Cleveland Browns’ Eliot Wolf named a top future NFL GM candidate

Cleveland Browns have built one of best front offices in the league, and assistant general manager Eliot Wolf was named a top future GM candidate.

After the Cleveland Browns hired John Dorsey as general manager in December 2017, Dorsey went to work and built one of the best front offices in the NFL.

After spending four and half years with the Kansas City Chiefs, Dorsey dipped into his old stomping grounds in Green Bay and hired two of their best talent evaluators: Eliot Wolf and Alonzo Highsmith.

Wolf is the son of Hall of Fame general manager Ron Wolf, who helped turn the Green Bay Packers into a consistent champion contender in the 1990’s. And before too long, the younger Wolf could have his chance to make his impact as a general manager.

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Matt Miller of Bleacher Report said Saturday that Wolf is viewed around the league as one of the top general manager candidates for future openings. The 37-year-old could even be an option for the current general manager opening for the New York Jets.

"“Once thought to be a potential future successor to Ted Thompson in Green Bay, Eliot Wolf instead went to Cleveland with John Dorsey’s staff and has played a key role in rebuilding the laughingstock into a contender. Maybe he’s ready to do the same in New York.” – Miller, Bleacher Report"

Wolf has interviewed for various general manager openings in recent years, but has never accepted a job. He interviewed for the San Francisco 49ers general manager opening in 2017 and was seen as one of the favorites. However, he withdrew his name from consideration. The year prior, Wolf was the Detroit Lions’ No. 1 choice to become their next general manager, but the Packers refused the request for him to interview.

Wolf is credited with playing a large role in the Browns draft classes. His roots in the NFL started as a scout and was able to quickly climb the ladder in the Packers’ front office. His rise to becoming Green Bay’s director of player personnel and then director of football operations along with his blood lines made it seem like he was destined to become the Packers general manager at some point.

As mentioned by Miller, Wolf was expected to be the successor to Ted Thompson following the 2017 season, but Green Bay decided to hire Brian Gutekunst instead. After being passed over, Wolf decided to move on from the Packers and landed in Cleveland.

Even when Wolf was hired by the Browns, it did not seem like a partnership that would last too long because of Wolf’s potential as a general manager. But because there were not many general manager openings at the beginning of this offseason, Wolf did not have an opportunity to take a promotion.

At 37-years-old, Wolf is still young enough to wait for what he feels will be a perfect opportunity. Although Miller mentioned he could become a candidate for the Jets general manager opening, the odd structure with Jets head coach Adam Gase could be a deterrent for Wolf to take that job if he is interviewed and offered the job.

Wolf’s presence has obviously helped the Browns in their quick turnaround in the past couple of seasons. But in the next couple of years, they should be expecting his departure because Wolf should be getting an opportunity as a general manager in the near future.