Potential GM/HC/Coaches Thread

[PorkSkins]

Originally Posted by JackLord

I cannot believe they are not thinking about him.

Who says Jim Harbaugh isn't on their list of coaches?

[REDSKINS4ever]

Who here thinks that the new GM will trade Jahan Dotson and a other unproductive starters on the roster ?

[MTK]

Dotson is on a rookie deal with a 5th year option and has shown some promise, I think he'll be back here.

[Chief X_Phackter]

Originally Posted by REDSKINS4ever

Who here thinks that the new GM will trade Jahan Dotson and a other unproductive starters on the roster ?

I think it would be difficult to trade unproductive starters. Who wants unproductive players?

Anyway, there are a myriad of reasons certain players were "unproductive" this year. I think you throw this year's results out and keep Dotson, for the reason MTK said.

[sdskinsfan2001]

I'm curious to see what happens with Curl. That's probably our biggest FA decision for the new GM. That, and hopefully picking up at least 1 OL (2 would be even better).

[MTK]

Originally Posted by sdskinsfan2001

I'm curious to see what happens with Curl. That's probably our biggest FA decision for the new GM. That, and hopefully picking up at least 1 OL (2 would be even better).

Hope we lock him up.

[sdskinsfan2001]

It hasn't really sunk in, that in 5 days' time, Rivera will be gone. Curious to see how long the process takes to pick the new GM. Or if he has already made that decision.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by sdskinsfan2001

It hasn't really sunk in, that in 5 days' time, Rivera will be gone. Curious to see how long the process takes to pick the new GM. Or if he has already made that decision.

I think things will happen pretty quickly. But we can't start interviewing (officially) until Jan 8th.

[MTK]

Some highlights from an article on The Athletic by Ben Standig

Commanders GM search: What league sources think of the top and overlooked candidates

Adam Peters

Team — San Francisco 49ers
Position — Assistant GM
Connections — 49ers DC Steve Wilks, Texans OC Bobby Slowik, Commanders GM Martin Mayhew

It’s possible that on Sunday at FedEx Field, Harris bumped into arguably the most coveted general manager candidate this cycle.

Formal interviews with potential hires cannot begin until Jan. 8. There’s no stipulation on random social interactions, especially when the two parties occupy the same space, as was the case with Peters, a front-office target who was in attendance for San Francisco’s 27-10 win over Washington.

“I think that if you’re a team looking this year, to put it bluntly, you would be dumb to look anywhere else,” an NFL agent said as part of The Athletic’s annual agent survey. “I think he is the best in the business.”

Agents also voted Peters among the league’s talent evaluators and front-office leaders they trust the most, rare mentions for non-general managers. He tied for first in the “Future GM to Watch” category with Khai Harley (Saints) and Nolan Teasley (Seahawks).

“Good, bad or ugly, Adam does it the right way,” the agent said. “He treats people with compassion even when it’s a bad situation. He’s always honest. You know where you stand. I’m surprised he has not gotten a general manager job to this point.”

The promotion of John Lynch to president of football operations means Peters could land a GM job by staying with the 49ers. A contingent of league sources wonder if that’s the Northern California native’s preferred option. Peters interviewed for the New York Giants’ GM vacancy in 2022 but declined meetings with the Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans for their 2023 openings.

Peters is the talent evaluation arm of the 49ers’ hierarchy. After stints as a scout in New England with Bill Belichick and Denver during the Peyton Manning Super Bowl era, he arrived in San Francisco in 2017 as vice president of player personnel. The 49ers have reached the NFC Championship Game three times since, along with their 2019 Super Bowl appearance. The current edition is the NFC favorite thanks to a talent-rich roster that includes blue-chip draft picks, relevant mid-to-late-round finds and stellar trade acquisitions. The team’s depth of talent is unmatched, and Peters garners ample credit for the haul.

It’s conceivable Mayhew and other current Washington front-office executives could be retained depending on the plans.

