The Cleveland Browns organization is highly regarded in NFL circles for its work with analytics.
General manager Andrew Berry is well respected around the league.
His time with Howie Roseman in Philadelphia before returning to the Browns to take over as general manager taught him a lot about how he wanted to run the organization.
In recent years, the Browns front office has become a good source of emerging talent, whether as a talent evaluator, analytical analyst or front office process manager.
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was hired by Berry’s staff as the Vikings’ general manager in 2022, and the Browns received two compensatory draft picks in the third round.
The NFL has implemented a rule that rewards teams for developing minority front office members and coaches.
Pro Football Focus released a list of names from NFL organizations that will likely be considered for general manager positions this offseason.
At the top of the list of names dubbed “The Next Wave of Top Talent Evaluating GMs” is Glenn Cook from Berry’s staff with the Browns.
Cook was a professional scout for the Indianapolis Colts in 2011 and the Green Bay Packers from 2012 to 2015.
He currently serves as an assistant general manager for Berry in Cleveland and was impressive in every way while interviewing for GM positions in Chicago, Minnesota and Indianapolis last offseason.
Cook helped revamp the Browns’ defense this offseason when they signed defensive end Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, interior defenders Dalvin Tomlinson and Shelby Harris and traded for Za’Darius Smith.
The Browns also hired former Detroit Lions head coach and Super Bowl-winning defensive coordinator with the 2017 Eagles, Jim Schwartz, to help with the defensive transformation, and they have been the best defense in the NFL so far.
With Cook’s experience in professional scouting, eye for talent evaluation and growing prominence, he will likely be in high demand to fill the general manager role in 2024.
Pro Football Focus is talking about another Browns assistant general manager, Catherine Raîche.
Raîche got his start in the Canadian Football League, working with veteran NFL coach Marc Trestman with the Toronto Argonauts.
She then joined the NFL with the Eagles, where she gained extensive experience in administration and operations.
Raîche has built a great reputation in league circles and the Minnesota Vikings interviewed her for a top position this past offseason.
She has since earned the title of assistant general manager and a larger role in Cleveland.
Like Berry, Raîche is connected to Eagles and Browns coaches, including Schwartz, with whom she worked in both organizations.
With Cook and Raiche both on the hot list this offseason, the Browns could lose key members of their front office.
However, because Cook and Raîche are both minorities, the Browns would receive draft compensation similar to what they received when the Vikings hired Adofo-Mensah.
Note: If either of them were hired, they would receive two third-round compensatory picks.
However, if both were hired in the same offseason, would the Browns only receive three third-round compensatory picks, instead of the four picks they would receive if they were hired in offseason hiring cycles distinct?
