Browns

Browns Interviewed Brian Xanders & Lionel Vital For Front Office Job

January 26, 2016

Update:

Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports the Browns have interviewed former Falcons personnel executive Lionel Vital for their executive vice president/player personnel job.

The Browns also interviewed Lions senior personnel executive Brian Xanders for the job on Tuesday.
Cabot also reported earlier this week that former Dolphins GM Dennis Hickey interviewed for Cleveland’s VP/player personnel vacancy.
Eagles’ director of pro personnel Rick Mueller has also been mentioned as someone on their radar, per Cabot.

The Browns previously interview former Lions GM Martin Mayhew for the position over a week ago.

Browns executive of football operations Sashi Brown said earlier this week that he would like to have a person in-place within the week.

According to Brown, this person will be almost exclusively focused on talent acquisition, but won’t have final say over the 53-man roster.

Vital, 52, has spent three years as the Falcons’ director of player personnel after holding a position as associate director of player personnel and assistant director of player personnel from 2007 to 2011 with Atlanta.

Vital has also held scouting positions with the Ravens, Patriots and the Jets. In fact, he was honored with the Fritz Pollard Alliance Scouting Award during his time in Baltimore, which is given to the top African-American scout each in the AFC and NFC.

We’ll have more regarding the Browns’ position as the news is available.

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According to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Browns interviewed Lions senior personnel executive Brian Xanders for their executive vice president/player personnel opening.

Xanders, 44, is currently the Lions’ senior personnel executive after spending 2009 to 2012 as the GM of the Denver Broncos.

Xanders put together very impressive draft classes while in Denver, drafting five Pro Bowl players, including: LB Von Miller, WR Demaryius Thomas, TE Julius Thomas, CB Chris Harris and G Zane Beadles

In addition to his draft success, Xanders was also able to finalize contracts with marquee players like QB Peyton Manning in 2012, re-signing DE Elvis Dumervil in 2010, and re-signing WR Brandon Marshall in 2010.