Former Cleveland Browns GM Ray Farmer interviews with Texans
By Dan Justik
After not having an NFL job for several years, former Cleveland Browns general manager Ray Farmer is interviewing for the same position with the Texans.
Former Cleveland Browns general manager Ray Farmer interviewed for the Houston Texans’ general manager opening on Saturday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
Farmer was in the Browns’ front office from 2013-2015, working the first season as the assistant general manager and the final two seasons as the team’s general manager.
Farmer was suspended for the first four games of the 2015 season after it was discovered he was texting coaches during games, a violation of league rules. Since being fired by the Browns, Farmer has not worked in the NFL.
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During his time as the Browns general manager, Farmer struggled to hit on his draft picks. Despite having four first-round selections in his two drafts, only one of the four, Danny Shelton, played longer than two seasons with the Browns.
However, it was Farmer’s 2014 draft class and two first-round selections that will be remembered in Cleveland. After trading down in the first-round, Farmer selected cornerback Justin Gilbert, ahead of Odell Beckham Jr. and Aaron Donald. Gilbert struggled to get off the sidelines and reportedly missed multiple team meetings. His last season in the NFL was in 2016.
Farmer then made the decision to select quarterback Johnny Manziel with the team’s second first-round selection. Despite being a Heisman Trophy winner, Manziel struggled in the NFL. However, Farmer blamed the Browns organization for Manziel’s failures in Cleveland – via Sports Illustrated.
"“In Johnny’s case, I truly feel like a lot of people piled on the young man,” Farmer said. “He’s done his share of helping everybody get on top of that bandwagon, but the reality is the responsibility is borne by both the club, and the player.”"
Even though he quickly climbed to being the Browns’ general manager, Farmer may not have been ready to be a team’s top personnel decision maker. His lack of success in the draft was the biggest downfall of his time with the Browns.
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There has been some belief that current Cleveland Browns Vice President of player personnel Alonzo Highsmith would be of the Texans’ interest. However, he has not been connected to an interview with Houston. Highsmith has a strong track record in scouting, but has not received an opportunity to be a general manager in the NFL.