All the GM candidates (profiles and videos)

[Mr. Scot]

So you can compare side by side, here are the links to all the external candidate profiles and video interviews from Panthers.com

JIMMY RAYE

Quote

Candidate: Jimmy Raye III

Age: 49

Current Position: Vice president of player personnel/assistant general manager for Texans

"I'm extremely eager," Raye said after interviewing with Panthers officials. "I think anybody that's in this position would love the opportunity to be a general manager in this league. I've worked extremely hard to get to this point, and I appreciate the opportunity that the Panthers have afforded to me to come interview for this position. It's a great football team with a great coach and a lot of great players. I'm excited to be here."

Other NFL front office experience:

• 2013-16: VP of football operations for Colts
• 2008-12: VP of player personnel for Chargers
• 2000-07: Director of college scouting for Chargers
• 1996-99: Scout for Chargers

Additonal Notes:

• Raye was born in Fayetteville, N.C., but finished high school in California. His father, Jimmy Raye II, coached in the NFL for 36 years and is currently senior adviser to NFL executive vice president for football operations Troy Vincent.
• Played wide receiver at San Diego State, catching 111 passes, and played two games as an undrafted rookie for the Los Angeles Rams in 1991.
• Served as offensive quality control coach for the Chiefs in 1995 before getting into administration, beginning with a 17-season stint with the Chargers. His time in San Diego overlapped with Panthers head coach Ron Rivera’s time there as an assistant.
• Interviewed for the Texans’ general manager post in January and for the 49ers’ GM job the year before.

Jimmy Raye Profile

Jimmy Raye Video

 

LAKE DAWSON

Quote

Candidate: Lake Dawson

Age: 46

Current Position: Assistant director of college scouting for Bills

"I'm not coming here to necessarily tear anything down or reestablish anything, but really just to be an asset and to serve and lead," Dawson said after interviewing with Panthers officials. "I think that we have a franchise-caliber quarterback and a great head coach who understands what people do on the offensive and defensive side of the football and knows how to get the most out of them. This is a tough division to win in. The NFC South is very competitive and highly productive, but the fact that we've had so much success, a lot of people must have been on the same page. I just want to come in and add to it."

Other NFL front office experience:

• 2016: National scout for Browns
• 2012-15: VP of player personnel for Titans
• 2011: VP of football operations for Titans
• 2007-10: Director of pro scouting for Titans
• 2005-06: Assistant director of pro personnel for Seahawks
• 2001-04: Pro personnel assistant for Seahawks

Additional Notes:

• Dawson, a former wide receiver, was selected in the third round by the Kansas City Chiefs in 1994. He played for six years before his career was cut short by injuries.
• His career totals include 103 receptions for 1,406 yards and 10 touchdowns.
• Dawson interviewed for Carolina’s GM opening in 2013. The vacancy was ultimately filled by Dave Gettleman.
• Dawson is from Boston, Massachusetts. 

Lake Dawson Profile

Lake Dawson Video

 

MARTIN MAYHEW

Quote

Candidate: Martin Mayhew

Age: 52

Current Position: Senior personnel executive for the 49ers

"(Cam Newton) was MVP two years ago, and I think getting him back to that spot is really important. You have to figure out what pieces can really help him excel," Mayhew said before interviewing with Panthers officials. "This roster has a very nice core – Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis and Ryan Kalil, and of course Cam Newton – but I think some guys on the perimeter would really help the franchise. That would be an area I would focus on."

Other NFL front office experience:

• 2016: Director of football operations/special projects for Giants
• 2008-15: General manager for Lions
• 2004-08: Assistant general manager for Lions
• 2003: Senior vice president of football administration for Lions
• 2001-02: Senior director of football administration for Lions

Additonal Notes:

• Mayhew was selected out of Florida State in the 10th round of the 1988 NFL Draft. He played nine seasons at cornerback for three teams, recording 21 interceptions, and following the 1991 season helped Washington win Super Bowl XXVI.
• An Academic All-America at FSU, Mayhew earned a law degree at Georgetown University in 2000 and returned to the NFL shortly after as an executive with the Lions, a team he spent 15 seasons with in four different roles.
• Mayhew took over as Detroit’s general manager late in the 2008 season. His first draft choice as GM, with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 draft, was quarterback Matthew Stafford.
• Just before beginning his career as an NFL executive, Mayhew served as a league official for the XFL charged with helping get the league off the ground. He was hired by the Lions shortly before the league’s first and only season kicked off.

Martin Mayhew Profile

Martin Mayhew Video

[X-Clown on 1]

I'm pulling for anyone except the white guy

[Mr. Scot]

Impressions from profile analysis and video viewing:

• Raye has the best overall resume' of the bunch. He also holds the highest current office of the three (Assistant GM).
• Dawson is arguably the most well rounded.  He has front experience with four different NFL organizations. Raye and Mayhew have both been with three.
• Teams that each has spent the most time with: Raye, Chargers (1996-2012) Dawson, Titans (2007-2015) Mayhew, Lions (2001-2015)
• Dawson and Mayhew both started their front office careers in 2001.  Raye started five years earlier in 1996.
• Mayhew went into the most detail when asked about what specific plans he would have to improve the team.
• Only Raye has any real connection to people currently with the team.  Specifically, Ron Rivera, Norv Turner, Don Gregory and, oddly enough, Marty Hurney.
• All three played in the NFL, with Mayhew having the most impressive playing career.  I remember actually watching both he and Dawson play.
• And not that it matters, but Lake Dawson would have the coolest name of any GM in the league.

My favorite choice is still Raye, but Dawson and Mayhew are both growing on me.  I could honestly be happy with any of them. 

 

 

[Mr. Scot]

Still disappointed that former Panther guys Ryan Cowden and Trent Kirchner aren't on this list.

[Bj-Monster23]

5 hours ago, Mr. Scot said:

Still disappointed that former Panther guys Ryan Cowden and Trent Kirchner aren't on this list.

They both should get a interview but that's what happen when a lot of the people in the front office don't know what they are doing. The best candidate should get the job and that not Hurney. He had his chance and it ended bad. I don't know Tina and it seems like a lot of others don't know her. I just hope that committee makes the right decision and pick the best candidate. 

[Mr. Scot]

Might actually be relevant again...

(or for the first time)

Guess we'll see.

[davos]

3 hours ago, Mr. Scot said:

Might actually be relevant again...

(or for the first time)

Guess we'll see.

If we start adding more candidates late after this round of interviews, the original intent will be telling and we were clearly attempting damage control through this sh*t.  

[Mr. Scot]

23 minutes ago, davos said:

If we start adding more candidates late after this round of interviews, the original intent will be telling and we were clearly attempting damage control through this sh*t.  

I actually think they should have had more candidates anyway.

Ryan Cowden for sure, and probably Trent Kirchner too.

[Mr. Scot]

All right, so one last time, here's the info on our outside GM options from the team's profile pages.

Original thread is here (GM Candidate Profiles) if you wanna peruse, but I never did a writeup on Mayhew; only Dawson and Raye.

If it is one of these choices, who are you taking?

[Mr. Scot]

Doing a little bit of additional research from their playing days.

Found out that when Dawson played for the Chiefs, Jimmy Raye's dad was the running back coach. Raye III was also there for a bit as a quality control guy. Schottenheimer was the head coach at that time.

Among Dawson's teammates, former Panthers quarterback Elvis Grbac, former Saints receiver Joe Horn, former Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez and all time greats Derrick Thomas and Dale Carter.