Dolphins GM search: Patriots’ Nick Caserio to interview Friday

A faltering Dolphins GM search may have received a shot of energy with the news that Patriots director of pro personnel Nick Caserio will be interviewing with the team Friday.

by Louis Bien

Jan 24, 2014, 6:20 PM UTC

Streeter Lecka

The Miami Dolphins seemed set to move on with two candidates for a second interview, but they have reportedly just added another name to their general manager search. Nick Caserio, the director of pro personnel for the New England Patriots, will interview with the Dolphins on Friday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Caserio joins Tennessee Titans vice president of player personnel Lake Dawson and Dolphins assistant GM Brian Gaine as the top candidates to replace former GM Jeff Ireland.

Caserio has fewer years of experience than either Dawson or Gaine, but he has the benefit of being well-acquainted with the Dolphins having played against them often in the AFC East (unlike Dawson), while not being strongly tied to Ireland’s unsuccessful tenure in Miami (unlike Gaine). Caserio also has a reputation as something of a savant, as this profile by NFL.com’s Albert Breer illustrates:

There are plenty of folks inside the NFL who are with you, who struggle to get a clear picture on the 37-year-old New England Patriots director of personnel.
“He’s kind of a weird guy, quirky, not much personality, just a hyper-intense guy,” one rival personnel executive said. “He’s done a lot of different things. He’s done coaching, he’s done college, he’s done pro. He seems real stiff, a little weird and I don’t know if those qualities lend themselves to being a general manager, but he’s really smart when it comes to football.”
If that sounds like it could be a description of a scouting-side version of Bill Belichick, well, that’s probably not by mistake either.

Caserio’s personality may fit well in an organization that is struggling without a clear front-office power structure. Several GM candidates, most recently Ray Farmer, have turned down opportunities to interview with the Dolphins due to hazy answers to the question of who has final say over decisions. Caserio, a man whose most impressive characteristic is “selflessness” according to Scott Pioli, could thrive as a general manager somewhat stripped of function and turned loose to focus on what he apparently does best, which is find quality personnel.

Caserio has worked with the Patriots since 2001, and has steadily worked his way into high standing within the organization while wearing multiple hats. He has been an area scout, personnel director and even, in 2007, a wide receivers coach. Caserio is one of a few bodies privy to a seat in the Pats' small and tightly-sealed war room during the NFL Draft. Since taking over as director of pro personnel for Pioli in 2008, Caserio has helped bring players such as Rob Gronkowski, Stevan Ridley, Chandler Jones and Devin McCourty to New England.

According to Breer, Caserio has turned down GM inquiries in the past. After a dozen years with the Patriots, he may be ready to step into the limelight.