A day after the Detroit Lions lost out on Ken Whisenhunt, the team's apparent top coaching candidate, it now has senior personnel executive Brian Xanders interviewing for the general manager job in Miami, according to ESPN Insider Chris Mortensen.

The 42-year-old Xanders joined the Lions in 2013 after being the general manager in Denver from 2009 to 2012.

Xanders helped revamp the Detroit scouting department and also assisted in the draft process for the Lions in 2013, when they had one of their top drafts in a long time. Included in that was first-round pick Ziggy Ansah, who led rookies in sacks with eight, and third-round pick Larry Warford, who played every snap at right guard this season without allowing a sack.

Xanders, along with general manager Martin Mayhew and the scouting department, also helped to unearth right tackle LaAdrian Waddle and tight end Joseph Fauria, both undrafted free agents who became starters by the end of the season.

He is one of a plethora of candidates the Dolphins have interviewed for the general manager post. Among the other candidates interviewed are Tennessee Vice President of Player Personnel Lake Dawson, Cleveland assistant general manager Ray Farmer, Pittsburgh's Omar Khan and Jason Licht from Arizona.