2024 NFL GM Power Rankings

While head coaches are usually the public-facing front of an organization, general managers are just as important (and sometimes more important) to a team’s long-term success. They direct scouting of both college prospects and prospective NFL free agents and trade targets, manage contracts, and are sometimes in charge of hiring the head coach. Their importance to an NFL team cannot be overstated.

Evaluating GM performance can be difficult, though. Their jobs are so varied that it can be tricky to assess how good a GM is at their job. Some are excellent college scouts but don’t retain talent very well, while others seem to knock it out of the park in free agency but fall flat in the draft. Sometimes a GM seems to be doing everything right but can’t build a winning roster.

Taking scouting, drafting, free agency, roster construction, and overall team success into account, here are my 2024 GM Power Rankings:

1: Brett Veach, Kansas City Chiefs

Promoted in 2017 after four seasons with the organization, Veach has had an incredible run. One of his biggest early moves as GM was trading up with the Bills to draft QB Patrick Mahomes, and that decision has led to three Super Bowl wins and counting. His most famous move aside, Veach has been masterful in managing the roster with gambits that looked controversial at the time but have paid off — trading WR Tyreek Hill instead of signing him to a huge contract for example. Veach is the best GM in the league right now, and his resume will only continue to grow.

2: Les Snead, Los Angeles Rams

A former executive with the Falcons, Snead joined the Rams as their GM in 2012. It took some time for him to get the roster and coaching staff in order, but since 2017, the Rams have fielded one of the NFL’s best teams. Famous for his “F*** them picks” strategy of trading top draft assets for established veteran stars, Snead has had exceptional success drafting in the middle and later rounds, stockpiling lower-value draft picks and hitting on a few each year to build out the roster. Timely trades won the Rams a Super Bowl a few years ago, and Snead already infused the roster with a new generation of young, under-drafted talent to earn a playoff berth in what was supposed to be a “transition year” in 2023.

3: Howie Roseman, Philadelphia Eagles

Widely considered the best GM in the league, Roseman got his start with the Eagles as an intern in 2000 before rising up the ranks over the years. He currently serves as the Eagles’ GM and EVP, helping to build the team that won the Super Bowl in 2017 and constructing one of the best rosters in the league. One of Roseman’s greatest strengths is his foresight, as he uses the draft to reinforce premium positions with young talent that can supersede the veterans on the roster when it’s time. He’s perhaps best known for his fondness for trading and his ability to win those deals seemingly more often than not, pulling off trades that leave us all wondering, “how did Howie do it again?” Roseman isn’t immune to misses or to bad seasons, but he remains one of the best GMs in the business.

4: John Lynch, San Francisco 49ers

Hired straight out of the commentary booth, Lynch joined the 49ers as their GM in 2017 and quickly turned them into an NFC powerhouse. Since his hiring, the 49ers have played in two Super Bowls and multiple other NFC Championship games. Lynch’s success has been a mix of strong drafting and marquee free-agent acquisitions. Quarterback has been a bit of a revolving door during his tenure, but with HC Kyle Shanahan masterminding the offense, it’s an easier problem to solve for Lynch than for most. Lynch has kept the roster well-stocked with talent and manages to find new contributors every year, even with sometimes limited resources.

5: Brian Gutekunst, Green Bay Packers

Gutekunst served with the Packers since 1999, starting as a regional scout before climbing all the way to director of player personnel by 2016. In 2018, he was promoted to the GM role, and he’s built one of the best-sustaining rosters in the league. He’s perhaps most famous for trading up to draft QB Jordan Love in 2020, a head-scratching move that was widely panned until Love took over as the starter in 2023 and looked incredible. The Packers haven’t made a Super Bowl since 2018, but short of that, they’ve accomplished everything you could ask. The talent Gutekunst keeps adding to the defense is impressive, and the Packers have been the youngest team in the NFL for two years now. The arrow is pointing up for the organization.

6: Chris Ballard, Indianapolis Colts

One of the most respected GMs in the business, Ballard might lay claim to the title of best scouting GM in the league. Hired in 2017 after four years in several positions at the top of the Chiefs organization, Ballard has to draft well because of his aversion to free agency. Colts fans are often frustrated by his refusal to hand out substantial contracts to external free agents, though this is a strategy often celebrated by analytics experts. As a draft scout, Ballard continually impresses, with the Colts’ 2018 draft class one of the best in recent memory. The Colts will likely need more team success before Ballard is more widely recognized for his work, but other executives within the league continually point to him as one of their best colleagues.

