Miami Dolphins GM Rumors: Lake Dawson, Ray Farmer, Brian Gaine
Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross looks on from the sideline before kickoff against the New England Patriots at Sun Life Stadium. The Dolphins won 24-20. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
The Miami Dolphins GM search is getting murkier by the second, and it’s almost approaching a Browns-level of wildness. Top candidates are turning down the job, and the Dolphins may end up having to settle on an internal candidate. That said, the huge difference between the Browns and Dolphins is the fact that Jeff Ireland deserved to be fired after many disappoint years. In fact, the only surprise is the fact that he wasn’t fired sooner.
CBS Sports’s Jason La Canfora reports that Cleveland Browns executive Ray Farmer has decided to turn down the Dolphins overtures, and it’s big news since Farmer is highly respected and was the Dolphins top candidate. If the Dolphins were able to land Farmer, then they would definitely be set at GM. It’s interesting to see that Farmer would rather stay with Jimmy Haslam, Joe Banner, Michael Lombardi, and the Browns, but maybe the Dolphins gig and Stephen Ross are that unattractive to GM candidates (or at least Farmer). The news of Farmer turning down the job came on the heels of the Browns hiring Mike Pettine as their next head coach, so maybe that has something to do with the decision.
While Farmer has declined a second interview with the Dolphins, the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that Tennessee Titans executive Lake Dawson will conduct a third interview with the team. Dawson is the best candidate available for the ‘Fins now, as Jason Licht was hired by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Farmer said “no”, and Detroit Lions talented exec Brian Xander was taken off of the list. If the Dolphins can hire Dawson, then that would be a great move for them.
If the Dolphins are unable to hire Dawson, then they would likely have to settle on their top internal candidate. The NFL Network’s Albert Breer reports that assistant GM Brian Gaine will have a second interview for the GM gig, and he seems to be the Dolphins only internal candidate.