One of the candidates Washington considered for its general manager post will head back to the nation’s capital anyway, despite Marty Hurney set to lead the team’s front office.
Martin Mayhew agreed to terms to join Washington’s front office, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The former Lions GM’s role has yet to be determined, but considering he was a high-ranking exec with the 49ers in recent years, Mayhew will soon hold a key position within the Hurney- and Ron Rivera-led power structure.
In addition to bringing nearly eight years’ worth of GM experience, Mayhew will return to the team with which he won a Super Bowl. During an eight-year playing career, Mayhew was a starting cornerback for the dominant 1991 Washington squad — amid a four-year stay in D.C. — but his executive work has occurred primarily in Detroit and San Francisco.
Taking over a franchise in tatters in 2008, Mayhew elevated the Lions back to the playoffs. Detroit returned to the postseason in Mayhew’s third full season, 2011, and was back in the playoffs in 2014 under Jim Caldwell. While the Lions fired Mayhew in 2015, the roster nucleus he put in place made the playoffs in 2016 as well. Mayhew, 55, joined the 49ers in 2017 and served as the organization’s VP of player personnel over the past two years.
He did really well in Detroit
He drafted TE Eric Ebron instead of Aaron Donald even though everyone knew the Lions were going to lose Suh to FA. That single move took the Lions from a top 10 defense to the bottom 10. Even if Ebron hadn’t been a bust it was a catastrophic decision.
Good to bring back some of that winning tradition!
Draft compensation for the 49ers?
I believe it’s a 3rd round pick. I don’t know the year though.
Hard to know who is really responsible for a team’s draft success/failure, as many people have input to the process (scouts, coaches, GM, etc.). Washington is probably the worst place Mayhew could go, however, given the owner’s habit of interfering in football operations.