Report: Browns Could Hire Vikings George Paton As GM Early This Week

It appears the Cleveland Browns GM search may be ending soon.

Per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, the Browns could hire Vikings assistant GM George Paton early this week. 

The #Browns could hire #Vikings assistant GM George Paton in the next few days as GM, source tells clevelanddotcom; Chris Spielman says ‘it makes the most sense for Kevin Stefanski’ https://t.co/8Fy4OfWzF9

— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) January 20, 2020

Among the other GM candidates that the Browns have recently interviewed include, Patriots Director of College Scouting Monti Ossenfort and Eagles Vice President of Football Operations Andrew Berry.

A combo of Paton and Stefanski makes sense given that Paton has spent the past 13 years in the Minnesota Vikings organization.  

Former Browns linebacker Chris Spielman recently spoke on what the addition of George Paton would mean for the Browns:

“I think it would behoove the Browns to do everything in their power to hire George,”

“It makes the most sense for Kevin Stefanski as a [coach-GM] team.”

Spielman also talked about the recent success of Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch and that he believes Paton and Stefanski are what the Browns need to succeed. 

“Look at what Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch have accomplished as a team,” Spielman said. “It’s a copycat league, and Kevin and George would make an excellent team.”

Paton was a finalist for the San Francisco 49ers GM job in 2017 that ultimately went to John Lynch.  

He was also a candidate for the Colts GM job in 2017 that went to Chris Ballard.    

Paton was worked his entire career with Vikings GM Rick Spielman.  

He was a scout for the Chicago Bears in late 1990’s and became the assistant director of pro personnel in 2000.  

Paton then spent 6 seasons with Spielman with the Miami Dolphins as the Director of Pro Personnel before they both went to the Minnesota Vikings in 2007.