Every star-studded Super Bowl contender has a mastermind pulling all the right strings behind the scenes. Without a quality general manager, most great, even good, teams never even launch off the ground.
And a quality GM is responsible for everything. They spend months scouting comprehensive draft classes. They have to massage their franchise’s salary cap when it comes time to make difficult financial choices. Even smaller decisions, like offseason training programs and equipment at the team’s facilities, are up to them. If we’re being forthright, a quality NFL GM has their fingerprints everywhere.
This isn’t necessarily a good thing for everyone.
Some GMs aren’t up to the task of having every important football decision come across their desk. They seemingly run their team like a 15-year-old kid playing Madden’s franchise mode who simulates all the smaller but essential details. And then it’s no wonder when their squads get obliterated every time they play a game.
For The Win’s 2023 preseason GM rankings centers on the folks who aren’t overwhelmed when they read one contract page on Over The Cap. It also highlights the people slowly but surely driving their franchises into the ground. After all, we have to see both sides of the coin.
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The 5 worst general managers
Martin Mayhew, Washington Commanders
Mayhew’s been at the helm of Washington for two years now and has made no appreciable difference for the organization. Not one member of the team’s core — Terry McLaurin, Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, Montez Sweat — was added by Mayhew. Meanwhile, it’s early, but his first draft in 2021 can likely only count Jahan Dotson as a “hit.” (Sorry, Sam Howell.)
I don’t want to be overly harsh to Mayhew, but he’s also perplexingly kept Ron Rivera in place as head coach. I’m not sure it was all up to him under the leering eyes of former owner Dan Snyder. But someone must take responsibility for sticking with a coach who does little to improve his team.
Nick Caserio, Houston Texans
Caserio spent the first two years of his Texans tenure unofficially tanking while wasting the time of two head coaches — David Culley and Lovie Smith — who deserved so much better. And beyond his coaches, he also wasted the time of his fans.
Let’s be blunt here. I don’t care if Caserio’s “tanking” process led the Texans to C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson. NFL turnarounds simply don’t require mailing in two consecutive seasons. It is a blatant insult to your supporters to expect them to maintain unwavering loyalty and to anyone who loves the professional game. A majority of NFL teams are depressing and mediocre enough as it is. The least you can do is humor people by actually trying to put a competent product on the field. Caserio should be ashamed of that process alone.
I sure hope DeMeco Ryans works out as Houston’s new head coach. Because if this is a real Year 1 for Caserio, it’s time to start competing and showing progress. The excuses, if there were any to begin with in the first place, have dried out.
Jason Licht, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Once upon a time, with one winning season in six years to his name, Jason Licht lucked into football’s ultimate deus ex machina. To rescue his fledgling operation in Tampa Bay, Licht somehow convinced Tom Brady, the greatest quarterback in football history, to spend his twilight years with one of the NFL’s more forgettable franchises. Unsurprisingly, Brady’s addition resulted in Tampa Bay’s first Super Bowl win in two decades, making everyone in the organization glow by association.
It was an incredible coup and, assuredly, a one-time thing.
Licht’s Buccaneers are now moving forward with Baker Mayfield as their starting quarterback. Or Kyle Trask. Frankly, it doesn’t seem like Licht or his subordinates really know themselves! From a glance, Tampa Bay looks like it’s tanking in a rebuild, and I can’t understand why Licht would get the opportunity to fix everything. What has he achieved to merit another chance?
Dave Ziegler, Washington Commanders
Hoo boy, where do we even start with Ziegler’s missteps?
Was it working in tandem with professional doofus Josh McDaniels?McDaniels is the NFL’s worst head coach, bar none. What about trading two first-round picks for Davante Adams instead of using those selections on young building blocks? The original conceit of bringing Adams to Las Vegas was that he could ball out with former college teammate Derek Carr. Well, Carr is in New Orleans now. How did that brilliant plan work out?
At the very least, Ziegler brought in the proper people to right the ship… (checks notes): Jimmy Garoppolo and Jakobi Meyers? Phew. I’d say Ziegler can look forward to building around someone special like Caleb Williams next offseason, but I’m not confident he’ll still be employed as Las Vegas’ GM.
