General managers have wide-ranging jobs and are responsible for more than most fans realize. They’re in charge of scouting college players in preparation for the draft, scouting talent across the league for free agency and monitoring the trade market, negotiating contracts, self-scouting their own teams, and sometimes even hiring head coaches.

Most good GMs delegate much of that, but ultimately, the buck stops with them. They’re the top football executive for a franchise. And today, I’m ranking all 32 GMs across the league.

For this exercise, I weighed several factors. Draft history is among the most prominent, as is recent (and sometimes historical) team success and overall roster strength during their tenure. But I also considered mitigating factors and, in some cases, ownership interference. Most of the first- and second-year GMs (and some of third-years as well), who have largely incomplete grades, were ranked near the bottom of this list. That’s not necessarily a reflection of what I think of them and their potential, just the reality that it’s difficult to grade their work with such a limited sample size.

Let’s jump right in:

1: Brett Veach, Kansas City Chiefs

GM since: 2017

No, Veach wasn’t the general manager when the Chiefs drafted Patrick Mahomes. He was promoted a few months later. But he is largely responsible for building the modern dynasty that won three Super Bowls and played in two more.

It’s more than just Mahomes. Veach has engineered several major roster pivots, trading away stars in their prime or declining to sign big free agents to reallocate that money and stockpile new assets. Every time he’s done this, it’s worked. Now he’s in the process of trying this yet again in the secondary. At this point, he’s earned the benefit of the doubt.

2: Howie Roseman, Philadelphia Eagles

GM since: 2010

“How does Howie keep getting away with this?” rival fans groan each offseason. Roseman developed a reputation for fleecing other teams in trades consistently, lucking into excellent prospects at lower draft positions, and generally maximizing his assets in a way few other executives do.

One thing I’m consistently impressed with is Roseman’s refusal to be tied down to past decisions. He’s unafraid to move off a coach or quarterback if he feels the time is right. He did both following the Eagles’ 2017 Super Bowl win, and it led to winning another in 2024. I don’t know of another franchise where both head coach and quarterback would be on the hot seat less than two years removed from winning it all, but that’s where Philly is right now. It’s the Roseman way.

3: Les Snead, Los Angeles Rams

GM since: 2012

Snead is entering round two of his “F*** Them Picks” strategy. Last time he went all-in with a roster like this, the Rams won a Super Bowl in 2021. Now, Los Angeles has the best roster in the league, and it’s not even close. That doesn’t guarantee anything, but they’re the favorites this season for a reason.

But as much as Snead likes trading away top draft assets for proven veterans and stars, his draft successes sometimes fly under the radar. He trades down and amasses large quantities of mid- and late-round picks, taking as many swings at the bat as possible. With that method, he built one of the league’s strongest young cores with just one first-round pick, finding gems later in the draft.

4: John Schneider, Seattle Seahawks

GM since: 2010

It took him a decade, but Schneider won his second Super Bowl with a completely different team. One of the league’s best drafters, he executed the Russell Wilson trade a few years ago to re-arm with top assets, then rebuilt the roster from the ground up.

Schneider had a few draft duds mixed in there, but every general manager will, given enough time. The important thing: he didn’t stack multiple bad years in a row and didn’t allow himself to be overly tied down to specific draft miscues. That’s the sign of a smart executive.

5: Brian Gutekunst, Green Bay Packers

GM since: 2018

Just because the Packers haven’t won a Super Bowl under Gutekunst doesn’t mean his work is any less impressive. He climbed the ladder in Green Bay, working his way up through the organization until being promoted to general manager in 2018. Since then, he’s re-energized the franchise and has them on the verge of reaching another level.

Gutekunst’s draft record is strong, especially with his later picks. In 2022, he found three starting offensive linemen in the middle rounds, and the Jordan Love pick a year prior aged well, too. He didn’t engineer a massive rebuild or anything, but he contributed to and elevated a winning culture and roster.

6: Jason Licht, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

GM since: 2014

It took a while for Licht to get his flowers. Taking Jameis Winston No. 1 overall in 2015 didn’t have the payoff he hoped for, but he won a Super Bowl by selling Tom Brady on winning in Tampa Bay. It’s easy to forget in hindsight, but that was seen as a surprising choice for Brady at the time, and it’s a testament to Licht that not only could he convince Brady to come, but that he succeeded in building that team around him.

Since then, Licht handled the post-Brady transition well and continued to build a strong roster and make playoff appearances. He’s a smart evaluator, cautious to overcommit to individual players and a consistently strong drafter.

