Ranking Every GM In The NFL – 2023

GMs are often talked about and criticized in the media, and it seemed like it would be fun to stack them up to each other and see who’s ranked where. It’s important to preface this by saying GM is an extraordinarily challenging job, and there are currently no GMs who are awful or need to be fired. Owners across the league recently have done an excellent job of moving on from the poor ones. This creates a very difficult list to make, and just know any GM at the bottom isn’t bad at their job by any means.

I evaluate each GM’s move and grade four different categories, 1-10, based on their moves. Coaching hires would be included as a category, but not enough GMs have hired coaches. Please use code TREYSCHNEIDER on Underdog Fantasy to match your deposit up to $100. Gamble responsibly and leave your feedback on Twitter @FBIntellect.

Tier Five: On The Hot Seat

32. Trent Baalke, Jacksonville

Trent Baalke has done some redeemable things as a GM, but he is on the hot seat despite having a competitive team. He’s had some questionable drafts and overplayed a handful of free agents. If you look at his trades, he’s made some wise moves in the draft but has yet to pull off an incredible one you’d remember. He’s still put together a team that can compete, but they aren’t as far as they could’ve been had he done some things better.

31. Scott Fitterer, Carolina

Scott Fitterer is this low primarily due to his handful of overpays in free agency. He has done a fine job of drafting and has made some intelligent trades. However, he gave up a ton for Bryce Young, and while it could be worth it, you have to get nervous about what you gave up. He has yet to make many impressive re-signs besides Frankie Luvu. While he’s done some nice things, he ultimately held back this franchise to a degree.

30. Brian Gutekunst, Green Bay

From the fans’ perspective, Brian Gutekunst may be the most frustrating GM on this list. He abides by particular rules, such as drafting rather than signing players. He also wouldn’t draft a Receiver under 6’0″ until this past draft. The move to re-sign Aaron Jones over bringing back Corey Lindsley was highly questionable. He then passed on Creed Humphrey in the draft to top it off. They at least got a stellar return for Rodgers but also gave up Davante Adams for a middling return. It could be worse, but he leaves much to be desired overall.

29. Andrew Berry, Cleveland

After making the blockbuster trade to acquire Deshaun Watson and paying him a massive contract, it’s difficult to have Andrew Berry any higher. However, he recently had an excellent draft where they got star talent for stellar value. Additionally, he had an admirable off-season as he addressed the D-line, which was in shambles prior. He is hit or miss as a GM, but I wouldn’t mind having him as the GM of my team.

Tier Four: Adequate

28. Ryan Poles, Chicago

So far, Ryan Poles is the first GM who’s not on the hot seat. The trade he executed with Carolina to recuperate D.J. Moore, among other picks, was nothing short of a masterclass. However, his free agency signings weren’t wise, as he paid a Linebacker significant money while leaving the D-line as a liability. He’s done a fine job of drafting, but his picks from 2022 weren’t anything incredible. Besides his trades, he’s had a rather underwhelming time as a GM.

27. Terry Fontenot, Atlanta

There are many things to love about Terry Fontenot, but his decision to stick by Desmond Ridder is ultimately why he’s this low. He had the opportunity to acquire someone with much better potential and chose not to. On the bright side, he put together a hell of a team to surround Ridder. Resigning Chris Lindstrom and Kaleb McGary was a terrific decision, and they additionally signed the most impactful free agent in the NFL. While his drafts could be better, and he could have a much better option at QB, he is still an intelligent GM worth his salt.

26. Dave Ziegler, Las Vegas

Dave Ziegler has accomplished something most other GMs could only dream of doing. That would be trading for an elite Receiver with plenty of tread on the tires. While the season didn’t pan out for the Raiders last year, Davante Adams was a total menace as a Receiver. He is a supreme cornerstone piece to build around, and they got him for a fair price. Ziegler struggles with free agency, as he overpaid for Chandler Jones and didn’t fill in the margins well. He is still respectable but leaves you wishing he did better in certain areas.

