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Earlier this past weekend, Indianapolis Colts assistant general manager Ed Dodds was reported to be a key candidate of interest for the Cleveland Browns general manager opening.
The Browns had requested to interview Dodds, but the caveat was that he may have been the preferred general manager choice of San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh—who was ultimately passed over as the Browns new head coach in favor of former Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski.
Stefanski’s imminent hire made the odds of Dodds jumping to the Cleveland Browns to replace Colts general manager Chris Ballard’s mentor, John Dorsey, seem increasingly unlikely.
However, on Monday morning, Dodds removed himself from consideration for the Browns vacant general manager position all together by declining an interview, citing “unfinished business” with the Colts (via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero):
#Colts assistant GM Ed Dodds informed the #Browns he is declining an interview for their GM job, source said. Dodds, a highly respected executive, feels there is unfinished business in Indy.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 13, 2020
Having spent the last three years in Indianapolis (two as the Colts assistant general manager), Dodds has been highly regarded in league circles for his scouting acumen, and he’s thought to be one of the top young candidates to become a future general manager some day soon.
That being said, keeping him in Indianapolis—at least for another year, could be a huge development for the Colts as general manager Chris Ballard’s trusted “right-hand man”.
This is a big offseason for the Colts too.
The Colts hold the 13th and 34th overall picks in the 2020 NFL Draft, as well as a projected league-leading $96.45M of cap space—should they choose to use it.
It’s an AFC South division that just saw two rivals advance to the Divisional Round of the playoffs, the Tennessee Titans and Houston Texans (one, the Titans, will have a chance to advance to the Super Bowl next weekend as the AFC’s Conference Champion).
Facing issues at starting quarterback, wide receiver, and potentially left tackle (among other positions), the Colts will need to make sure that they can make the most informed decisions and judgments as humanly possible—and having Dodds return will assuredly help them in that regard.