7: Brad Holmes, Detroit Lions

GM since: 2021

Holmes has a case as the architect of the most successful rebuild in the NFL in recent years. With a few smart trades, he amassed assets, then flipped them into good, winning football players. He took advantage of league debates on positional value to grab sliding players more talented than their draft slot and built a team that was the NFC’s No. 1 seed just two seasons ago.

After missing the playoffs last season and entering 2026 with a roster with a few big question marks, sustainability will be the next test for Holmes. It’s one thing to flip a roster and go from bad to good — now he needs to handle roster turnover and keep Detroit near the top of a very competitive NFC.

8: Eric DeCosta, Baltimore Ravens

GM since: 2019

DeCosta hasn’t worked anywhere in the league but Baltimore. He joined the Ravens in 1996 and was an instrumental part of their front office for two decades, finally taking over as the heir apparent in 2019. DeCosta learned how to build a winning roster and has continued to employ those skills in his new role.

During his time as general manager, the Ravens have been a fixture in the AFC playoff race, but they have yet to make a Super Bowl. Firing longtime HC John Harbaugh this offseason was a bold choice, but hiring Jesse Minter — a contemporary of former Ravens DC and current Seahawks HC Mike Macdonald — could pay dividends.

9: Nick Caserio, Houston Texans

GM since: 2021

Even though he was put in a tough position when he was first hired, Caserio has handled it well and come out the other side with one of the AFC’s best rosters. He managed the Deshaun Watson situation well, getting an absolute haul from the Browns for a player the Texans never intended to allow to see the field for them in the future. That move alone armed Caserio with all the draft picks he needed to flip the roster.

Being aggressive in trading up for Will Anderson Jr. in 2023, a move that seemed extremely risky at the time, could not have aged better. Caserio’s tenure may be defined by the performance of QB C.J. Stroud, who looked like the league’s next big thing as a rookie but has struggled in the two years since. A bounce-back season from him would do wonders for Houston.

10: Chris Ballard, Indianapolis Colts

GM since: 2017

Ballard is the hardest general manager to rank. One of the most widely respected executives in the league, he’s also considered one of the best scouts and drafters. He strongly believes in building through the draft and rarely overspends on bad contracts. At the same time, the Colts haven’t had much team success in Ballard’s nine years at the helm, with just two playoff appearances and one playoff win in that span.

Most general managers don’t keep their jobs this long with those results. It speaks to how Colts ownership — and the league at large — views Ballard. If fired, he wouldn’t be long without a job. As he enters the last year of his contract, though, he’ll be the first to tell you that his work needs to show up on the field. The Colts looked like one of the best teams in the league through eight games in 2025, before injuries decimated them. That excuse won’t fly again.

11: Ryan Poles, Chicago Bears

GM since: 2022

While it’s true he’s had his share of misses, Poles has turned the Bears into a competent organization. When was the last time Chicago fans could say that? He’s the one who traded the 2023 No. 1 overall pick for an absolute haul, including the pick that would go on to be No. 1 overall in 2024.

Most of Poles’ moves have clear intent and purpose behind them (aside from giving up a second-round pick for WR Chase Claypool). The Bears just won their first division title since 2018 and beat the Packers in the playoffs. Everything’s coming up Chicago.

12: Eliot Wolf, New England Patriots

GM since: 2024

Wolf is technically listed as the “Director of Player Personnel.” The Patriots don’t employ a traditional general manager, but Wolf is the lead football executive. He joined the franchise in 2020 in a consulting role before being promoted to his current position when New England parted ways with Bill Belichick.

The Patriots have been moving differently with Wolf in charge. It’s early in his tenure to rank him this highly, but it’s impressive how quickly they’ve built one of the league’s best rosters. Even considering them a regression candidate this year doesn’t take away from the job Wolf’s done in such a short time.

13: Joe Hortiz, Los Angeles Chargers

GM since: 2024

I have a feeling Hortiz might rank much higher on this list next year. Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh retains some level of personnel control, but Hortiz has put his mark on the roster as well. Los Angeles is coming off a wildcard appearance and hasn’t been able to get over the hump under Hortiz, but that might all change this year.

It looked like the Chargers had closed the gap in the AFC West last season. Then both of their All-Pro tackles were lost for the season. Los Angeles will have to overcome losing Minter to the Ravens, but Hortiz’s draft record is impressive and we might finally see the fruits of his labor in 2026.

14: Brandon Beane, Buffalo Bills

GM since: 2017

Beane was brought over from the Panthers with Sean McDermott in 2017. But when ownership felt it was time to make a change, Beane stuck around. McDermott didn’t. Now Beane will be out of excuses if this shakeup doesn’t lead to more playoff success.