25. Tom Telesco, Los Angeles Chargers

This ranking reflects more so the Charger’s front office as a whole and not Tom Telesco himself. The Chargers have been stubborn about paying a coach big-time money, which has likely cost them a Super Bowl. They have one of the greatest young passers in the game and refuse to pair him with a bright offensive mind. Sticking by Brandon Staley instead of going after Sean Payton will likely haunt them for years. Telesco has at least done an excellent job of acquiring talent to surround Herbert, but having them very high on this list is difficult.

24. Nick Caserio, Houston

Nick Caserio is the definition of an average GM. While he doesn’t excel in one area, he is adequate across the board. Bringing in DeMeco Ryans was an exceptional move, but he also could have done a better job building the team through free agency. Resigning Laremy Tunsil was massive for the franchise, and he also landed a franchise QB.
The trade he got from Cleaveland was incredible, considering what happened with Watson, but he also gave up a hefty price to draft Will Anderson Jr. Some thought Caserio was on the hot seat, but Stroud will likely buy him some time. There are much worse options than Caserio at GM.

Tier Three: Above Average

23. Mickey Loomis, New Orleans

Mickey Loomis is famous for popularizing void years in contracts and deserves much credit for doing so. He has been the GM since 2006 and, overall, has done a very respectable job. However, in recent years he hasn’t delivered in all aspects of the job. While he’s had some stellar drafts before, recently, he hasn’t capitalized on value. He’s also made questionable trades in the draft and traded away Chauncey Gardner Johnson for nothing. Loomis gave Derek Carr high-end money when he may not even be a top-16 starter. If it weren’t for the legacy he left behind, he’d be much lower on this list.

22. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, Minnesota

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is someone you feel confident about as your GM, but he hasn’t done anything special so far with Minnesota. He made an excellent trade to acquire a star Tight End in T.J. Hockenson. Additionally, he signed Marcus Davenport for outstanding value. These moves are easy to get behind, and you also like how he pivoted from Ed Donatell. You wish he were a better drafter, but he isn’t bad even then. For a young GM, Mensah has done a fine job so far.

21. Martin Mayhew, Washington

Martin Mayhew has been the GM in Washington since 2021 and hasn’t made a whole lot of notable moves. Although the trade for Carson Wentz didn’t work out, it was an excellent trade. He didn’t give up much, and the year he had in Indianapolis got blown out of proportion by the media. He hasn’t hit on a first-rounder yet but has made a handful of terrific late-round picks. Where I draw concern is how he paid Daron Payne supreme money. Besides that, though, he hasn’t done anything heinous. Mayhew has done a fine job as GM, and he just lacks a memorable move to hang his hat on.

20. Monti Ossenfort, Arizona

We have a short sample size of Monti Ossenfort, as he’s only been the GM for one off-season. Although, in that one off-season, he did an exceptional job of kickstarting the rebuild. He made a poor decision not to re-sign Byron Murphey and did a minimal job building the trenches in free agency. Where he was lacking in his first year, he made up for it in the draft by making an incredible trade and nailing the remaining picks. Ossenfort set this franchise up by acquiring an additional first next year, likely a top-five pick. While not the perfect GM, he is an exciting leader to look forward to having.

19. Ron Cathron, Tennessee

Like Ossenfort, Ron Cathron is an ascending GM who doesn’t have a long sample size. He took over for Jon Robinson, and while this team is stuck in purgatory, Cathron has a shot at getting them out. Signing Sean Murphey-Bunting was a terrific move as it’s a cheap one-year deal, and he is a stud player. Taking Skoronski over Levis was questionable initially, but he traded up in the second to steal him, so props to him. He additionally resigned Jeffrey Simmons, who’s a franchise cornerstone piece. Cathron’s moves have been intelligent, and it’s only about proving himself again in another off-season.

