Summary of Paul DePodestaS Career & Departure from the Cleveland Browns
This article details the career of Paul DePodesta, focusing on his time with the Cleveland Browns and his recent hiring as the President of Baseball Operations for the Colorado Rockies. Here’s a breakdown of the key points:
Background & Baseball Experience:
* DePodesta is known for his analytical approach to baseball, popularized by the book Moneyball.
* He has held high-ranking positions with several MLB teams including the Dodgers (GM),Indians,Athletics,Padres,and Mets.
* his time as Dodgers GM was relatively short (20 months).
cleveland Browns Tenure (2016-2023/24):
* Hired by the Browns in 2016 after a 1-15 season, marking the second regime change under the Haslam ownership.
* His role was largely behind-the-scenes, focusing on long-term planning, free agency, and the NFL draft. He primarily worked with ownership and football operations.
* Initially credited with helping to rebuild the roster through draft picks (33 selections from 2016-18, including Myles Garrett and Baker Mayfield).
* He identified Kevin Stefanski as a potential head coaching candidate.
* His influence waned somewhat under later GMs (John Dorsey and Andrew Berry).
* The Deshaun Watson trade (March 2022) is identified as a pivotal and disastrous moment. DePodesta was involved in the decision to trade three first-round picks for Watson, a deal now considered a “crippling mistake” by owner Jimmy Haslam. The trade resulted in a massive, fully guaranteed contract for Watson and has left the team with a arduous salary cap situation.
* DePodesta became less publicly available after the Watson trade.
* He signed a five-year contract extension with the Browns, but his departure was recently announced.
Colorado Rockies Hire:
* DePodesta has been hired as the President of Baseball Operations for the Rockies.
* The article suggests he will likely bring in his own people to the association.
* The hiring occurs before the baseball general managers’ meetings in Las Vegas.
In essence, the article portrays DePodesta as a respected, analytically-minded executive whose legacy in Cleveland is now heavily overshadowed by the fallout from the Deshaun Watson trade. While he contributed to early successes, the disastrous trade ultimately defined his time with the Browns and likely contributed to his departure.
