The Jacksonville Jaguars have several openings available to be filled in the future, including one personnel executive job. On Thursday, we reported that Director of Player Personnel, Chris Polian, was no longer a part of the team’s front office, leaving a key spot vacant in a key season for the team’s front office.
With it just being January, several other front offices are making moves, including the Cleveland Browns, who apparently have parted ways with assistant general manager Eliot Wolf and Vice President of Player Personnel Alonzo Highsmith. Both executives had joined the team under former general manager John Dorsey after spending many years with the Green Bay Packers organization.
With both potentially looking for work and the Jags’ need to fill a key vacancy left by Polian’s departure, should the Jags give Wolf or Highsmith (or both) a call to join their front office?
Browns VP of Player Personnel Alonzo Highsmith to me on mutually parting ways w/ team: "I wanted to go in a different direction because my philosophy on football is different from theirs. I may go to Aruba, or go to the Masters. I'm going to take some time to do some fun stuff."
— ig: josinaanderson (@JosinaAnderson) January 29, 2020
Highsmith continued to me: "I may also clean my garage, who knows. As far as football goes, I'll just have to wait to see what happens. I love all parts of the game. I've never been a title guy, working & contributing has always been my goal. So I do hope to return to the NFL."
— ig: josinaanderson (@JosinaAnderson) January 29, 2020
Eliot Wolf, in particular, is a name that may ring a bell as he is the son of Hall of Fame general manager, Ron Wolf. He also has been a hot name to owners as he’s one of the top up-and-comers in terms of future general managers.
Wolf previously spent over a decade with the Packers and worked his way up from being a pro personnel assistant in 2004 to becoming the team’s Director of Football Operations in 2017. in 2018, he was a candidate to become the team’s general manager, however, Brian Gutekunst got the nod instead.
Highsmith, on the other hand, was a scout under Ron Wolf in the late 1990s. He eventually found himself working his way up to the team’s Senior Personnel Executive role in 2012-17. It may be worth noting that he is a native of Bartow Florida, which is roughly three and a half hours from Jacksonville and is relatively close in proximity.
At the moment it’s unknown whether or not the Jags are looking to fill Polian’s spot and it’s possible they could elect to keep it vacant for 2020. They have yet to officially speak on the matter or say anything about filling the vacancy, but with the combine coming up we could know more soon.
On the other hand, not having a lieutenant may not be the smartest decision for general manager Dave Caldwell, who already has his plate full and is basically fighting for his job. Sure, Caldwell can lean on his faith from the current front office but having a new pair of ears in the building could help. After all, Wolf and Highsmith have been a part of a Packers organization that routinely made the postseason over the past decade and even won a Super Bowl in 2011. With the Jags only having one successful season under Caldwell and his group, that alone should entice them to call either former executive.
We’d like to hear from you all on the matter. Should the Jags have interest in either Wolf or Highsmith? Let us know on social media.