The Browns are dead serious about their courtship of Minnesota Vikings assistant general manager George Paton.
The Browns hosted Paton on Wednesday at their headquarters in Berea for his second interview during this GM search, a person familiar with the meeting confirmed. The interview lasted roughly eight hours and ended at about 5 p.m. without a hire.
Paton also interviewed with the Browns this past weekend.
The Browns interviewed New England Patriots director of college scouting Monti Ossenfort and Philadelphia Eagles vice president of football operations Andrew Berry on Friday. Neither Ossenfort nor Berry has had a second interview scheduled.
Paton worked with Kevin Stefanski for the past 13 seasons in Minnesota, and they could soon reunite as the new GM-head coach tandem in Cleveland.
Paton has emerged as the front-runner to succeed former Browns GM John Dorsey, who mutually agreed Dec. 31 with owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam to part ways coming off a 6-10 season.
Stefanski recently replaced Freddie Kitchens, who lasted only one season at the helm.
Paton has never been a GM, but he interviewed with the San Francisco 49ers and Indianapolis Colts for the position in 2017. He also has declined many interview requests from other teams over the years.
Paton worked as a scout and player personnel executive with the Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins before joining the Vikings in 2007. He has worked with Vikings GM Rick Spielman at every stop. The Vikings promoted Paton from director of player personnel to assistant GM in 2012, the same year they elevated Spielman from vice president of player personnel to GM.
A UCLA defensive back from 1988-91, Paton played in professional football leagues in Italy and Austria.
