NFL insider notes: Improving diversity from top-down, plus Bengals’ No. 1 priority and Colts’ dilemma at QB

Perhaps, the NFL is making some gains in diversity among the management ranks. The league’s issues with head coaching are at an all-time low, but there was some movement towards more inclusion in terms of the general manager market, and things may be changing at a level even above that as well.

Quietly, on a Friday night a few weeks ago, the Baltimore Ravens announced that venerable team president Dick Cass would be retiring this spring and that Sashi Brown, a former executive with the Browns and Jaguars before moving to the NBA, would be taking over. Brown will join Commanders team president Jason Wright as the only people of color in that role — and will become just the second African American team president in league history — and there is still a chance that number could increase before the start of next season.

The Jacksonville Jaguars, a franchise that has not been at the vanguard of empowering diversity among its top decision makers despite being the only franchise in the NFL not led by a white male, have made it clear that they will be making more changes to their front office after retaining general manager Trent Baalke and naming Doug Pederson as head coach. Shad Khan said he will be assessing the team’s front office setup and more staff will be added.

I wouldn’t be shocked if that ended up including longtime former Texans general manager Rick Smith in some capacity. Smith is universally respected within the game and at the NFL league office, he has decades of experience, and in recent years was considered for a top position with Washington and elsewhere. He understands the way the game works, he has the right networks and insights, and sources said he is on the Jaguars’ radar for a possible position.

Smith is not someone caught up with having to oversee the roster on a daily basis and sign off on every transaction and all of that minutia. But he is certainly someone who…