Because as good as the Bills have been in recent seasons with Josh Allen at quarterback, it’s not hard to see how the roster has deteriorated around the former MVP. Buffalo’s defense got old and they never successfully replaced Stefon Diggs at wide receiver. Beane deserves all the credit in the world for drafting Allen, but the Bills have had their roster deficiencies exposed in the playoffs every year.

15: John Lynch, San Francisco 49ers

GM since: 2017

I don’t know what to do with Lynch. On the one hand, the 49ers have been one of the league’s best teams over the last decade with multiple Super Bowl appearances (with two very different rosters) and several more NFC Championship Game appearances. San Francisco has been so consistent in that span, even without a Super Bowl win.

On the other hand, Lynch is in the midst of a truly abysmal drafting stretch. It’s a miracle the 49ers have remained competitive with the way they set third-round picks on fire and find little to no consistent value with their picks. Drafting is a big part of being a general manager, and Lynch does not have a strong track record in that department.

16: George Paton, Denver Broncos

GM since: 2021

Paton’s in a weird spot. He was brought in back in 2021 and immediately made the ill-fated Wilson trade with the Seahawks. Combined with the disastrous Nathaniel Hackett hire, it’s safe to say his time as general manager got off to an inauspicious start.

Still, the Broncos now field one of the best rosters in the league and probably would have a Super Bowl appearance if starting QB Bo Nix hadn’t gone down with a broken ankle in the divisional round. This turnaround, though, coincided with the trade for former Saints HC Sean Payton, whom we know has a lot of personnel control. As a result, it’s hard to say how much Paton is responsible for the current state of the roster.

17: Adam Peters, Washington Commanders

GM since: 2024

After a hugely successful 2024 season, Peters looked like the league’s next big star executive. Then his roster issues were exposed last season and enthusiasm has cooled significantly. I tend to land somewhere in the middle.

Even though Peters relied too much on aging veterans around a young quarterback and paid the price for it, the early returns on his drafts have been strong. He needs to make more selections and stop trading picks for veterans on a team that gets younger. Even so, Peters is building something in Washington.

18: Omar Khan, Pittsburgh Steelers

GM since: 2022

Khan might be judged more harshly than he deserves given his circumstances. Since he was promoted in 2022, the Steelers have been pushing all the chips in to try and capitalize on what they believe to be a Super Bowl-contending roster.

The issue is, Pittsburgh’s roster isn’t that strong, even if they could get the quarterback situation figured out. And an ever-older Aaron Rodgers probably isn’t solving that problem this season. The Steelers believe themselves to be in a stronger position than they actually are in. Whether that comes from ownership, Khan or a combination of the two is what’s unclear.

19: Dan Morgan, Carolina Panthers

GM since: 2024

Morgan’s early roster construction will be tested this season. The Panthers were one of the surprise teams last year, finishing in a three-way tie for the NFC South lead, making the playoffs due to a tiebreaker.

But injuries have already struck Carolina in 2026, as they lost promising second-year ED Nic Scourton to a torn ACL. I like what Morgan did with the defense this offseason, and his early draft record has some promising returns. But the Panthers might struggle to replicate last year’s success, especially if QB Bryce Young doesn’t take a step.

20: Mickey Loomis, New Orleans Saints

GM since: 2002

With over 20 years of experience as general manager, Loomis has seen it all. He signed Drew Brees, won a Super Bowl in 2009, and has been dealing with the fallout from Brees’ retirement over the past few seasons.

The problem is, the Saints haven’t done all that much winning in that span, especially considering they had a first-ballot Hall of Fame quarterback under center for most of that time. New Orleans consistently failed to provide Brees with competent defensive play, and they’ve been stubbornly refusing the rebuild ever since Brees retired.

21: Monti Ossenfort, Arizona Cardinals

GM since: 2023

As Ossenfort enters his fourth year as the general manager in Arizona, in many ways he still has an incomplete grade. The Cardinals haven’t been good under his watch, but he took over an intense rebuild, and they play in what’s been the league’s toughest division in recent seasons.

Ossenfort made some good, value-based trades and certainly improved the roster. But Arizona isn’t good, and they’ll likely struggle again this year. Ownership might be running out of patience.

22: Andrew Berry, Cleveland Browns

GM since: 2020

Berry is another difficult evaluation in this exercise. There’s no denying he’s been dealt a tough hand. The Watson debacle (both the trade and the subsequent contract) were pushed through by ownership. And he’s generally considered one of the more analytically-minded executives in the league.

But the Browns have been truly awful in his time as general manager, and now they’re in year five of the same rebuild. Moving on from Baker Mayfield for Watson didn’t work out and Cleveland had to punt on a quarterback in each of the last two drafts. The Watson contract made team-building difficult, but Berry’s draft record also isn’t stellar.

