The Houston Texans likely would have hired Pittsburgh Steelers vice president of football and business administration Omar Khan as general manager had owner Cal McNair listened to the recommendation of search firm Korn Ferry, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Khan and Monday Night Football analyst Louis Riddick were the two finalists for the position before McNair changed his mind and hired former New England Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio on Thursday, according to Schefter's sources.
Multiple people within the Texans' organization, including quarterback Deshaun Watson, were upset about Caserio's hiring.
Watson was reportedly unhappy he wasn't involved in the process after McNair told him he would have a say in the final decision. The 25-year-old tweeted "Some things never change" after the hire. The tweet was later deleted.
Watson's anger level about the situation is reportedly far higher than when Houston traded Pro Bowl wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins last March. "A two ... This time, it's a 10," a person close to Watson told Schefter.