GM Candidate: Ryan Cowden

[Mr. Scot]

RYAN COWDEN

CURRENT JOB: Director of Player Personnel, Tennessee Titans (2016-Present)

PRIOR EXPERIENCE:

- Assistant Director of College Scouting, Carolina Panthers (2014-2015)

- Senior College Scout, Carolina Panthers (2012-2013)

- National College Scout, Carolina Panthers (2008-2011)

- Southeast Area College Scout, Carolina Panthers (2001-2007)

- College Scouting Assistant, Carolina Panthers (2000)

AGE: 39

GM INTERVIEWS: Chiefs

COLLEGE: Wofford

PLAYING/COACHING: Said to have been a "standout" as a safety at Wofford

OTHER INFO:

- The most time spent with the Panthers organization of any of the outside candidates

- Prior to joining the Titans, the Panthers were the only NFL team he worked for

- Close ties to pretty much all the current Panthers front office, especially Don Gregory

- In current role, oversees scouting at both the college and the pro levels

BIO: Titans Online

VIDEO: None found

ANALYSIS: Notice a trend in his resume' entries?  Cowden is probably as close as you can get to a clone of Brandon Beane (he even bears a resemblance to him) and arguably a better version of Beane since Cowden has actual scouting experience, and a decent amount of it. He started with the Panthers and worked his way up, which would carry a lot of weight with team owner Jerry Richardson (being a Wofford alumnus likely doesn't hurt either). Titans GM Jon Robinson has referred to him as being a "strong talent evaluator" and having "good managerial skills".  He only left Carolina last year and it might be a bit of a coup to get him back.  Of the names I've seen mentioned, Cowden is my favorite choice thus far.

[therealmjl]

I knew this news wouldn't keep you away! Welcome back.

[Hogmolliesmaht]

Thanks for the info, Mr. Scot.

[Ace_Aladdin]

[Dunn]

Crap here we go, another Wofford alumni, might as well mail it in.  This guy will be our new GM.

[Mr. Scot]

Just now, Dunn said:

Crap here we go, another Wofford alumni, might as well mail it in.  This guy will be our new GM.

That may help him get the job, but I'm not so sure that's a bad thing.

If you look at his record, he's actually pretty good at what he does,

[t96]

Jesus Christ how did I not realize it until now. It all makes sense...

 

This was a necessary move to hire Brenton Bersin as our GM.

[Hogmolliesmaht]

2 minutes ago, Dunn said:

Crap here we go, another Wofford alumni, might as well mail it in.  This guy will be our new GM.

That doesn't bother me. He has 17 years working in the league and he's still young.

[*FreeFua*]

So which one of these guys values the WR and tackle positions?

Maybe Cowden saw what it looked like for a organization to build around a young QB in his brief stint in Tenn if he comes back over here.

[nctarheel0619]

5 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

That may help him get the job, but I'm not so sure that's a bad thing.

If you look at his record, he's actually pretty good at what he does,

YEah, this wouldn't be a bad hire.  Question.  Will he be a "yes man" to Jerry or no?  Or an even mix?  

[Mr. Scot]

3 minutes ago, nctarheel0619 said:

YEah, this wouldn't be a bad hire.  Question.  Will he be a "yes man" to Jerry or no?  Or an even mix?  

No way of knowing.

Jon Robinson speaks highly of him, and the fact that he got a GM interview after just one year in his current job says something.

[rodeo]

we drafted a lot of bad players with this dude on our staff.

[Mr. Scot]

2 minutes ago, rodeo said:

we drafted a lot of bad players with this dude on our staff.

That can actually be said of every guy who's currently been mentioned as a possibility except John Dorsey.

But with that said, they weren't the guys making the decisions, and they've all been highly thought of elsewhere.

[NanuqoftheNorth]

Did he graduate from the Hurney School of General Management?

Because, let's be honest here, that is what JR is looking for in his next GM.

WANTED:

Someone that lacks strategic long term thinking

Willing give out cap busting contracts to fan favorites in the twilight of their careers

No concept of how to properly manage a budget

Willing to relegate the franchise to years of mediocrity in order to have a feel good moment.

Lacks a spine, unable to say no, proud to be a yes man.