Every NFL team has one person behind the scenes who orchestrates every important move for the future. This person is generally known as the general manager.
The general manager massages the salary cap, ensuring homegrown superstars are well-compensated while also looking ahead to avoid any future pitfalls and penalties. In addition to the whirlwind of free agency, they spearhead a meticulous draft process. They and their team pore over thousands of scouting reports every late winter and spring just to find a handful of quality contributors. In essence, every critical decision that makes or breaks an NFL team’s present and future must pass by their desk before it’s ever approved.
From a savvy veteran in Massachusetts, a bold risk-taker in Los Angeles, to an overmatched embodiment of the Peter Principle in Jacksonville, we’ve covered every end of the spectrum.
Here are For The Win’s 2022 preseason NFL GM rankings.
(Also: Check out our preseason power rankings and our head coach rankings as training camps continue!)
32
Trent Baalke, Jacksonville Jaguars
Where do you even begin with Baalke? Is it having a role in hiring the overwhelmed, entirely out of his wits Urban Meyer to steward the rookie season of one of the best quarterback prospects in recent memory? What about guaranteeing almost $200 million to an uninspiring, middling free agent class out of desperation? Mind you; this was all in one year! Jacksonville might have an upgrade at head coach, but there’s still no competent captain at the very head of the ship.
31
Scott Fitterer, Carolina Panthers
It’s still early for Fitterer, but already surrendering draft capital for two journeymen quarterbacks to prop up a lame duck coach like Matt Rhule is not an advisable strategy. Silver lining: Even despite a freak injury, Jaycee Horn looks like a franchise player in the secondary? Carolina needs a lot of work, and Fitterer needs every small win.
30
Dave Ziegler, Las Vegas Raiders
Ziegler wasted no time in his first off-season in Las Vegas. He pried away one of the best offensive minds in football in Josh McDaniels from New England, pulled off a blockbuster deal for Davante Adams, and even signed Chandler Jones. We’ll have to see how his roster and cap management evolve over time — no small task — but it’s clear Ziegler’s not afraid to take a big swing.
29
Ryan Poles, Chicago Bears
As the successor to one of the worst GMs over the past half-decade, Poles has his work cut out for him. That’s because his predecessor left behind a mess. Save for Justin Fields, the Bears have zero foundational pieces on offense, and the defense could be on the upswing but probably needs a retool, too. Plus, he had little cap room to use this offseason. Poles will be someone to check back in on in 2023 when the Bears are slated to have $100 million in cap space.
28
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, Minnesota Vikings
Like his NFC North rival, Adofo-Mensah currently has to play both sides of a rebuild and a retool. Kirk Cousins got a short extension, but he’s probably not the quarterback of the future. That said, the rookie GM’s first draft, highlighted by young secondary additions of Lewis Cine and Andrew Booth Jr., makes for a solid haul. Over the long run, we’ll see how Adofo-Mensah’s research and development background pays off for Minnesota.
27
Nick Caserio, Houston Texans
The Texans and Caserio have not only stripped away their previous foundation altogether — they’re still taking a sledgehammer to support beams. However, squint hard, and you can start to see a young core developing in Houston. I like additions such as Derek Stingley Jr. and Davis Mills, who quietly might have been the best of the 2021 quarterback class.
26
Joe Schoen, New York Giants
An executive lieutenant hailed as one of the best hires from … the Buffalo Bills. Imagine saying that even just five years ago. Schoen has to figure out if he wants to build around former first-rounder Daniel Jones in the long run. Not an easy task. Nonetheless, Schoen took admirable first swings at reinforcing the Giants’ trenches by drafting Kayvon Thibodeaux and Evan Neal. Every winning team starts from the inside out.
25
Terry Fontenot, Atlanta Falcons
With no long-term quarterback at the helm, Fontenot and the Falcons are effectively starting from scratch in back-to-back years. Few will have qualms with the additions of Drake London and Kyle Pitts as a dynamic pass-catching duo. But Fontenot has got to dig a bit deeper in all facets before Atlanta is a force again.
24
Omar Khan, Pittsburgh Steelers
Khan’s one of the guys that are most likely to rocket up these rankings by next season. He’s already been with Pittsburgh for over two decades in other capacities and knows all the ins and outs behind the process of one of football’s consistently premier organizations. This should be a seamless transition for an experienced executive who has already pulled plenty of strings.
23
Steve Keim, Arizona Cardinals
The pressure is on in Arizona. Kyler Murray is The Man for the foreseeable future. It’s up to Keim to ensure the Murray era amounts to something, which has been a relative struggle thus far. A word of advice to you, Steve: Find a new head coach.
