CLEVELAND, Ohio -- I was talking on the phone to a NFL executive Thursday night when the word came out on the hiring of John Dorsey as the Browns new general manager.

The exec was telling me the Browns "could be a great job" if owner Jimmy Haslam allows the new general manager the time and freedom to make the right moves.

"In terms of picks and salary cap space, they are in a tremendous position," he said.

I spoke to another executive earlier in the day who said the same thing. But both guys couldn't figure out why coach Hue Jackson was promised his job for 2018. They thought it would make it harder for the Browns to find a good general manager.

Well, Dorsey has agreed to take the job. As far as I can tell, Dorsey has no long-standing relationship with Jackson. Haslam has decided to put them together. Dorsey obviously thinks it has a chance to work.

We'll see.

"Dorsey can probably figure he can make it work with Hue, or replace him a year from now," the executive told me. "It's not ideal."

Statement from John Dorsey: pic.twitter.com/F26uHcnsFD — Cleveland Browns (@Browns) December 8, 2017

But coaching issues aside, Dorsey can thank the fired Sashi Brown and his front office for putting him in superb position to make an immediate impact in 2018.

They have two first-round picks, very likely in the top 10. They have three second-round picks and 13 overall. They could have as much as $100 million of salary cap room.

Dorsey had a 43-21 record as general manager of the Kansas City Chiefs. But he fell out of favor with ownership. He was fired in late June, after the draft. It was an odd time to make such a move. His communication style was questioned.

But along with coach Andy Reid, he built the Chiefs into a winner. He engineered a trade for Alex Smith, and the veteran quarterback stabilized the position for the Chiefs.

As a guy who loves the draft, the lure of all the picks compiled by Brown's front office has to be intoxicating.

Of the guys available right now, Dorsey probably is the best. I'm certainly not going to second-guess it. The man has a solid track record and a lot of experience.

I still question the quick marriage of Dorsey and Jackson. For years, having the coach and general manager work together has been a problem. No matter what Jackson said, he did have a power struggle with Brown. He did prevail.

But he better not try that stuff with Dorsey, or the Browns will be a mess again.

I'm in the minority in this market in terms of liking a general analytics approach. Piling up picks is how a team such as the Browns can take significant steps forward.

Former CEO Joe Banner did that when he had 10 picks set up for the 2014 draft. But his replacement -- Ray Farmer -- selected only six players, including Johnny Manziel and Justin Gilbert in the first round. He kept trading up, it was a disaster.

Dorsey is intrigued. Jackson has to be willing to play ball and respect his new boss -- and Dorsey must be the boss for this to work.

But I want to point out the reason Dorsey is attracted to the job is all the picks assembled by Brown & Company. Now, Dorsey has a chance to find a quarterback in the draft and/or free agency. He can fill holes. He can bring some hope.

For Browns fans, that is good news.