Report: Panthers won’t fill assistant GM job until after 2020 NFL draft

As the hiring cycle closes, worth noting: Two high-ranking executive jobs are still open. Both the #Redskins GM job & #Panthers assistant GM job are expected to be filled after the draft. Skins VP of Player Personnel Kyle Smith will run the show for WAS until they fill the job.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 7, 2020

The Carolina Panthers have filled out Matt Rhule’s coaching staff for the 2020 season. However, they still have an important hole in the front office. The assistant general manager job remains open. According to a report by Ian Rapoport at NFL Network, the team is not expected to fill that position until after the 2020 draft.

As Rapoport alluded to in his next tweet, they may have some more options after that time.

For the #Panthers, they’ll have some better options after the draft as contracts of some execs run out. For the #Redskins, they can take their time but also evaluate Kyle Smith to see if he should be the one with the GM title. He’ll likely be a candidate, either way. https://t.co/iEYxx9taFM

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 7, 2020

That sounds nice, but there’s a possibility they didn’t want to wait this long and they have already missed out on their preferred candidate.

The Panthers requested an interview with then-Eagles executive Andrew Berry. Because the position they had in mind for him was not technically a step up, Philly was able to block the interview. Berry has since been hired by the Browns as their new GM.

Part of the problem is the continued presence of Marty Hurney looming large over the front office. The most qualified candidates may not want to accept a position under him and will hold out for better opportunities.

That said, Hurney has a strong record in selecting quality players in the first round of the draft and it’s clear team owner David Tepper values his expertise in college scouting.