Ian Cunningham

Team — Chicago Bears
Position — Assistant GM
Connections — Ravens DC Mike Macdonald, Bears OC Luke Getsy, Commanders VP of football strategy Eugene Shen

Hiring the Bears’ No. 2 might seem curious, but Cunningham was on the cusp of landing a top job last offseason. After joining the Bears in 2022 when Chicago named Ryan Poles its new GM, the former University of Virginia offensive lineman and Kansas City Chiefs 2008 training camp invitee turned down an offer from the Cardinals for their GM opening, per sources. He was also a finalist for the Titans opening that went to Ran Carthon.

Cunningham was tutored in front offices led by former Baltimore Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome and Philadelphia Eagles GM Howie Roseman. Those organizations are known for blending tape-watching and data in their player evaluation process. After nine seasons of scouting for the Ravens, Cunningham landed with the Eagles, where he served as director of college scouting (2017-18), assistant director of player personnel (2019-20) and director of player personnel (2021).

Cunningham is the second cousin of tennis legend and social activist Arthur Ashe. More pertinent for the Commanders, he connected with Washington’s newly hired VP of football strategy, Shen, when the two were with the Ravens’ scouting department, according to a person familiar with the situation.

Alec Halaby

Team — Philadelphia Eagles
Position — Assistant GM
Connections — Eagles OC Brian Johnson

Roseman, the Eagles’ executive VP and general manager, already has an extensive executive tree around the league. Expect more branches to emerge this offseason. Of those still in the nest, the analytics-centric Halaby is considered the best bet to begin his own shop.

Closing in on two decades with the Eagles, the Harvard graduate began as a 20-year-old intern in 2007 and spent six seasons as Philadelphia’s VP of football operations and strategy. Not every organization has embraced analytics, but Halaby found a safe harbor for such analysis with Roseman and Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie after sending all 32 teams an email about opportunities.

Halaby previously participated in the Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, a gathering of analytical minds organized by Daryl Morey, president of basketball operations of the NBA’s 76ers, a franchise owned by Harris. If the personalities fit, Harris hiring Halaby would aggressively bring Washington into the modern data-gathering era.

Ed Dodds

Team — Indianapolis Colts
Position — Assistant GM
Connections — Browns special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone, Colts chief personnel executive Morocco Brown

Colts GM Chris Ballard received the most votes for “best talent evaluator” in the first four years of The Athletic’s NFL agent survey. No top executive runs a front office solo, and that reality leads to Dodds’ name coming up in conversations with league sources about potential candidates.

If the Colts’ 2022 struggles hampered Dodds’ chances during last year’s hiring cycle, being in the wild-card and AFC South division title mix will only enhance his resume. The ex-Seahawks personnel executive previously met with the Las Vegas Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers and Bears but pulled himself out of Chicago’s 2022 search and declined other inquiries. He also was part of the Colts’ interview process with over a dozen potential coaches last year, including Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris. Previous reports linked Dodds to former NFL coach and University of Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, a possible target for teams this cycle.

Dawn Aponte

Team — NFL
Position — Chief administrator of football operations
Connections — All 32 teams

Beyond Harris separating the GM and head coach jobs, one potential consideration is adding a president of football operations position to oversee the entire front office. That’s the model with Harris’ NBA and NHL franchises and typical for those leagues. Adding an admin role could mean having the final say in personnel or overseeing daily operations with an actual talent evaluator focused on the roster.

According to league sources, Aponte’s background goes beyond standard requirements for the GM or high-ranking ops roles. “Why a team has not hired Dawn Aponte makes zero sense to me,” a current general manager told The Athletic. “She is incredible.”

Her NFL background began in 1994 as a numbers cruncher and salary-cap analyst with the New York Jets before ascending to senior director of football administration. Aponte also held high-ranking operations jobs with the Browns and Miami Dolphins before her second stint in the league office began in 2017.

Respect for Aponte permeates throughout the league. Her current role puts her in constant contact with head coaches, general managers and others armed with questions and complaints. Her boss, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, cited the no-nonsense Aponte as a ready-now candidate during the latest owners’ meeting.

