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Five things atop the Washington Football Team’s Christmas wishlist

By Jacob Troutman

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 25: Vice President of Player Personnel Kyle Smith of the Washington Football Team speaks to the media at the Indiana Convention Center on February 25, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) *** Local Capture *** Kyle Smith
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 25: Vice President of Player Personnel Kyle Smith of the Washington Football Team speaks to the media at the Indiana Convention Center on February 25, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) *** Local Capture *** Kyle Smith /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – FEBRUARY 25: Vice President of Player Personnel Kyle Smith of the Washington Redskins speaks to the media at the Indiana Convention Center on February 25, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) *** Local Capture *** Kyle Smith
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – FEBRUARY 25: Vice President of Player Personnel Kyle Smith of the Washington Redskins speaks to the media at the Indiana Convention Center on February 25, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) *** Local Capture *** Kyle Smith /

2. Finding a GM that fits Rivera’s vision

This relationship is one of the most important in the NFL: The one between the GM and the head coach. It can sometimes be why a coach never pans out with a team. His vision and the front office or GM’s vision does not match his.

It can result in a roster that is simply a conglomerate of talent, not a cohesive unit. Sound familiar? The Washington Football Team has a void at its general manager spot. As of now, the duty is claimed by both Ron Rivera in the new coach centric approach and the de-facto GM Kyle Smith, the Vice President of Player Personnel.

I have once made my case for promoting Kyle Smith to the title of GM permanently. Why the rush to promote Kyle Smith to GM instead of keeping him in his role now? Other teams can come and try to interview him if does not have the role of GM in his job title. If he was the GM, however, Washington could deny that opportunity.

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With that said, there is a possibility that the Washington Football Team will want to bring in an outside, more experienced person to work alongside Smith. Washington has been rumored to be interested in former Texans GM Rick Smith. He helped form the very talented Texans roster before Bill O’Brien became the head coach and GM. Washington has also recently been rumored to be interested in Bills assistant GM Jim Schoen.

There also is the obvious connection of Marty Hurney, the former Panthers GM who was recently fired this Monday. Hurney worked alongside Rivera in Carolina from 2017-2019. His track record is not as impressive as Rick Smith’s. As our very own Ian Cummings said, the Washington Football Team should not hire Marty Hurney.

Whatever the Washington Football Team does at its general manager position, it needs to be someone that has the same vision as Rivera. That is a vital connection that needs to be set.

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