Another GM candidate
The Washington Commanders fired Head Coach Ron Rivera yesterday, but haven’t booted GM Martin Mayhew…yet. Josh Harris has hired form NBA exec Bob Myers and former NFL exec Rick Spielman to lead their search for a new coach and head of football operations. There have already been eight names linked to Washington for their head coaching search, and now we’ve got our sixth GM candidate linked to the franchise.
Washington has also requested to interview Dallas Cowboys VP of Player Personnel Will McClay. He started his NFL career as a Assistant Direct of Pro Scouting for the Jacksonville Jaguars(2001). He was with the Cowboys the following year as a pro scout(2003-08). then Pro Scouting Coordinator(2009-10), Director of Football Research(2011-13), Assistant Director of Player Personnel(2014), Senior Director of Pro/College Scouting(2015-16). He was promoted to his current position(VPoP) in 2017, and has been working directly under “GM” Jerry Jones ever since.
The Panthers have put in a request to interview Cowboys VP of player personnel Will McClay for their GM job, and the Commanders have touched base with him on their head of football ops job, sources said.
McClay’s been content in Dallas, but is mulling these opportunities.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 9, 2024
Confirming other reports: the Washington Commanders and Carolina Panthers have asked for permission to speak with Cowboys VP of Player Personnel Will McClay. He’s been Cowboys lead personnel person since 2014.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) January 9, 2024
McClay is, in a lot of ways, the Dallas GM—he just doesn’t have the title (the guy who does signs his checks). Still, there’s little dispute in league circles on just how vital McClay has been to the Cowboys’ success. “Will has done a magnificent job there,” an NFC GM said. “Just look at the history of who he’s drafted and signed.” Indeed, there’s a reason why Dallas consistently has one of the NFL’s very best rosters, and he’s another that would be among the elite on this list. Jerry Jones has really taken care of him, and he loves Dallas. But I think he eventually takes his shot elsewhere, and you wouldn’t want to be the team that didn’t ask. McClay has also done a good job developing scouts, such as college director Mitch LaPoint and pro director Alex Loomis.
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?