Teams Blocking Browns From Interviewing GM Candidates, but Will Interview Martin Mayhew

With the hiring of head coach Hue Jackson on Wednesday, the next step for the Cleveland Browns organization is to hire a general manager, which Sashi Brown referred to as their "top personnel person" yesterday. That type of language, specifically because the position would not have the final say on the 53-man roster, means that teams are going to block Cleveland from interviewing personnel on their clubs. The excuse they'll give is that they feel it's more of a lateral move, and it's already started with the Chicago Bears, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network:

The #Browns requested permission to speak with #Bears director of college scouting Joe Douglas for their top personnel job. #Bears denied it

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 14, 2016

Mary Kay Cabot of the Plain Dealer also said that she's talked to several NFL executives who will also block the Browns' attempt to interview candidates for their GM position, with the same "lateral move" argument.

What can't be blocked is a person who is currently out-of-a-job. According to Josina Anderson of ESPN, the Browns will interview former Detroit Lions GM Martin Mayhew this Saturday. Mayhew was the Lions' general manager for seven seasons before being dismissed this past November when the team was off to a 1-7 start. Mayhew doesn't seem to be too highly thought of by Lions fans, but he does have experience and hasn't had too bad of a draft record (although many of his picks were obvious selections, such as QB Matthew Stafford and DL Ndamukong Suh).

Former Browns GM Phil Savage also believes the Browns might have a good internal candidate:

With @Browns hiring Hue Jackson as HC, look for current personnel exec Chisom Opara to be an internal candidate for promotion. #Princeton

— Phil Savage (@SeniorBowlPhil) January 14, 2016

We'll continue to monitor the team's GM candidates as the news comes along.