CFZ Who are the best NFL GMs and What Makes Them Effective?

[Bobhaze]

Yes, but it’s still left to be determined if it’s enough to win a championship.

They have built the best overall and talented team without an Elite QB.

They are playing in their third NFC championship game in 4 years. I would take that any day.

 

[ChronicCowboy]

Accountability makes anyone more effective. Jerry has none.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

Will McClay is as good as anybody

I tend to agree...but how involved is he with picking the coaches?

Jerry pays him enough to do the work but ensure he keep the title and have final say. And I also think Jerry decides who the coaches are going to be. Heck he even decides that at times BEFORE the head coach is in place.

 

[Sydla]

If you want to identify the best players in the NFL, just watch the games. If you want to ID the best GM talent, look at the GM‘s playoff record.

Most Cowboys fans by now are well aware that our 80 year old GM and his 58 year old sidekick son are not the best in recent front office talent. Why? Their playoff record the last three decades speaks for itself. We have won 5 wild card games in that period. The Cowboys are 1 of only 3 NFC teams to not play in a conference championship game- the lions, commanders and the ‘Boys.

So who are the current best NFL GMs in the game?

• Brett Veach, Chiefs- aged 45. Been GM in KC since 2017. Veach’s chiefs have won 9 playoff games in 5 seasons (and may win more this year) including 2 AFC championships and one SB win. Veach aggressively traded up in 2017 draft to acquire Patrick Mahomes and has also been aggressive in trades and free agency each season.
• Les Snead- Rams- age 51. Been GM is LA since 2012. Snead has 7 playoff wins in 10 years, including a SB win and 2 NFC championships with two different QBs. He is the most aggressive GM in the league with trades and FA.
• Jason Licht- Bucs-age 51. Been GM in Tampa since 2014. Won 5 playoff games in 3 years. Has been good in drafts but especially good in free agent signings with Tom Brady obviously the most prominent.
• Howie Roseman- Eagles- aged 47. Been in Filly since 2010. Has won 5 playoff games in 12 seasons including an NFC championship and SB win in 2017. Very aggressive in FA and trades.
• John Lynch- 49ers- age 51. Been GM in SF since 2017. Won 6 playoff games including 1 NFC championship and could win another if they beat Filly today. Have won those 6 playoff games with 3 different QBs.

So what do all these effective GMs have in common and what do they do that makes them effective?

• They are accountable to win playoff games or they’re gone. None of these guys get to keep their jobs if they don’t win playoff games. They answer to the owner and his goals.
• They have all worked in multiple NFL organizations- Unlike JJ and SJ, the best GMs have all worked for multiple NFL teams and have learned some best practices.
• They are relatively young men- the five best GMs avg age is 49.
• Because they are young, they have a modern approach to the cap and free agency. While Stephen Jones drones on about keeping the cap limits in mind, the 5 best GMs are saying “Hold my beer“ and winning playoff games in gobs.
• They cut, trade or release veteran players a year early, not when it’s obvious they’re done and are willing to make bold moves. Look at some examples of this:
  • Chiefs GM Brett Veach traded Tyreek Hill who was an All Pro WR before his big contract payday hit. He acquired multiple draft picks In return. Cut Pro Bowl S Tyron Matthieu before others saw his decline. The chiefs D is actually better this year.
  • Rams GM Les Snead traded his #1 QB Jared Goff who had already taken them to a SB in exchange for a veteran QB in Matt Stafford who helped them win a SB in 2021.
  • Niners GM John Lynch drafted QB Trey Lance in first round in 2021, despite having Jimmy Garropolo who had already taken them to a SB. THEN he drafted Brock Purdy in 7th round last year. (You should draft QBs often)

Bottom Line: The best GMs are young, accountable for winning playoff games or they’re fired, have worked in multiple NFL organizations, and are aggressive with the cap, free agency and trades.

I wish Jerry would be open to hiring a young assistant GM who could be a front office whisperer. Because if JJ keeps doing it “his way” we all know how that ends every year.

Small nit.

Roseman has never worked for any organization other than the Eagles. He started as a salary cap counsel in 2000.

 

[Bobhaze]

Small nit.

Roseman has never worked for any organization other than the Eagles. He started as a salary cap counsel in 2000.

Thanks for the clarification.

 

[Diehardblues]

They are playing in their third NFC championship game in 4 years. I would take that any day.

Yes, and they went to 3 straight championships a few years ago and a Super Bowl with Kapernick but again didn’t win a championship.

49 ers have proved don’t need an Elite QB to contend and play for championships. And yea, I’d take it.

Personally I’d rather build around one of the young Elite QB’s but there is only so many to go around. And most franchises don’t have the front office and coaching staffs to build SF type teams without an Elite QB.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

Les Snead is Toast. Rams will be in the doghouse for years Now.

I bet you they rebound and get to another championship game or SB before us.

 

[TheDude]

the best GMs have the Threat of being fired and sullying the reputation at risk.

neither of those exist here. we could go 1-16 for 10 years and it would still be a Jones

 

[Diehardblues]

What do the franchises with the brightest future in the NFL have in common?

 

[rags747]

As they polish their Lombardi.

So you would prefer a SB and then sucking for the next 5 years? That would definitely not be my choice.

 

[Bobhaze]

So you would prefer a SB and then sucking for the next 5 years? That would definitely not be my choice.

In a heartbeat. Lombardi trophies are the goal. Not just being “relevant” as Jerry craves.

 

[IrishAnto]

So you would prefer a SB and then sucking for the next 5 years? That would definitely not be my choice.

What as opposed to doing nothing for 28 years?
At least you’re likely to get your wish with the Jones boys!

 

[Aerolithe_Lion]

So you would prefer a SB and then sucking for the next 5 years? That would definitely not be my choice.

