The Texans just completed their first draft under new GM Brian Gaine, and now the team is shaking up its scouting department. Per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, the team has dismissed assistant GM Jimmy Raye III, director of college scouting Jon Carr, assistant director of college scouting Mike Martin, college scouting coordinator Matt Jansen, and college scout Seth Turner.
As Wilson observes, Martin was credited for uncovering UDFA gems like Arian Foster and A.J. Bouye, but the biggest name on that list is Raye, who actually replaced Gaine in Houston last season when Gaine went to Buffalo as the Bills’ vice president of player personnel. After 17 years as a scout and executive with the Chargers, Raye served as vice president of player operations with the Colts and has been a GM candidate for several clubs (including the Texans) in recent years.
All of the dismissed personnel were hired by former GM Rick Smith, and it is not unusual for an overhaul like this when a new general manager or head coach comes aboard. However, Carr and Martin had been with the team for over a decade, and both have a solid track record.
As of yet, there is no word on any potential replacements.
He is still alive?
If you planned on firing these guys, why wait until AFTER the draft? I find it highly unlikely that these firings are based solely or even partially on how the draft went this week, so why spend this past week with a scouting department whose advice Gaine apparently was not paying much attention to?
Its because if he fires them right away, he loses all of their knowledge, as they were the ones scouting all season. He’d be at a huge disadvantage come draft day. Also, if other teams hired them, they’d be able to give a pretty decent idea of what HOU was looking to do, again putting them at a disadvantage.
It’s because they want their input on the current draft class. It’s not because they weren’t respected in the room, they just wanted a new group with the current GMs own guys.
Thief drafts have been iffy at best in the past after round one.
It’s the new alpha dog marking his territory with his scent. By my all means get rid of everybody who is a threat to that pooch no matter what their talent. Good way to cut yourself off at the knees. The owner is cool with this? No wonder Texans have sucked since the beginning!