I don’t know much about him but he might be a candidate for the Lions GM position.
Former Texans general manager Rick Smith open to returning to NFL in 2020
Smith left the Texans after the 2017 season but is ready to return if the opportunity is right
Longtime Texans general manager Rick Smith left the team following the 2017 season after his wife was diagnosed with cancer, but would consider a return to the NFL in 2020 should the right opportunities emerge, sources said.
Smith was well-regarded throughout the league and within the league office, and left the Texans with mega-stars like Deshaun Watson and J.J. Watt on the roster. He announced in January of 2018 that he was leaving the team indefinitely at that time, taking an absence of at least one season. He has been tending to his family for the past two years but is now open to a return to running a franchise, with certain teams and geographies perhaps making more sense than others.
Regardless, Smith is at a point now where he could return to regular duties overseeing a roster and franchise, sources said, and his resume could be very appealing at a time when there are fewer hot candidates than in some years past and when upwards of a half-dozen teams are expected to at least consider major front office changes.
Smith entered the NFL in 1996 with the Broncos as a coach – he was a part of two Super Bowl winning teams in that capacity – and by 2000 was their director of pro personnel. He was named the Texans general manager in 2006, becoming the youngest person in the NFL to hold the job at that time (36) and later assumed the title of executive vice president of football operations.
Texans head coach Bill O’Brien has accrued significant personnel control since Smith took his leave of absence, and the Texans still have heavy interest in longtime Patriots executive Nick Caserio joining them as GM in 2020, league sources said.
Smith would not be returning to the Texans in any capacity, but his affable personality and strong evaluating record should have him under consideration for several openings.
Drafts since 2006
2006
1
1
DE
33
LB
65
OT
66
OT
98
TE
170
RB
251
WR
2007
1
10
DT
73
WR
123
DB
144
DB
163
OT
183
OG
218
LB
2008
26
OT
79
DB
89
RB
118
LB
151
DT
173
DB
223
Alex Brink
QB
2009
15
LB
46
LB
77
OG
112
DB
122
TE
152
RB
188
DB
223
DB
2010
20
DB
58
RB
81
DT
102
LB
118
TE
144
DB
187
OG
197
WR
227
RB
2011
11
DE
42
LB
60
DB
127
DB
144
DB
152
QB
214
OT
254
DE
2012
26
LB
68
WR
76
OG
99
C
121
WR
126
DE
161
K
195
OT
2013
WR
57
DB
89
OT
95
DE
124
DE
176
OT
195
WR
198
DT
201
TE
2014
1
DE
33
OG
65
TE
83
DT
135
QB
177
DE
181
RB
211
RB
216
DB
256
DB
2015
16
DB
43
LB
70
WR
175
WR
211
LB
216
DT
235
RB
2016
21
WR
50
C
85
WR
119
RB
159
DB
166
DT
2017
12
QB
57
LB
89
RB
130
OT
142
DE
169
DB
243
OG