It didn’t take long for Khai Harley’s name to come up in the latest NFL hiring cycle. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport first reported that the New Orleans Saints salary cap expert has been requested for an interview with the Carolina Panthers — who are seeking to hire a new general manager. CBS Sports insider Jonathan Jones confirmed the report.
Harley officially carries the titles of assistant general manager and vice president of football operations with the Saints, but his primary focus has been directed at managing the salary cap. He pioneered the use of contract restructures that have become popular around the league, maximizing a team’s cap resources while taking advantage of the ever-rising salary cap.
So he’s a vitally important member of the organization. The Saints must approve the Panthers’ interview request before they can speak with Harley about the job, but they didn’t stop Terry Fontenot from leaving to join the Atlanta Falcons, so that’s likely going to be little more than a formality.
But will Harley have any interest in working for controversial Panthers owner David Tepper? Known as a bad boss with a penchant for meddling in personnel moves, joining Tepper may not be the best option for Harley. We’ll see if any other teams reach out. But there are only 32 general manager positions available, and Carolina’s cap situation is much easier to navigate than New Orleans’.
If there’s little or no possibility for advancement with the Saints, it shouldn’t shock anyone if Harley leaves for an opportunity to run his own team. We’ll have to wait and see how this situation develops and whether any other teams inquire about his services.
