When Ron Rivera was hired as Washington’s head coach ahead of the 2020 season, he was to be more than just the head coach.
Owner Dan Snyder said Washington would operate under the “coach-centric” model that other successful franchises have employed, meaning Rivera would be the team’s top football decision-maker.
While Rivera didn’t receive the title of general manager, he was clearly at the top of the food chain. After one season with Kyle Smith in charge of personnel, Rivera hired former Detroit Lions general manager Martin Mayhew as his general manager for the Commanders.
Mayhew, a former cornerback for Washington on its last Super Bowl team, spent seven years as the general manager for the Lions. Before landing in Washington, Mayhew had spent the previous four years in the 49ers’ front office.
With Rivera entering a critical fourth season as Washington’s head coach in 2023 — and Mayhew entering his third season — how are the duo viewed around the NFL?
Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com recently unveiled his latest GM rankings, with the Rivera/Mayhew tandem coming in at No. 22:
Through three seasons, Rivera and Mayhew are 22-27-1 together. Their drafts have been average, at best, although Sam Howell developing into a true starting quarterback would change that. The team’s best players, including most of the boffo defensive line, was acquired by the previous regime. The Carson Wentz trade was a disaster. The team has done more with less on the offensive line, which makes the big spending on mid-level free agents (Andrew Wylie and Nick Gates) surprising. Slightly worse than average is an accomplishment over the past few decades in Washington, but Rivera needs to show some progress to stick around with new ownership coming in.
It’s important to note — again — that Rivera and Mayhew weren’t together during Rivera’s first season as head coach. Of course, the ranking likely still stands as you are what your record says you are.
Most of these criticisms are fair. Some of Washington’s drafts, since Rivera took over, are a mixed bag. There are some outstanding late picks, such as safeties Kamren Curl [seventh round, 2020] and Darrick Forrest [fifth round, 2021], but the jury is still out on higher picks, such as Chase Young, Jamin Davis and Sam Cosmi.
As Rosenthal noted, everything changes if Howell becomes a solid starting quarterback.
