HOPE IN CLEVELAND

By, Bruce Johnson

Don’t worry Cleveland Browns fans, there is hope coming your way. After winning only one game within the last two years and missing the playoffs for the 16th consecutive season, things are going to start changing for the good in 2018. It started on December 7, 2017, when the Cleveland Browns announced John Dorsey as their new general manager. Why is this important? John Dorsey has a very good track record of drafting players. During his time in Green Bay as the general manager, Dorsey drafted players like all-star linebacker Clay Matthews, wide receiver Greg Jennings and possibly one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game of football, Aaron Rodgers. All three players have helped the Packers become the team that they are today. Reaching the playoffs for several years including an NFC championship appearance in 2017. After leaving Green Bay, Dorsey became the GM of the Kansas City Chiefs where he helped draft players such as Travis Kelce and Eric Fisher. Just like Green Bay, these players that Dorsey helped draft, turned things around in Kansas City as they reached the playoffs three out of the four years he was the GM and posting a 43-21 record while there.

How does all of this affect the Cleveland Browns? With two top five draft picks in the 2018 NFL draft, John Dorsey has a chance to change the look of the Cleveland Browns for years to come. Last year, with the number one overall pick the Browns took a monster pass rusher in Myles Garrett of Texas A&M who was projected as the best pass rusher coming out of college. Next year, Dorsey could go with a power and fast running back like Saquon Barkley or a franchise quarterback like Baker Mayfield of Oklahoma or USC’s Sam Darnold. Dorsey could even go defensive again and pick safety Minkah Fitzpatrick from Alabama. All four players could make a huge immediate impact on the Cleveland Browns.

Cleveland who has not had a franchise quarterback since Bernie Kosar, would be looking to end that streak by drafting Mayfield or Darnold. Barkley would give them a great running-back, a position Cleveland desperately needs to upgrade. Fitzpatrick would improve their safety position, an area that has been one of the worst in the leagues in stopping the passing game. All four players would be a huge upgrade over the current position holder. All four could change the outlook for the Cleveland Browns, a team that has the worst luck in the NFL over the years, and for the fans for have stuck behind their team through it all. The team, the city, the fans, the players are pulling for this team to do something in upcoming draft. John Dorsey has an opportunity to make Cleveland believe again.

Picture Credits: spotsonearth.com, americaninno.com