18. George Paton, Denver

George Paton was an exciting hire at the time, as he previously helped build a stellar roster in Minnesota. He is infamously known for the blockbuster trade to acquire Russell Wilson. The trade obviously failed, but there’s still hope left. He wisely traded for Sean Payton, giving Russ a legitimate shot at revving his career. Say what you will about trading a first and future second, but Payton is an elite head coach and play-caller. He will absolutely change this offense for the better as well as the culture.
Additionally, Paton’s drafts have been impressive in his short tenure. Patrick Surtain II is a star player who’ll be a long-term piece. He’s had many solid late-round picks to back it up as well. If it weren’t for the Russ trade, he’d be one of the brightest ascending GMs in the league.

17. Duke Tobin, Cincinnati

A lot of credit undoubtedly must go to Duke Tobin for helping assemble a roster capable of competing for Super Bowls. He made vital free-agent signings at critical positions and did a commendable job of drafting. With that said, he hasn’t done an excellent job of retaining talent due to the Bengal’s lack of cash. He let the best true Free Safety in the game walk, and he’s likely to do the same with Higgens. I could be wrong, but if so, it will be challenging to win a Super Bowl, especially with Burrow’s contract coming up.

16. Brad Holmes, Detroit

Just a season ago, Brad Holmes would’ve been a top-12 GM, but he recently had one of the worst drafts of the year. His moves have been very hit-or-miss. He made a handful of lovely draft selections but then took Jahmyr Gibbs with the 12th pick and took Jack Campbell at pick 18. Both prospects were fringe first-rounders, and they passed up on better talent at more valuable positions. On the bright side, Holmes has done an adequate job building this team through free agency. This team is still in a fantastic place, and ultimately, you can live with one lousy draft.

15. Chris Grier, Miami

With a long tenure as a GM, I can confidently say Chris Grier is exceptional at his job. He isn’t higher due to the illegal tampering that costs him a first-round pick. If you’re going to do shady stuff, at least don’t get caught for it. He also didn’t have the strongest stretch until a few years ago. When he had all the draft capital in the world, he missed on almost all of his top picks. However, he did a fantastic job of drafting in the recent draft with the picks he had.
Moreover, trading for Jalen Ramsey was a historically good trade. They gave up little, and Ramsey still has plenty of high-level football left. Trading for Tyreek Hill was also massive for the team. He’s had a mixture of good and poor as a GM, but he ultimately built an incredibly talented roster.

14. Bill Belichick, New England

Bill Belichick is a very polarizing figure as a GM. He is undeniably an elite head coach but has done many questionable things as a GM. Belichick isn’t lower because he’s made some redeemable moves in free agency and is arguably the best GM at finding hidden gems. It’s hard to tell if he is so good at coaching that late-rounders can succeed under him or if he is just incredible at finding talent late in the draft. Either way, he deserves props for it.
Bill excels in moving on from players when they’re old. He likes to get a return for players he knows they will likely regress. His downfall comes from not re-signing impactful players. He’s let many star players walk, leading to him looking foolish. He typically doesn’t draft well in the first but recently landed one of the best prospects at pick 17. While he has some severe cons as a GM, he’s done many respectable things to keep his team competitive.

13. Joe Douglas, New York Jets

Joe Douglas is a very likable GM, and despite the recent poor draft, he is still excellent at his job. Trading for Aaron Rodgers, while risky, will set this franchise apart from the ordinary teams. Douglas’s defense is elite, and he deserves a lot of credit for bringing in Robert Saleh. Most of his draft choices over his tenure have been questionable, but he nailed nearly every pick last year. Sauce Gardner changed the team dramatically, and Jermain Johnson is an exciting EDGE with a ton of potential. Furthermore, Breece Hall is a phenomenal young ascending back. You have to be critical of some of his moves, but you can’t deny he put together the ideal roster for Rodgers to win it all, possibly.