22
Martin Mayhew, Washington Commanders
As their GM from 2008-2015, Mayhew is one of the few people who can say this: “I once turned the Detroit Lions into a winner.” If he can do that, maybe overhauling the Commanders and their consistently embarrassing follies into a contender won’t be so daunting. That said, it’s hard to immediately see D.C.’s roster as much better than a squad that went 7-10 last year. But there’s no rush. Mayhew has plenty of time.
21
Joe Douglas, New York Jets
A disciple of the Eagles’ front office — one of the best in football — 2022 might be a put-up or shut-up fourth (!) year for Douglas’ plans with the Jets. Even with injuries, Zach Wilson — the quarterback Douglas tied his future to — has an excellent supporting cast on paper. If New York is out of the playoff picture by December, as it usually is, many will start to question whether Douglas’ rebuild efforts will pan out.
20
Chris Grier, Miami Dolphins
It is Year 7 for Grier in Miami. In that span, the Dolphins have played in the playoffs once. They might have three winning seasons, but this is a results-based business. Maybe adding Mike McDaniel, Tyreek Hill, and Terron Armstead to support Tua Tagovailoa is finally what pushes the Dolphins and Grier’s grand scheme over the top. If not, it might be time to shift course on rough waters in South Beach.
19
Brad Holmes, Detroit Lions
Holmes’ team might be the talk of the NFL right now with their inside look on Hard Knocks. But there’s a lot to like in actual substance on and off the field. His coach, Dan Campbell, certainly seems to have the respect of his players despite a tough first season. In back-to-back years, Detroit drafted Aidan Hutchinson and Penei Sewell — two potential blue-chip trench players. And there’s a lot of evident, careful emphasis on player caretaking and development in a patient rebuild. The Lions might not be very good this year, but, thanks to Holmes, you probably won’t be able to say that much longer.
18
George Paton, Denver Broncos
It’s only Paton’s second year at Mile High, but he should be another person poised to launch up this list. After suffering through a miserable year of Drew Lock/Teddy Bridgewater, Paton pulled off a historic trade for Russell Wilson. Throw in a well-built receiving corps, one of the sport’s potentially elite secondaries led by Paton’s talisman thus far — Patrick Surtain II — and there might be consistent orange crush excellence on the horizon.
17
John Schneider, Seattle Seahawks
It feels strange to put Schneider here after all he did to construct the Legion of Boom era Seahawks. But look at Seattle’s drafts since … I don’t know, 2013? Schneider might be starting a new rebuild in Pacific Northwest, but I don’t have the utmost faith it’ll go as well as last time.
16
John Lynch, San Francisco 49ers
It’s hard to argue with the recent on-field results for Lynch’s 49ers. In the last three years, the 49ers have played in the Super Bowl and two NFC title games. At the same time, an over-commitment to Jimmy Garoppolo might have been why the 49ers failed to climb the summit on each occasion. Plus, some think head coach Kyle Shanahan (not a bad thought) and assistant GM Adam Peters are more responsible for San Fran’s recent success behind the scenes. Lynch is adequate, but he could and probably should be better.
15
Jerry Jones, Dallas Cowboys
One of the worst-kept secrets in the NFL is that Jerry Jones hardly does any of the heavy lifting as a football executive. “GM” is purely a title to appease the man who built JerryWorld. If we want to credit the person who really made the Cowboys a solid NFC East force again, we’d look at Vice President of Player Personnel Will McClay. Jones routinely tries to keep McClay away from leaving by compensating him more just about every offseason. Oh, sorry (winks): I mean, Jones is the one who built the roster with 45 wins and two division titles in the last five years, and it’s McClay who made the mistake of pushing for the bumbling Mike McCarthy. (Wink, wink.)
14
Duke Tobin, Cincinnati Bengals
Tobin has been with the Bengals in some capacity for over two decades. The Director of Player Personnel/General Manager is starting to see some returns on that work with the advent of Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase, among others. If Cincinnati can become a consistent AFC powerhouse in the 2020s, Tobin will be revered as a football maestro.
13
Tom Telesco, Los Angeles Chargers
Telesco has led the Chargers since 2013, and in that time, they’ve never won the AFC West, and have made the playoffs just twice. However, after nabbing Justin Herbert, Khalil Mack, and J.C. Jackson, while drafting one of football’s potentially elite offensive lines and filling out the roster with receiving depth — Telesco’s fortunes could soon change. Watch this space.
12
Jon Robinson, Tennessee Titans
Jon Robinson has, by my estimation, a top 10 coach in Mike Vrabel. He also has a top 10 roster, especially with a bunch of young guns such as Harold Landry and Jeffery Simmons. Factor in a cap situation that rarely throws Tennessee out of whack, and you’ve got a playoff-worthy GM. Four winning seasons and two division titles in the last five years should speak for themselves.
11
Andrew Berry, Cleveland Browns
Andrew Berry certainly seems like he knows how to run a football team. The Browns have a very talented roster. In all honesty, one that could push for a Super Bowl in most circumstances. Though, after acquiring a quarterback accused of many allegations of sexual misconduct, while also stumping for him after the fact — I have my doubts Berry knows how to put human beings first when football is the other option.
