The Patriots have extended the contract of director of player personnel Nick Caserio through the 2020 season, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN. The deal is thought to be the longest for a front office executive in the NFL. Per Schefter, the pact was finalized weeks ago, but this is the first public report of the extension.
The contract has implications throughout the league, as Caserio was thought to be one of, if not the top, prospective general manager candidates on the market. He was offered the Dolphins GM post last season, but declined, paving the way for Miami to hire Dennis Hickey. He’s been linked to the Jets during this season, and just this morning, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com speculated that Caserio could be a fit with the Texans.
Caserio, 39, has been with New England since 2001, acting first as a coaching assistant, then area scout, and even served as the team’s receivers coach during the 2007 season. The John Carroll grad has been in his current position since 2008. According to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald, Caserio is a “respected, no-frills negotiator,” and though Bill Belichick and Floyd Reese have dealt with contracts since Scott Pioli left after the 2008 season, Caserio has been handed more responsibility as of late.
While Shalise Manza Young of the Boston Herald wonders (via Twitter) if Caserio”s extension includes a promotion to general manager, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe says (Twitter link) that the deal is largely symbolic, an indication on the part of Caserio that he’s committed to the Patriots. Additionally, Tom Curran of CSNNE.com speculates (on Twitter) that the contract could be an indicator of the end of Belichick’s tenure; in other words Belichick is ensuring his top personnel man will be in New England as long as he is.