Will the Dolphins target Cowden for GM?

[mike_usagisan]

https://nesn.com/2025/11/dolphins-reportedly-could-poach-patriots-vp-to-fill-front-office-opening/amp/

“Cowden, who has served as an interim general manager in Tennessee while also undergoing multiple GM interviews over the last eight seasons, has an extensive scouting and personnel executive background with the Panthers (2001-14), Titans (2016-22) and Giants (executive advisor, 2023-24),” Rodrigue wrote in an article detailing several names to watch. “Cowden, Patriots executive VP of personnel Eliot Wolf and Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel have rebuilt the flailing Patriots into a 7-2 team in less than one season together.”

 

[mayoclinic]

Up to Vrabel and Kraft to prevent that from happening. Solution not difficult.

 

[Ring 6]

Let them have Wolf

 

[patchick]

I'm not sold on Cowden's motivation to move from a de facto GM position complete with good ownership, an excellent partnership with with the head coach, a top young QB and plenty of cap space.

 

[Ring 6]

I'm not sold on Cowden's motivation to move from a de facto GM position complete with good ownership, an excellent partnership with with the head coach, a top young QB and plenty of cap space.

Devils advocate argument: People who believe they can build franchises prefer to start fresh with nothing and low short term expectations.

 

[mayoclinic]

I'm not sold on Cowden's motivation to move from a de facto GM position complete with good ownership, an excellent partnership with with the head coach, a top young QB and plenty of cap space.

Hopefully correct, but I wouldn't want to rely on that. Look at Pioli and Dimitroff.

Lures:

1. $$$$
2. Being not only de facto, but official GM
3. Getting credit for a rebuild

Those are fixable problems.

 

[mike_usagisan]

I'm not sold on Cowden's motivation to move from a de facto GM position complete with good ownership, an excellent partnership with with the head coach, a top young QB and plenty of cap space.

I agree, but it could also give him leverage to force Wolf out and get promoted. If that’s something he cares about.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

On a similar note, I saw someone on Xitter suggesting the Giants bring in Josh McDaniels to coach up Jaxson Dart. I was wondering why he'd settle for a lesser Drake Maye.

 

[maust]

I'm not sold on Cowden's motivation to move from a de facto GM position complete with good ownership, an excellent partnership with with the head coach, a top young QB and plenty of cap space.

So the thought is Cowden might not view a team owned by Stephen Ross that's headed for it's 6th head coach and 3rd GM in 16 years and saddled with Tua's contract that has all of @ $1M in cap space next year as an ideal opportunity?

 

[patchick]

Devils advocate argument: People who believe they can build franchises prefer to start fresh with nothing and low short term expectations.

Fair point, but of course that's the exact challenge that Cowden & Vrabel took on here -- and are less than one season into.

Maybe a really massive financial offer could lure him. But he's still young for an exec, and if the Patriots are headed in the direction we think they are, the Tua-handcuffed Dolphins shouldn't be his last opportunity.

 

[Wozzy]

If the owners let Cowden walk and extend Wolf they’re going to sink this rising ship.

 

[VrabelJr]

I don’t know why anyone would leave right now. We’re in year 1 of something that has potential to last a decade. Do you want to be remembered as the guy an eccentric billionaire haphazardly hired and fired after 4 years or be attached to the next great dynasty?

 

[Ring 6]

Fair point, but of course that's the exact challenge that Cowden & Vrabel took on here -- and are less than one season into.

Maybe a really massive financial offer could lure him. But he's still young for an exec, and if the Patriots are headed in the direction we think they are, the Tua-handcuffed Dolphins shouldn't be his last opportunity.

I’d say if they push Wolf out Cowden sticks around but if he stays subordinate to Wolf he will want to make his own mark. Many people want to be “the man” rather than one of the men.
My instinct is Cowden came here with the understanding Wolf is on his way out.

 

[reflexblue]

Cut Wolf

 

[Huckleberry1]

Cowden will become a GM somewhere, and it won't be long, but I don't think he would leave Vrabel less than a year into the job, and I don't believe he would stay in the east.

As far as Wolf goes I have defended him when I thought I should, but this is Vrabel's team, and if he decided he needed Cowden to stay put I would have no problem with him giving Cowden the GM money and title. I think Wolf is valuable to the organization , and would prefer to see him stay in his current role, which doesn't have a GM title attached to it, but if he saw fit to leave over it then so be it. Vrabel having his guys running the team with him is what is most important for the team's future, so whatever needs to be done to achieve that is fine with me.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Sounds like a great opportunity for some rising GM to show what he can do while paying Tua over $100 million in cap space not to play,

The good news is the Dolphins currently have $998,000 available in cap space for the upcoming season to sign a starting QB, so Tommy Devito should be safe.

 

[UrbanCowboy]

It's the short-term vs. long-term thing. Is he a builder or looking to cash in? Jumping too soon (see Jerod Mayo) gives the immediate gratification and $$$, but can kill your long-term career [jumping into that dolphins mess seems like a prime way to kill your career]. Let's hope he's a long-term thinker ... and that we promote him and pay him, ha!

 

[Mike the Brit]

It seems pretty clear that Wolf was brought in as Unca Bob's guy to keep an eye on Belichick. Of course, that only accelerated Belichick's decline into paranoia and egomania.

And, as it turns out, Wolf has also been a catastrophe as GM (Maye excepted, a wash-out draft in '24, 14 different starters on the O-line as JAGs were switched in and out in obvious desperation, terrible coaching by the buddies Wolf brought in from Cleveland). If this forces a decision, then great -- provided that it's the right one!

 

[Dec54]

Cowden will become a GM somewhere, and it won't be long, but I don't think he would leave Vrabel less than a year into the job, and I don't believe he would stay in the east.

As far as Wolf goes I have defended him when I thought I should, but this is Vrabel's team, and if he decided he needed Cowden to stay put I would have no problem with him giving Cowden the GM money and title. I think Wolf is valuable to the organization , and would prefer to see him stay in his current role, which doesn't have a GM title attached to it, but if he saw fit to leave over it then so be it. Vrabel having his guys running the team with him is what is most important for the team's future, so whatever needs to be done to achieve that is fine with me.

Good post Huck, thanks.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Cowden will become a GM somewhere, and it won't be long, but I don't think he would leave Vrabel less than a year into the job, and I don't believe he would stay in the east.

As far as Wolf goes I have defended him when I thought I should, but this is Vrabel's team, and if he decided he needed Cowden to stay put I would have no problem with him giving Cowden the GM money and title. I think Wolf is valuable to the organization , and would prefer to see him stay in his current role, which doesn't have a GM title attached to it, but if he saw fit to leave over it then so be it. Vrabel having his guys running the team with him is what is most important for the team's future, so whatever needs to be done to achieve that is fine with me.

The critical thing is who has final say over the 53. That person can't be poached, but any other FO employee can be poached if given that power by his new team.