An NFL Draft primer on John Dorsey for Cleveland Browns fans

If you’re new to drafts led by John Dorsey, you need to understand a few things. We’re here to help you make the transition in your expectations.

If you’re a Cleveland Browns, we’re sorry. It’s been a long, long road you’ve traveled, watching your city celebrate championships in other sports yet sadly occupying the doghouse—certainly renamed the Dawghouse for how long you’ve dwelled inside—of the AFC North. This offseason you were sold another person in charge, and we’d understand if you were used to simply shrugging in response. You’ve seen other candidates kiss babies and make campaign promises, too.

But as an outsider, let me affirm this new direction. You’re in good hands, both in the short- and long-term. John Dorsey, as your new general manager, is the real deal. As a lifelong fan of the Kansas City Chiefs, I’ve watched him work his magic with my own eyes.

What you’re going to love about Dorsey is that the draft is just one tool of many he will use to bring in the pieces you need to build a winning roster. Waiver wire pickups will actually mean something. Forgettable free agent signings will end up playing a vital role. Practice squad signings are something to pay attention to. The saying reads that you gotta know where to look. John Dorsey does.

I can help with the rest of the calendar later, but given the looming nature of the 2018 NFL Draft, I wanted to at least give you, depressed football fan, a primer for the draft, to know what to expect with Dorsey at the helm.

First Things First

If you take a look at John Dorsey’s drafts in years past, he clearly has a vision for what positions are the most important on the field and he will work to address them immediately.

A quick look back reveals an immediate push to trade for Alex Smith and deal with the Chiefs long-term instability at quarterback. He did so by dealing two second-round choices, saving the first overall selection of his tenure with the Chiefs to take Eric Fisher at left tackle.  In subsequent drafts, the attention turned to the defensive side, grabbing a pass rusher and shutdown corner in Dee Ford and Marcus Peters.

Note: this is NOT about whether or not these players were the right talents (we’ll get to that) but we’re just looking at positions. When given a chance to bring in a player expected to make an instant impact, Dorsey made his investments at quarterback, offensive tackle, pass rusher and lockdown corner. Those are game-altering positions, and Dorsey’s not a dunce. He knows the difference between luxury and necessity and will act accordingly.

What does this mean?

Saquon Barkley? Ludicrous idea. A running back at fourth overall when there are blue chip players at positions of necessity means that mock drafters and NFL analysts are getting this all wrong when they say that Dorsey is going to use the No. 4 overall selection on Barkley if he’s available. It doesn’t matter if he’s a generational talent. It doesn’t matter if there’s a major hole. It doesn’t matter if it will sell jerseys.

Dorsey knows that he can also grab Ronald Jones or Sony Michel or Rashaad Penny in the next round or two and watch the running game flourish all the same. There’s no need to make such a silly investment atop the draft when it’s a luxury. The Browns, if you haven’t noticed, aren’t ready to start making luxury picks anytime soon.

Secret’s Safe with Dorse

Up until the very end, no one knew whether it would be Eric Fisher or Luke Joeckel atop the draft in 2013. The Chiefs waited like a silent assassin before springing a trade up with the Buffalo Bills to grab Patrick Mahomes just a year ago. The buzz was next to nothing for Dee Ford, Chris Jones or Marcus Peters with regards to Chiefs potential interest, which means John Dorsey knows how to keep his mouth shut.

Remember that everything these days is a smokescreen—or at least it should be. If there are any rumors of substance going around, it means that particular team has a serious leak and confidentiality issues among their staff. Dorsey knows the power of making other teams guess, and he’s experienced enough to handle himself accordingly.

What does this mean? 

Anything you are hearing about the Browns isn’t coming from Dorsey unless he wants you know it (or think you know it). The carousel up top about Josh Allen or Baker Mayfield or Sam Darnold or… it’s all just smoke to potentially feel out what others would think of that information.

My guess is that Dorsey knows exactly who he wants at No. 1 and No. 4 and that he has for some time. Now is the moment to generate potential leads, and that’s what Dorsey is doing.

Stellar Acumen

Dorsey was dragged through the mud on his way out of Kansas City. You can research and read plenty of columns on the Chiefs’ salary cap situation (not good) and some will even nitpick about certain draft choices that didn’t make it, but Dorsey’s acumen is clear enough for anyone to see.

A closer look at Dorsey’ s drafts over the past few years show solid gets up top (without a single true bust up top). Say what you want about Ford or Fisher failing to live up to expectation, but years after being selected, the Chiefs are leaning upon both to fill in serious roles in 2018.

Meanwhile, in the later rounds, Dorsey is getting Tyreek Hill in the fifth round and turning two sixth-round picks in 2014 into multi-millionaire offensive linemen in Zach Fulton and Laurent Duvernay-Tardif.

Out of his last four draft classes, only a single player—quarterback Aaron Murray— is out of football entirely. That’s an incredible feat and shows that Dorsey was even getting better and better with each successive draft. From top to bottom, the Browns are going to add a lot of useful players this weekend.