Browns Closing In On Vikings’ George Paton As Next GM?

According to Mary Kay Cabot, the Browns could reach an agreement with Vikings assistant GM George Paton to become Cleveland’s next general manager early this week. 

Ian Rapoport confirms the Browns interviewed Paton on Saturday and his relationship with new HC Kevin Stefanski from their time together in Minnesota makes him a strong candidate for the job. 

Paton has previously turned down multiple interview requests from Cleveland, but Stefanski’s presence appears to make this situation different. He has been a popular name in GM searches over the past several years, but has declined to interview for a number of jobs to remain with the Vikings.

Cleveland also interviewed Eagles executive Andrew Berry and Patriots director of college scouting Monti Ossenfort. Colts assistant GM Ed Dodds declined Cleveland’s interview request.

Paton got his start in the NFL as a scout with the Bears in the late 1990s before moving up to assistant director of pro personnel in 2000. Paton worked with the Dolphins for six years as their director of pro personnel before joining the Vikings in 2007, where he’s been ever since. 

We’ll have more on the Browns GM search as the news is available.