George Paton, Denver Broncos
Paton has led the Broncos for just two years, and he’s likely already annihilated the rest of their prospects in the 2020s. Mortgaging Denver’s future for a mid-30s Russell Wilson turned out to be an abject disaster. Unless Wilson rebounds, that trade will be recognized as the worst in NFL history. If that isn’t enough, Paton may have drafted just two noteworthy players so far: Patrick Surtain and Javonte Williams. And while he’s an All-Pro caliber cornerback, Surtain’s 2021 selection looks increasingly illogical when Denver could’ve drafted quarterback Justin Fields instead. If Fields is a Bronco right now, Denver never pulls out the stops for Wilson.
Paton’s Broncos are on life support. If apparent (hopeful?) miracle worker Sean Payton can’t resuscitate them quickly, it’s REALLY hard seeing Paton getting another season as GM.
The 5 best general managers
Duke Tobin, Cincinnati Bengals
Technically, the Bengals don’t have a “general manager” title. But the architect responsible for their on-field product is Duke Tobin, their director of player personnel for over two decades. In his time, Tobin has mostly struck the right chords as Cincinnati’s master puppeteer.
From 2005 to 2015, the Bengals qualified for the postseason on seven occasions. When it was time to tear the Marvin Lewis/Carson Palmer/Andy Dalton era down, Tobin didn’t miss. He made Joe Burrow — a superstar quarterback — the centerpiece of his rebuild. Then he added Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. That trio amplified an already promising defensive core of DJ Reader, Sam Hubbard and Trey Hendrickson. And when he had to keep Burrow upright, Tobin wasted no time investing in three offensive line starters — Ted Karras, Alex Cappa and Orlando Brown Jr.
Suffice it to say: Tobin is responsible for the Bengals becoming a marquee team and a genuine Super Bowl contender (as long as Burrow is their quarterback). I don’t envision him leaving the top five any time soon.
John Lynch, San Francisco 49ers
His first-round picks leave a lot to be desired — especially Trey Lance — but Lynch has still managed to construct a Super Bowl heavyweight in San Francisco. Lynch’s 49ers have played in three of the last four NFC title games because they’re stacked with difference-making skill players and destructive defensive buzzsaws. From George Kittle and Deebo Samuel to Fred Warner and Talanoa Hufanga, these are all guys Lynch has brought to town.
Thanks to Lynch’s instrumental hand, San Francisco is in a position to win its first Super Bowl in almost three decades. A word of advice to him, though: I’d try to keep Nick Bosa happy at all costs.
Brandon Beane, Buffalo Bills
Beane’s Bills have been so consistently successful that his former assistant GM, Joe Schoen, now leads his own operation with the New York Giants. And I can’t blame anyone for emulating Buffalo right now. Five playoff berths in six seasons. Drafting a very raw Josh Allen and turning him into perhaps the most successful development story in NFL lore. And a gifted roster with justifiable Super Bowl aspirations as long as No. 17 is their quarterback.
I have my qualms about how Beane chooses to help Allen on the field. Fun fact: You are allowed to add more receivers alongside Stefon Diggs! That said, Beane is still a top-dog executive.
Brett Veach, Kansas City Chiefs
Sure, Brett Veach has the enviable task of being able to bounce his ideas off Andy Reid. But that shouldn’t diminish his accomplishments.
There’s drafting Patrick Mahomes. There’s developing Chris Jones into a planet destroyer. There’s consistently filling in the gaps for Mahomes whenever the Chiefs have to retool. Most notably, this happened in 2021 when Kansas City added Pro Bowl-caliber offense line starters Creed Humphrey and Joe Thuney in 2021 following a beating in Super Bowl 55.
Now, the Chiefs will try to win with a revamped receiving corps of upside centered around Skyy Moore and Rashee Rice. I have a feeling it’ll go exactly according to plan.
Howie Roseman, Philadelphia Eagles
Nobody in the NFL does it like Howie Roseman.
Roseman’s been with the Eagles for years in a lead executive role but only officially took over as GM in 2019. No matter. After Philadelphia’s win in Super Bowl 52, Roseman seamlessly continued a rich black and green tradition. In three years flat, he constructed the NFC’s top roster on paper with Jalen Hurts at the forefront. And when the defending NFC champions predictably saw a mass exodus of free agents this offseason, Roseman reloaded with Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith as if he just snapped his fingers.
Somehow, despite a roster rife with All-Pros, Philadelphia still has more than $14 million in cap space.
All hail Howie Roseman: True royalty among professional football puppeteers.