John Spytek

Team — Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Position — Assistant GM
Connections — Bucs OC Dave Canales, Bengals OC Brian Callahan, Dolphins associate head coach Eric Studesville

In his quest for a seventh Super Bowl ring, Tom Brady chose the Buccaneers. This gets lost in the romanticism of the legendary quarterback lifting Tampa Bay to the 2020 title. Brady wasn’t seeking a sunny destination — instead, a winning one with the pieces required to go all the way. Spytek, an eight-year Bucs front-office member, was instrumental in putting together the roster Brady found appealing. The following year, Tampa Bay became the first team in the salary-cap era to return all 22 starters from a Super Bowl team.

The team hasn’t reached those lofty heights after Brady’s final retirement in 2022. Still, the Buccaneers are one win from a third consecutive NFC South division title despite working around a league-high $75 million dead cap charge. Spytek’s 20-year career includes serving as a national scout for the 2015 Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos.

Joe Hortiz

Team — Baltimore Ravens
Position — Director of player personnel
Connections — Ravens DC Mike Macdonald, Ravens OC Todd Monken

What’s remarkable about the Ravens is their ability to maintain a competitive high standard dating back to their 2000 Super Bowl triumph. Baltimore has finished with a losing record just five times since 1999. Significant staff and player changes occurred over the years. One constant is the man who began as a personnel assistant in 1998.

That means Hortiz contributed to Baltimore spending first-round picks on Delaware quarterback Joe Flacco in 2008 and wide receiver Zay Flowers in 2023. Talent acquisition is paramount to future success, but that goes beyond 40-yard times and tape evaluation. Hortiz, more of a behind-the-scenes executive, has insight into Baltimore’s culture and how it fits all the right pieces together. Before the Giants hired Joe Schoen, he was a leading candidate for their GM opening in 2022.

Brandt Tilis

Team — Kansas City Chiefs
Position — VP of football operations
Connections — Commanders OC Eric Bieniemy

The Chiefs’ front office is overdue for raiding, and there’s no shortage of possible targets, including assistant GM Mike Borgonzi and director of player personnel Tim Terry. The reigning Super Bowl champions have claimed two Lombardi trophies since 2019 and rank second behind the New England Patriots with a .644 winning percentage since 2010.

Tilis, Kansas City’s cap analyst and primary contract negotiator, is in his 14th season, 10 of which overlapped with Bieniemy. After serving as director of salary-cap and football operations analytics and director of football administration, he was promoted to VP of football operations in 2021. Player evaluations are part of his background. One high-ranking executive for another AFC team said, “If the owner interviews (Tilis), he will hire him.”

Catherine Raiche

Team — Cleveland Browns
Position — Assistant GM/VP of football operations
Connections — Browns DC Jim Schwartz, Jaguars OC Press Taylor

An unconventional path to the NFL, the Canadian native began her football journey in the CFL with jobs as assistant GM (Montreal) and director of football administration (Toronto) before taking a front-office position with the XFL’s Tampa Bay Vipers in 2019. Raiche landed an NFL job with Philadelphia the following year and was promoted to VP of football operations in 2021. Browns GM Andrew Berry, another Philly front-office alum, brought Raiche over as assistant GM in 2022.

Before jumping to Cleveland, Raiche interviewed for the Minnesota Vikings 2022 GM opening. When Minnesota hired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, the Browns hired Raiche as his replacement. Glenn Cook, the Browns’ assistant GM and VP of player personnel, is another name to watch. Both Raiche and Cook work in player evaluation and contract management.

Ray Agnew

Team — Detroit Lions
Position — Assistant GM
Connections — Lions OC Ben Johnson, Lions DC Aaron Glenn, Panthers DC Ejiro Evero, Panthers OC Thomas Brown

Mentioning Ben Johnson will cause readers to pause on Agnew’s bio, considering there’s no hotter head-coaching candidate unless Taylor Swift shows up with a stopwatch at the Senior Bowl. Agnew, 56, isn’t a sexy name, but his resume is notable. Before landing in the Motor City, he served as director of pro personnel with the Rams (2017-20) as Los Angeles built a roster with a significant influx of outside talent. Detroit has approached roster building through the draft and has crushed with the selections of Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, Sam LaPorta and Brian Branch.