10
Chris Ballard, Indianapolis Colts
Ballard should be commended for the chicken salad he’s made out of chicken, well, you know. After Andrew Luck retired in 2019, the Colts have essentially leaned on stopgap quarterback after stopgap quarterback. That hasn’t stopped Ballard and Frank Reich from fielding a competitive team every season. Plus, the Colts are never in cap hell. Ever. (Almost to the point where you wish they’d spent more earlier so as not to waste loaded teams.) I’ll have to start seeing more fruitful on-field results before I can anoint Ballard as a genuinely elite GM.
9
Jason Licht, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Licht is closer to the top for his recent body of work rather than the forgettable Lovie Smith and Jameis Winston years of the early 2010s. Sure, it can be easy to say that Tom Brady lifts everyone up in Tampa Bay, but Licht made sure it was a perfect situation for the all-time great to transition well. The Buccaneers’ roster has had very few holes across the board, and Licht seems to know when to be aggressive and when to move on to new players. That’s an invaluable skill when the entire organization runs through your final call.
8
Mickey Loomis, New Orleans Saints
Loomis is entering his 10th year as the Saints’ GM. Admittedly, I have him high here more for the Drew Brees and Sean Payton era (which he still did well to supplement and complement!). This status might change as he enters Year 2 without Brees and Year 1 without Payton. To be determined.
7
Brett Veach, Kansas City Chiefs
Veach does have the benefit of working with one of the best coaches in NFL history, Andy Reid. But he was in concert with Reid to get Patrick Mahomes, the arguable face of the sport. And after a few rough years of drafting (sans Mahomes), Kansas City seems to be in a healthier spot for the future of late. They’re building a balanced team, one that could thrive with a premier quarterback in the long term. Even without All-Pro receivers.
6
Brian Gutekunst, Green Bay Packers
All Gutekunst does is hit home runs. Matt LaFleur at head coach? Boom, three 13-win seasons, and the revitalization of Aaron Rodgers. Drafting a few Pro Bowl and Pro Bowl-level starters like Jaire Alexander, Elgton Jenkins, and Darnell Savage? You bet. Gutekunst faces his most challenging year yet without his arguable former second-best player in Davante Adams. But a robust defense he’s slowly added to since 2018 — led by Alexander, De’Vondre Campbell, and the blooming Rashan Gary — very well might make up for that loss.
5
Brandon Beane, Buffalo Bills
Please read the upcoming sequence carefully because every part of it is true. Brandon Beane made the bold move to draft Josh Allen, who then turned into football’s Terminator. He put his chips behind Sean McDermott, who quickly became a special leader on the sidelines. Beane’s team is always in an advantageous cap situation, and it’s clear there’s a healthy mix of young and veteran cast-off/rejuvenated players. All for the Buffalo Bills. It’s still jarring to think about sometimes. If his team wins a Super Bowl, Beane might never have to buy a drink or dinner again in Western New York.
4
Les Snead, Los Angeles Rams
No one in the NFL values premium draft picks less than Les Snead if it means he can acquire proven high-level players. I don’t know what the Rams’ long-term future holds, especially if Matthew Stafford can’t stay healthy, but it’s a virtual guarantee that Snead will maximize his All-Star coach and players as much as possible before (or if) the ground collapses beneath them.
3
Howie Roseman, Philadelphia Eagles
Hats off to Hosie Roseman, who, after being one of the architects to bring a Super Bowl to Philadelphia, has now given Jalen Hurts a full arsenal most of the league would envy. The Eagles are always good or always on the precipice of being good, and that’s because Roseman routinely pushes the right buttons when it comes to drafting, free agency, and finances. In a two-decade-plus career in Philly, he doesn’t miss a beat.
2
Eric DeCosta, Baltimore Ravens
When DeCosta took over for the legendary Ozzie Newsome in 2019, it might have been fair to question whether he could fill those massive, massive shoes. All those questions, no matter how silly, have been answered with the usual standard in Baltimore: A perennial playoff contender, a front office that’s always thinking ahead, and a GM who continues a rich purple-and-black executive tradition. The next time you see DeCosta make a misstep, it might be the first.
1
Bill Belichick, New England Patriots
Ah, the eminently rare and successful coach/general manager. Belichick has been the gold standard in NFL coaching for two decades, and you can say largely the same for his job as GM. No one understands their salary cap, their roster, and their organization, on the whole, better than Belichick does. Every move he makes as a GM plays into his coaching responsibilities, and all he has to show for it are six Super Bowl wins and 18 playoff berths in 22 seasons. How he strikes this delicate balance, I don’t know. Smarter people than me have tried to figure it out and failed. We might never see someone like Belichick take on so much at once and still thrive.
