Khai Harley has submitted a request to interview for the Los Angeles Chargers general manager position to the New Orleans Saints.
According to NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, the Los Angeles Chargers have officially asked the New Orleans Saints for permission to interview vice president and assistant general manager of college personnel Jeff Ireland for the general manager post that is currently open.
Since he joined in 2015, Ireland has completely changed the Saints draft process by selecting elite players like Chris Olave, Ryan Ramczyk, Michael Thomas, Alvin Kamara, and Marshon Lattimore. He has held the position of Miami Dolphins general manager in the past.
The Carolina Panthers also sent a request to New Orleans on Monday to speak with Khai Harley, assistant general manager and vice president of football operations.
If the New Orleans Saints front office extends an offer to Harley and Ireland to take over as general managers, Mickey Loomis will lose two valuable players.
Harley is regarded as the team’s financial guru since he was able to remove and reorganize football contracts, saving millions of dollars on the pay cap. The difficult task of replacing Harley will fall to New Orleans.
The Atlanta Falcons’ general manager at the moment is Terry Fontenot, a former assistant general manager with the Saints. The Falcons were not given the chance to interview Khai Harley for a front-office role last season.
The offensive line, receiving group, defensive backfield, edge rushers, and linebacker talent all need to be strengthened for the Saints in the draft and in free agency. First, Harley and his group will have a difficult time handling the finances.
Ireland’s best bet to take over would be Michael Parenton. Having worked in the scouting department for twelve years, he is currently in his third season as the director of pro personnel.
If Ireland and Harley left, New Orleans would eventually deal with the matter, but losing Harley would be detrimental to the front office given the almost $70 million in cap space that has to be cleared.
In the lead-up to the 2024 NFL Draft, college scouts are touring all-star college bowls and Pro Days; it would be as crucial to be without Ireland.
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