Nolan Teasley

Team — Seattle Seahawks
Position — Assistant GM
Connections — Seahawks OC Shane Waldron

Under Seattle GM John Schneider, executives are exposed to all aspects of the head job. That includes the well-rounded Teasley, now in his 11th season with Seattle and first as assistant GM. His current role oversees football operations while working with Schneider on player evaluation. The Seahawks have been a steady playoff participant and contender, finishing with a losing record only once since 2012.

Brandon Brown

Team — New York Giants
Position — Assistant GM
Connections — Browns DC Jim Schwartz, Giants OC Mike Kafka

Plucking someone from the 2023 Giants sounds unappealing, but Brown, 35, played a significant role in the team’s 2022 roster overhaul, which led to a playoff victory. Another Roseman disciple, Brandon Brown’s five years with the Eagles culminated in working as director of player personnel in 2021. This mention isn’t solely for the Philadelphia connection. Multiple sources expect Brandon Brown to interview with teams.

Others — Chad Brinker (Titans), Eliot Wolf (Patriots), Trey Brown (Bengals), Harley (Saints), Malik Boyd (Bills). The wild card is Cowboys VP of player personnel Will McClay. He would be one of the hotter targets if he sought his own shop. Some rumblings of that occurring exist, but the Joneses are fond of the 21-year front-office veteran, and would they allow Washington to poach its personnel ace?

[SFREDSKIN]

This and for the reasons stated going back to their 2000 season, consistency!!!


Joe Hortiz

Team — Baltimore Ravens
Position — Director of player personnel
Connections — Ravens DC Mike Macdonald, Ravens OC Todd Monken

What’s remarkable about the Ravens is their ability to maintain a competitive high standard dating back to their 2000 Super Bowl triumph. Baltimore has finished with a losing record just five times since 1999. Significant staff and player changes occurred over the years. One constant is the man who began as a personnel assistant in 1998.

That means Hortiz contributed to Baltimore spending first-round picks on Delaware quarterback Joe Flacco in 2008 and wide receiver Zay Flowers in 2023. Talent acquisition is paramount to future success, but that goes beyond 40-yard times and tape evaluation. Hortiz, more of a behind-the-scenes executive, has insight into Baltimore’s culture and how it fits all the right pieces together. Before the Giants hired Joe Schoen, he was a leading candidate for their GM opening in 2022.

[sdskinsfan2001]

10 potential Commanders coaching candidates, including Bill Belichick, Jim Harbaugh

https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nf...k-jim-harbaugh

[SFREDSKIN]

Originally Posted by sdskinsfan2001

10 potential Commanders coaching candidates, including Bill Belichick, Jim Harbaugh

https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nf...k-jim-harbaugh

Mike MacDonald: Don't forget that Harris is from Maryland, which means he is very familiar with how successful the Baltimore Ravens have been under John Harbaugh over the last 16 years. The 36-year-old MacDonald has been on Harbaugh's staff for nine of the last 10 seasons, with a one-year detour to run the defense for the other Harbaugh in Michigan. The past two years, MacDonald took over a defense that fell apart in Wink Martindale's final season and he turned it back into a top-10 unit. That's bolstered his credentials. It wouldn't hurt that Harris would be taking a key piece away from his new crosstown rivals, too.

[sdskinsfan2001]

@LakeLewis

The @Commanders have to nail the GM/HC hires. Teams like the Texans and Colts with rookie head coaches/a rookie QB and backup QB, are in a playoff run. That word “rebuild” can happen immediately with the right people in place. #NFL

5:54 PM · Jan 3, 2024

[EdmundDorf]

Originally Posted by sdskinsfan2001

@LakeLewis

The @Commanders have to nail the GM/HC hires. Teams like the Texans and Colts with rookie head coaches/a rookie QB and backup QB, are in a playoff run. That word “rebuild” can happen immediately with the right people in place. #NFL

5:54 PM · Jan 3, 2024

He is an idiot, those change arounds didn't happen overnight, we re going to be replacing our entire football operation, it is going to take at least 2 to 3 years to show progress, anyone expecting or counting on an immediate change in fortune is going to be disappointed.

[GridIron26]

MTK, thanks for sharing the article. Seems like there are a few good GM candidates, I'm really excited to see how Harris group's plans unfold within a few weeks.

I really like the idea of hiring MacDonald as head coach.