Washington hires Mayhew as GM; 49ers to get 2023 comp pick

The 49ers are promoting diversity in executive positions and it has been beneficial in more ways than one. 

49ers executive Martin Mayhew will become the next general manager of the Washington Football Team, the team announced Friday.

OFFICIAL: Martin Mayhew is our next GM

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) January 22, 2021

ESPN's John Keim first reported news of Mayhew being hired by Washington.

Mayhew has spent the last four seasons with the 49ers, two as the Vice President of player personnel and the previous two years (2017-18) as the team's senior personnel executive. 

Prior to his stint with the 49ers, Mayhew spent time with the New York Giants (2016) and Detroit Lions (2001-2015) as an executive. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 1988 as a cornerback before playing for Washington (1998-1992) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1993-1996), where he played along side 49ers general manager John Lynch. 

Earlier in the week, 49ers former defensive coordinator Robert Saleh was officially announced as the head coach for the New York Jets. The 49ers will be compensated for both promotions of minority candidates into executive roles as part of the NFL’s effort to promote diversity in hiring.

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For each hiring of a minority candidate into an executive role, the original club is set to receive two third-round compensatory picks that will occur in two consecutive seasons. The 49ers will receive one selection in 2021 and the second in 2022 for Saleh being hired as a head coach. 

If a club has two minority candidates hired in one year they will only receive one third-round compensatory pick for the second hire. That selection would occur in the third consecutive season, which for the 49ers, will occur in 2023. 

(If Mayhew had been hired in 2022, the 49ers would have received two third-round compensatory selections that would occur in 2023 and 2024.) 

These picks will be in addition to the regularly awarded compensatory picks that a club would receive for losing free agent players, thus there will be more than the standard 256 draft selections in the next few upcoming NFL drafts.

Here is the resolution in full: 

2020 RESOLUTION JC-2A

Whereas, the member clubs believe that policies designed to promote equal employment opportunity and a diverse and inclusive workforce advance significant league interests, including improved decision making, enhanced business performance, and representing the NFL as an employer of choice that hires and promotes based on merit; and

Whereas, the member clubs have adopted policies extending over several decades in furtherance of these goals, including policies designed to permit upward mobility and advancement of club employees, particularly those in coaching and football operations roles; and

Whereas, the member clubs believe that it is appropriate to take additional steps to enhance opportunities for employment and advancement of minorities and women in key positions, including leadership roles in coaching, personnel, and football operations,

Be it Resolved, that the League Policy on Equal Employment and Workplace Diversity will be amended as follows:

(i) The employer-club of a minority employee who has been hired by another club as its Head Coach or Primary Football Executive (General Manager) shall receive Draft choice compensation in the form of a compensatory Draft pick in the third round in each of the next two Drafts for an employee hired as either a Head Coach or Primary Football Executive, or for the next three Drafts if it has two employees hired for both positions. The reference to the hiring of employees into “both positions” could be by the same club or different clubs. The following will apply to the Draft choice compensation:

a. Any compensatory Draft picks awarded pursuant to this Policy will be at the end of the third round following all compensatory Draft picks awarded to clubs pursuant to Appendix V of the NFL-NFLPA Collective Bargaining Agreement.

b. If multiple clubs are awarded compensatory Draft picks pursuant to this Policy, then the order of those picks at the end of the third round will follow the original selection order for that Draft established prior to any trades or other adjustments.

(ii) The employer-club shall be eligible to receive this Draft choice compensation if:

a. The minority employee hired as a Head Coach or Primary Football Executive has been employed by the employer-club for a minimum of two full seasons; and

b. The minority employee is not the Head Coach or Primary Football Executive of the employer-club and is hired into the same position with the new club. There can be no break in employment between clubs.