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WFT GM Candidate Profile: Stokes

Eric Stokes arrived in Washington in the middle of a summer of destruction. Now he could be poised to jump into a position of further power.

Chris Russell

ASHBURN, Va. -- Eric Stokes is set to interview for the vacant Washington Football Team general manager spot. The development was first reported by Jason LaCanfora of Radio.com and CBS. 

Stokes could be considered as a leader in the clubhouse because he's already in the clubhouse. As in, in the building. 

READ MORE: WFT GM Profile - Ryan Cowden

Stokes joined the WFT in the summer of destruction after Alex Santos was fired as the director of pro personnel. He took over that role after joining coach Ron Rivera from the Carolina Panthers, where they worked together for five years. 

Most of Stokes’ experience is on the college scouting side and he ran that department in Charlotte  but he also was an assistant general manager for the Miami Dolphins in 2014 & 2015. 

READ MORE: WFT GM Profile - Martin Mayhew

That experience puts Stokes in position to advance to a role in which he's never served. An assistant GM typically handles many of the roles that Rivera needs assistance with in running the football operation, while also providing an experienced eye in both pro and college scouting. 

READ MORE: WFT GM Candidate Profile - Joe Schoen

Stokes would not have more control than Rivera but the two would work in tandem to manage the roster while dealing with league issues and protocols ... all while managing both divisions of scouting. 

Stokes also worked with Marty Hurney in Carolina and this could allow Hurney to also be brought in as a senior personnel executive. 

Stokes has coordinated drafts in both Tampa and Seattle as well. He was with the Seahawks as they built their defense with studs like Richard Sherman and Bobby Wagner. 

He would be the second Black candidate to interview for the job, as Martin Mayhew is meeting with Washington this weekend. 

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Chris Russell
CHRIS RUSSELL

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