Detroit Lions Top GM Candidates
By Jeff Risdon
Nick Caserio
Current job: Director of Player Personnel, New England Patriots
Why he fits: Caserio has done a masterful job working in concert with authoritarian coach Bill Belichick. The Patriots are excellent at identifying specific roles and finding players who fit in that role. He’s spearheaded their very active gleaning of the waiver wire and practice squad moves, continually tinkering with the roster and unearthing useful players like Malcolm Butler, Danny Amendola and even former Lion Michael Williams.
Caserio does have Michigan ties. His first job out of college was as a grad assistant at Saginaw Valley State and he was hired by the Patriots from that role at Central Michigan. He has served in all sorts of football capacities, from position coach to area scout to pro personnel.
Hangups: Ex-Patriots have not exactly fared well when crawling out from under Bill Belichick. Even the initial promise of disciples like Thomas Dimitroff in Atlanta has devolved. Caserio has no NFL experience outside of working under Belichick.
Next: Omar Khan