12. Chris Ballard, Indianapolis

At one point in time, Chris Ballard was a consensus top ten GM, but recently had a very rough stretch. His trade for Matt Ryan failed and ultimately cost them the season. When his job was on the line, he nailed the draft like it was nothing. Some notable steals in the last draft were Josh Downs and Adetomiwa Adebawore. Additionally, he drafted Anthony Richardson, who could very well be a Josh Allen-esque player. The trade to get Deforest Buckner was fantastic and helped set this defense apart. While last year didn’t work out, he put together a roster conducive to Anthony Richardson, which is exciting for the franchise.

Tier Two: Excellent

11. Omar Kahn, Pittsburgh

Omar Kahn is another guy who doesn’t have a long sample size to assess. So far, in his first two years, he has done a very redeemable job. He absolutely nailed this past draft as he got a potential franchise Tackle and legendary Steeler’s son, Joey Porter Jr. He also capitalized on value in the later rounds. Furthermore, Kahn re-signed Minkah Fitzpatrick for a reasonable deal and made impactful free-agent signings. For a young GM, he is killing it and should bring much more exciting moves in the future.

10. Joe Schoen, New York Giants

What Joe Schoen has done to turn this franchise around rapidly is nothing short of remarkable. Dave Gettleman set this franchise years behind, and Schoen came in and dramatically improved the operation. Drafting Evan Neal and Kayvon Thibodeaux were incredible additions, and they found decent value in the late rounds. Neal had a rough year but I have faith in his development. Deonte Banks flew under the radar over the draft and will likely stun people over time. Moreover, trading for Darren Waller was brilliant, as he can be a dominant receiving threat when healthy. Despite the short tenure, he couldn’t have kickstarted the rebuild any quicker, and it’s exciting to look forward to his future moves.

9. Les Snead, Los Angeles Rams

Snead is another GM who’s been around for quite some time. He was mediocre to start, as his team wasn’t competitive for most of his first five years. Hiring Sean McVay dramatically changed this team for the better. The trade made to acquire Jalen Ramsey was risky but paid massive dividends. He later traded him for nothing much, but he got excellent usage from him during his stretch with the Rams.
Trading for Stafford was perhaps his most brilliant move, as it was the main reason they won a Super Bowl. Snead has done a remarkable job of retaining talent while being active in free agency. He’s currently stuck in a unique position where it’s hard to compete, but he accomplished something other GMs dream of achieving.

8. John Lynch, San Francisco

John Lynch is a personal favorite as he took the Niners out of the dumps to playing in championship games. However, he had the worst draft out of anybody in the recent draft. That isn’t to say Lynch is terrible at drafting, as he has made some impressive late-round picks before. He looks foolish for trading up to get Trey Lance, but we still have no clue whether or not he’s good. Regarding free agency, signing Javon Hargrave was a steal considering the price of other D-Linemen. Trading for McCafrey seemed questionable initially, but it ultimately helped complete a dominant offense. After building one of the most star-studded rosters in football, how could he not rank this high on this list?

7. Jerry Jones, Dallas

Jerry Jones is another very polarizing figure, as he’s done a lot of impressive things as well as a lot of questionable things. Re-signing Dak Prescott doomed this team for purgatory, but they also had limited options. On the bright side, Jones does an outstanding job filling the margins. You can’t go wrong trading for Stephon Gilmore, as he is a proven star with a lot of play left. While paying Zeke an absurd contract ended up a disaster, he at least cut him when he could.
Jones has done a phenomenal job of finding superstar talent. Drafting Micah Parsons led to significant improvement on defense, and some of their O-Linemen have been long-term stars. Not to mention Trevon Diggs was also drafted. It’s also worth noting that Mike McCarthy wasn’t the best head coach he could’ve chosen. Regardless, this roster is loaded with talent, and they should be one of the best NFC teams.

