spot (up 13 slots) on Gregg Rosenthal’s GM Power Rankings at NFL.com:
After drafting Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City, Baker Mayfield in Cleveland and then trading for Odell Beckham Jr., Dorsey has to be feeling like a God among men. (Dorsey was also rumored to once be set to draft Paxton Lynch before John Elway swooped in, so luck has plenty to do with legacy, too.) And while former GM Sashi Brown deserves some love for leaving so many picks behind, Dorsey’s 2018 draft and 2019 free-agent moves have been a masterclass in the instant rebuild. Following his quick turnaround of the Chiefs with Andy Reid, Dorsey’s track record is spotless. In a year-to-year league, a long-term overhaul is overrated.
We’re not so sure we agree with the part about longterm work being overrated, but it is hard to argue with the work that Dorsey has done overall during his time with the Browns. From finally solving the quarterback problem, to getting owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam to see the truth about former head coach Hue Jackson, Dorsey has been on a roll.
He is also in pretty good company on the list, as the only general managers ranked ahead of him are Kevin Colbert of the Pittsburgh Steelers (No. 3), Howie Roseman of the Philadelphia Eagles (No. 2) and Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots (No. 1).
Dorsey will have another opportunity to show his prowess this weekend at the 2019 NFL Draft, which opens on Thursday night with the first round. The Browns are currently without a first-round selection because of the Beckham trade, but have picks in round two (No. 49), round three (No. 80), round four (No. 119), round five (Nos. 144, 155 and 170), round six (No. 189) and round seven (No. 221).