That’s a mistaken fallacy. Those Teams aren’t relevant for just that 1 year.

Rams were SB contenders for 6 years before the fall. They made the SB twice in that span, and won 7 playoff games.

Broncos were SB contenders every year 2012-2015 during their “sell out for a ring” era. They won 5 playoff games in that span, 4 straight division rounds, made 2 SBs.

Eagles last 6 years have made the playoff 5 times. 5 playoff wins, 3 division round appareances, potentially multiple SB wins.

TB in only 3 years won 5 playoffs games

People see the final season and say that’s all the they got out of it, when in fact there was an entire era of success that was purchased in exchange for some high draft pick seasons. If Dallas went all-in for 2023, they’d have a 4-6 year window with proper cap manipulation to win as much as they could.

 

[rags747]

yes smart and have accountiblity like u say

or they draft a franchise qb like mike brown did in cincinatti

i bet a lot of people do not know bengals also have a owner who is also gm and worse then jerry but he got the qb so

Shhhhh, that’s not how this game is played. To be successful the owner cannot have final say, it makes people uncomfortable. Will McClay is the best in the business and yet somehow we need a GM. So we make everyone happy and bring in Dick Stache as the new GM, what does Will McClay do?

 

[RS12]

Nepotism equals no accountability. No accountability equals perpetual mediocrity and annual failure.

 

[rags747]

I bet you they rebound and get to another championship game or SB before us.

The Rams are done, they got their jewelry but now they are toast. Old team and having to get rid of star players. They totally collapsed 1 year removed from their SB Parade. Draft picks traded away. My rather be us right now, all of our draft picks and a much younger team than the Rams.

 

[rags747]

Nepotism equals no accountability. No accountability equals perpetual mediocrity and annual failure.

Total bs, people are just jealous of nepotism.

 

[rambo2]

And Stephen’s conservative and cheap approach in the off-season is completely behind the times. These young gun GMs winning SBs and conference championships are aggressive…and accountable.

Will the Rams and the Bucs fire their GMs at this point?

 

[rambo2]

And proving you don’t have to have an “elite“ QB to compete for a championship.

I wonder where we would be if Diggs would have made a play?

 

[Jake]

If you want to identify the best players in the NFL, just watch the games. If you want to ID the best GM talent, look at the GM‘s playoff record.

Most Cowboys fans by now are well aware that our 80 year old GM and his 58 year old sidekick son are not the best in recent front office talent. Why? Their playoff record the last three decades speaks for itself. We have won 5 wild card games in that period. The Cowboys are 1 of only 3 NFC teams to not play in a conference championship game- the lions, commanders and the ‘Boys.

So who are the current best NFL GMs in the game?

• Brett Veach, Chiefs- aged 45. Been GM in KC since 2017. Veach’s chiefs have won 9 playoff games in 5 seasons (and may win more this year) including 2 AFC championships and one SB win. Veach aggressively traded up in 2017 draft to acquire Patrick Mahomes and has also been aggressive in trades and free agency each season.
• Les Snead- Rams- age 51. Been GM is LA since 2012. Snead has 7 playoff wins in 10 years, including a SB win and 2 NFC championships with two different QBs. He is the most aggressive GM in the league with trades and FA.
• Jason Licht- Bucs-age 51. Been GM in Tampa since 2014. Won 5 playoff games in 3 years. Has been good in drafts but especially good in free agent signings with Tom Brady obviously the most prominent.
• Howie Roseman- Eagles- aged 47. Been in Filly since 2010. Has won 5 playoff games in 12 seasons including an NFC championship and SB win in 2017. Very aggressive in FA and trades.
• John Lynch- 49ers- age 51. Been GM in SF since 2017. Won 6 playoff games including 1 NFC championship and could win another if they beat Filly today. Have won those 6 playoff games with 3 different QBs.

So what do all these effective GMs have in common and what do they do that makes them effective?

• They are accountable to win playoff games or they’re gone. None of these guys get to keep their jobs if they don’t win playoff games. They answer to the owner and his goals.
• They have all worked in multiple NFL organizations- Unlike JJ and SJ, the best GMs have all worked for multiple NFL teams and have learned some best practices.
• They are relatively young men- the five best GMs avg age is 49.
• Because they are young, they have a modern approach to the cap and free agency. While Stephen Jones drones on about keeping the cap limits in mind, the 5 best GMs are saying “Hold my beer“ and winning playoff games in gobs.
• They cut, trade or release veteran players a year early, not when it’s obvious they’re done and are willing to make bold moves. Look at some examples of this:
  • Chiefs GM Brett Veach traded Tyreek Hill who was an All Pro WR before his big contract payday hit. He acquired multiple draft picks In return. Cut Pro Bowl S Tyron Matthieu before others saw his decline. The chiefs D is actually better this year.
  • Rams GM Les Snead traded his #1 QB Jared Goff who had already taken them to a SB in exchange for a veteran QB in Matt Stafford who helped them win a SB in 2021.
  • Niners GM John Lynch drafted QB Trey Lance in first round in 2021, despite having Jimmy Garropolo who had already taken them to a SB. THEN he drafted Brock Purdy in 7th round last year. (You should draft QBs often)

Bottom Line: The best GMs are young, accountable for winning playoff games or they’re fired, have worked in multiple NFL organizations, and are aggressive with the cap, free agency and trades.

I wish Jerry would be open to hiring a young assistant GM who could be a front office whisperer. Because if JJ keeps doing it “his way” we all know how that ends every year.

1. They do the job full-time. They don't rely on staff to do their homework for them then sit in the big chair and make personnel decisions.
2. They know they have to produce or they will be fired. It's a great motivator.
3. They know when it's time to step down. An 80 year old man shouldn't be a GM, especially one who has been falling short for years (decades).