6. Jason licht, Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay’s GM Jason Licht has made a long list of impressive signings and doesn’t often get much respect. He reeled in an all-time great at QB and won a Super Bowl with him. Licht deserves a lot of credit for building an extraordinary roster and retaining the core group of players for as long as he did. He made several draft picks that helped push this team to greatness. Tristan Wirfs, in particular, is a remarkable cornerstone piece that he found in the draft. Resigning Jamel Dean was miraculous, considering his market value. They got him to stay on a team-friendly deal which is massive for the franchise. Although Tampa Bay will be poor in 2023, he is responsible for an incredible stretch of football.

5. John Schneider, Seattle

After being the GM for Seattle for over 13 years now, it’s safe to say John Schneider is an excellent GM. His first significant accolade was establishing the Legion-of-boom, which subsequently won them a Super Bowl. He kept the team in a competitive state for quite some time, but the streak eventually ended. Shortly after, Schneider would trade Russell Wilson for a historic return. It seemed risky to move on from Wilson, but hindsight would say that was very wise.
He used an immense amount of draft capital to draft many impactful players. Like Belichick, Schneider is incredible at finding talent late in the draft. Re-signing DK Metcalf for a reasonable deal was commendable, and he brought back Bobby Wagner for hardly anything. He’s made his fair share of mistakes over the years, but he’s been on fire as of late.

Tier One: Elite

4. Brett Veach, Kansas City

Brett Veach may not have been the GM who drafted Patrick Mahomes, but he was the co-director of personnel at the time and was the primary guy vouching for him. He also made a series of moves that helped win them two super bowls. Moving on from Orlando Brown was wise, as he wasn’t worth the asking price. Veach has also made some excellent draft selections. In 2022, he landed George Karlaftis and Trent McDuffie, who were quality impacts in year one. Signing Justin Reid a year ago was one of the most intelligent moves of the year. One of the many reasons Kansas City is so successful is due to having such a brilliant GM. This recent offseason wasn’t his best, but the roster is still in tremendous shape.

3. Eric DeCosta, Baltimore

What Eric DeCosta has done to keep this roster in a prime position to compete is outstanding. Whether or not Lamar would stay a Raven was up in the air, and he ultimately resigned on a reasonable deal. The contract they gave Beckham was a lot, but it’s worth it, considering it helped Lamar stay. Very few teams do as good of a job as Baltimore does at drafting. They often nail their first-round picks and get tremendous value in the later rounds. DeCosta also does an exceptional job of filling in the margins. Besides free agency, there isn’t one area DeCosta doesn’t thrive in.

2. Brandon Beane, Buffalo

It’s genuinely challenging not to love what Brandon Beane has done with Buffalo. While not perfect, he has established one of the most competitive teams in football. Drafting Josh Allen was perhaps the boldest thing you can do as GM. It happened to pay massive dividends, and he deserves a lot of credit for drafting him. The trade he made for Stefon Diggs was an all-time steal.
Furthermore, he has done an outstanding job of building the defense. Letting Tremaine Edmunds walk was tough but is ultimately best for the team. Linebacker is one of the least critical positions, and they already had Matt Milano. Drafting Kincaid was bold but will allow their offense to be more dynamic. Despite some small questionable moves, he has been immaculate as a GM.

1. Howie Roseman, Philadelphia

It wasn’t that long ago people were foolishly calling for Howie Roseman’s job. While he may have had a poor stretch, Roseman has been firing on all cylinders recently. When Wentz was under contract, Roseman astonishingly took Jalen Hurts in the second round. That may have seemed foolish at the time, but it subsequently led to a Super Bowl run.
Moreover, he has killed it in contract negotiations on top of making wise choices on who to bring in. The D-Line is currently loaded, and the O-Line is arguably the best in football. He re-signed Darius Slay and James Bradberry for exceptional deals and wisely let replaceable positions walk. In the most recent draft, Roseman came away with two steals in the first and got a starter at Guard.
His trade for A.J. Brown was one of the most remarkable in recent memory. When the team’s culture was in shambles, he quickly turned it around by hiring one of the best young coaches in the league. The list of accolades and impressive feats of Howie Roseman could go on forever. I am just glad I get to witness such high-level brilliance in real-time.