23: Mike Borgonzi, Tennessee Titans

GM since: 2025

The Titans have been one of the most dysfunctional organizations in football in recent years, which is saying something. They’re starting to stabilize under Borgonzi. Hiring HC Robert Saleh finally gives Tennessee some direction, and now they can look to the future.

Building around the 2025 No. 1 pick, QB Cam Ward, is Borgonzi’s next task. The defense took a step last year and the offense is starting to come together.

24: John Spytek, Las Vegas Raiders

GM since: 2025

Like most general managers, Spytek’s tenure will be defined by his quarterback selection. Thankfully for him, the Raiders earned the No. 1 pick in a draft with one top-five quarterback option. With Fernando Mendoza in tow, Las Vegas has the player they hope is their future under center.

Now, Spytek must build around Mendoza. He added a lot to the defense and offensive line this offseason, and I like the Klint Kubiak hire at head coach.

25: James Gladstone, Jacksonville Jaguars

GM since: 2025

The youngest general manager in the league, Gladstone does things his own way. And he’s not shy about that. “Let’s shock the world” isn’t a great quote to hear from your head executive after submitting his first pick of the draft. He certainly believes his front office is smarter than the rest of the league. That’s usually not a good bet to make.

For now, the Jaguars have one of the better rosters in the AFC and are prepared to defend their division title. We’ll see if Gladstone’s early draft arrogance comes back to bite him.

26: Darren Mougey, New York Jets

GM since: 2025

Mougey had the unfortunate luck to pick at No. 2 in a draft with only one good quarterback prospect. As such, the Jets are waiting until 2027 to select their next quarterback. That puts this current administration in an awkward position, but Mougey still has to field a team and improve the roster in the meantime.

Though this season will feel like treading water for Jets fans, New York still capitalized on a ton of draft assets to add an infusion of talent. How they develop will reflect on Mougey, at least on some level.

27: Ian Cunningham, Atlanta Falcons

GM since: 2026

Cunningham came up as a scout with the Ravens before joining the Eagles as one of their top executives in 2017. Over the past four seasons, he was the Bears’ assistant general manager under Poles. Cunningham now joins the Falcons with a wealth of experience in some of the league’s top front offices.

28: Jon-Eric Sullivan, Miami Dolphins

GM since: 2026

A longtime Packers assistant, Sullivan spent over 20 years in Green Bay before getting his first shot at a full general manager gig. As previously mentioned, the Packers have been one of the best front offices in the league during that time. I like this hire for the Dolphins.

29: Nolan Teasley, Minnesota Vikings

GM since: 2026

It was a weird path for the Vikings to get here, as they fired their former general manager just after the Senior Bowl and waited until after the draft to hire Teasley from Seattle. He spent the past decade as one of Schneider’s top assistants and now brings that expertise to Minnesota.

30: Joe Schoen, New York Giants

GM since: 2022

It’s a small miracle Schoen still has a job. While many of the Giants’ issues in his tenure were the result of the since-fired HC Brian Daboll, Schoen is far from blameless. This is the first season in which I can confidently say New York has a better roster than it did when Schoen arrived. It’s not a coincidence that new HC John Harbaugh arrived this offseason with an undisclosed amount of personnel control.

If Schoen and Harbaugh work well together, there’s a chance that Schoen will stick around for a while. But if things start to go sideways, he’ll get the hook long before Harbaugh does.

31: Jerry Jones, Dallas Cowboys

GM since: 1989

Jones is technically one of just six active general managers to win a Super Bowl. It’s been a long, long time since that’s been relevant in Dallas, though. Jones is also the Cowboys’ owner and installed himself as the de facto general manager back in the 80s. You can count the number of playoff wins Dallas has since the turn of the millennium on one hand.

It’s no secret that Jones is an anchor weighing the Cowboys down. And it’s clear he won’t just retire and step aside, at least not until he’s forced to for health reasons or something similar. Whether he’s flashing his team’s draft board to the cameras or causing problems by getting into personal disputes with players, Jones will always be unapologetically himself. That hasn’t meant good things for the Cowboys in decades.

32: Duke Tobin, Cincinnati Bengals

GM since: 1999

It’s hard to overstate how bad Tobin has been. A Super Bowl appearance made everyone briefly forget about a long and sorry history. But now that he’s wasting the careers of two of the league’s best players, public opinion has soured once again.

In the 26 years under Tobin’s leadership, the Bengals have set multiple incompetency records. In modern times, he’s failed to provide Joe Burrow with a competent offensive line, continues to employ an underwhelming head coach, and can’t get the defense right. How much more evidence does Bengals ownership need?