John

Dorsey

Dorsey had an eye for talent in Cleveland but made structural errors at every turn. Cleveland’s first draft under Dorsey resulted in the team getting Baker Mayfield, Denzel Ward, and Nick Chubb with three of their first four picks. He scooped up Kareem Hunt on a cheap deal and acquired Jarvis Landry for two Day 3 draft picks. Still, the decision to give Hue Jackson an extra season after going 0-16 and then replacing him with Freddie Kitchens will go down as catastrophic failures. After being fired by Cleveland, Dorsey spent 2020 as a consultant to the Eagles. He’ll take on a signifcacntly larger role with the Lions. A job that lets him work on talent evaluation and not management decisions may suit him well.

The Browns were apparently trying to get Dorsey to agree to a reduced role, which almost always results in a “parting of ways.” Dorsey spent barely two years on the job, but it was an eventful time as he engorged on Sashi Brown’s stockpiled cap space and draft picks cache. The results were 7-8-1 and 6-10 campaigns as Dorsey flailed in his attempt to build around Baker Mayfield. A calculated risk that backfired was Dorsey’s promotion of interim OC Freddie Kitchens to head coach. A reckless risk that exploded in his face was failing to address the offensive line. “Chief strategy officer” Paul DePodesta is expected to have a big say in finding Dorsey’s replacement. The Browns are said to be enamored with ex-Cleveland exec and current Eagles man Andrew Berry.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the sides are “leaning toward” parting ways. Dorsey has been on the job for barely two years, but he went all in on 2019 and failed spectacularly. Ex-GM Sashi Brown’s draft pick and cap space treasure chest was spent with reckless abandon to little effect. Such profligacy got Dorsey shown the door in Kansas City, as well. The main argument against his firing is that, at some point, the Browns need to stick with someone for more than a year or two. That’s probably not going to happen.

Both Dorsey and Thompson are contractually obligated to their respective teams through the 2018 draft, but there’s been talk of Thompson changing roles within the organization. The Chiefs probably wouldn’t let Dorsey out of his contract for a lateral move. But Dorsey likely would be open to running the show in Green Bay after coming up through the organization before going to K.C.

Thompson still has two years remaining on his contract but many believe he could change roles within the organization and move into scouting. If that happens, Dorsey would certainly be among the top candidates to replace him as GM. Dorsey’s future in Kansas City is somewhat uncertain as he heads into the last year of his contract. He has ties to Green Bay, having played there for six seasons and returning as a scout several years later. In fact, Dorsey was the Packers’ director of football operations before he accepted the GM role in Kansas City four years ago.

Dorsey has been strongly connected to his former team Green Bay as the eventual replacement for GM Ted Thompson, but says he wants to remain in Kansas City through his son’s high school graduation. Dorsey’s son is six. Chiefs fans don’t have anything to worry about in the near future.

Per Cole, that’s what Dorsey “told a source within the past two months.” No reason was given, but USA Today reported earlier Thursday the team believed Dorsey botched long-term negotiations with Justin Houston and Eric Berry. Dorsey has been an excellent drafter, though coach Andy Reid is an influence in every department of Chiefs personnel. A pair of Reid loyalists are amongst the in-house candidates expected to interview to replace Dorsey.

It’s a stunning, baffling move. Like coach Andy Reid, Dorsey was heading into the final year of his contract. Owner Clark Hunt informed Dorsey he would not be receiving an extension, essentially firing him by way of forcing him out. Dorsey was hired to do Reid’s bidding. There had been no indications of friction. Reid’s already mammoth power in Kansas City now increases. It’s hard to know how much of Reid’s credit Dorsey deserved, but on the surface, he did an absolutely fantastic job during his four years with the Chiefs. It is worth noting the Chiefs are in salary cap shambles. Dorsey won’t be on the open market for long. A Ted Thompson acolyte, Dorsey has been mentioned as a possible successor for Thompson in Green Bay.

Per Pelissero, the Chiefs believed the slowness “cost them more later.” It makes sense on the surface, but that’s hardly a rarity with blue-chip players. The delay in Berry’s case seemed more questionable than the delay in Houston’s. The national media is reporting widespread shock at Dorsey’s abrupt departure. The Chiefs are clearly comfortable with Andy Reid being the brains of the operation.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero adds Cleveland has had “a lot of conversations” about a trade. The fourth-overall pick is a potential move up spot for teams looking to draft a quarterback. The Browns would get multiple Day 2 picks if they trade down, but it may put them out of the range of Saquon Barkley and NC State DE Bradley Chubb.