7: Eric DeCosta, Baltimore Ravens

An internal hire following Ozzie Newsome’s retirement in 2018, DeCosta picked up where his mentor left off. Working with the Ravens organization since 1996, DeCosta has kept the train rolling in Baltimore. Two-time MVP QB Lamar Jackson was drafted by his predecessor, but DeCosta has surrounded Jackson with the personnel and coaching staff to succeed and landed the plane on a long-term deal. Of particular note is the young defensive talent DeCosta brings in with regularity — the Ravens have a wealth of impressive young cornerbacks and defensive linemen that seems to regenerate every year.

8: John Schneider, Seattle Seahawks

After years of serving as one of the Packers’ top executives, Schneider was hired to be Seattle’s GM in 2010. He oversaw the pivotal draft classes that led to a Super Bowl victory and consecutive appearance and has successfully ushered the Seahawks into their next era. Pulling off the 2022 Russell Wilson deal with the Broncos is one of the moves that has shaped the modern NFL landscape, and retaining breakout QB Geno Smith on an affordable deal has kept the Seahawks competitive. Strong drafting in recent years has left the roster with a quality core of young talent, as well.

9: Brandon Beane, Buffalo Bills

Bills ownership overhauled the organization in 2017, and Beane was hired to be the GM alongside Sean McDermott at head coach. Together, the duo has revitalized the Bills organization, bringing them out of decades of NFL mediocrity and turning them into one of the AFC’s premier teams. Beane, in particular, is known for savvy drafting decisions and roster maneuvers. The Bills have had a lot of success in his tenure with free agent offensive linemen, and he’s built an impressive defensive depth chart that’s lasted for years. Of course, the crown jewel in his resume is QB Josh Allen, drafted in 2018. Allen was a controversial pick at the time but Beane’s gamble was rewarded with one of the best quarterbacks in football. 

10: Andrew Berry, Cleveland Browns

Hired in 2020, Berry returned to Cleveland after a year as an assistant in Philadelphia, this time as the GM. Since being hired, Berry has been one of the best drafting GMs in the game. The biggest move the Browns have made in his time in charge was the Deshaun Watson trade and contract, a move that has been lambasted for a variety of reasons. That decision, however, was famously driven by ownership. Outside of that move, Berry has built a strong, competitive roster, and seemingly hits a few draft home runs every year. He’s poured resources into the offensive line, secondary and receiving corps with varying degrees of success. Berry’s legacy is ultimately tied to the Watson trade and how that pans out, but his other decisions have been far less controversial. 

11: Brad Holmes, Detroit Lions

The debate over positional value in the Lions’ 2023 draft class may never cease, but regardless, Holmes has proven himself a smart, shrewd roster-builder in his few years at the helm in Detroit. Hired in 2021, Holmes immediately began stripping the roster for parts and has executed a masterful turnaround in a short time. Two seasons later, the Lions were playing in the NFC Championship game, and they may have gotten even better this offseason. Holmes has drafted well, handed out extensions to his key building blocks, and made smart free agency decisions. He’s helped turn the Lions into one of the better teams in the NFC in just three years.

12: Jason Licht, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Hired in 2014 after stints with the Patriots, Eagles, and Cardinals, Licht started slow but has turned Tampa Bay into the NFC South’s strongest team. With 2015 No. 1 overall QB Jameis Winston under center, the Bucs were competitive but could never get over the hump. That changed in 2020 when Licht signed free agent QB Tom Brady and won a Super Bowl. Ever since then, Tampa Bay has sat atop the division. Even now that Brady has retired, a combination of signing QB Baker Mayfield and hitting on draft picks has kept the Buccaneers in front of their competition.

13: Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, Minnesota Vikings

Formerly an executive with the 49ers and Browns, Adofo-Mensah joined the Vikings in 2022. One of the most analytically inclined GMs in the league, he’s made headlines for his willingness to trade within the division and has been one of the draft’s biggest movers every year. Adofo-Mensah has begun a proper rebuild in Minnesota for the first time in a long time, letting QB Kirk Cousins walk in free agency and bringing in first-round QB J.J. McCarthy to develop under HC Kevin O’Connell. 

14: Mickey Loomis, New Orleans Saints

Loomis joined the Saints in 2000 and became their GM in 2002. One of the longest-tenured GMs in the league, Loomis oversaw the Saints team that won a Super Bowl in 2009 and has consistently been one of the best drafting GMs in the NFL. The major knock on Loomis is his stubborn refusal to commit to a rebuild in recent years, instead doubling down on a roster that has failed to win since the retirement of QB Drew Brees. But Loomis built multiple true contending Saints teams in his time, and will likely be given the chance to do so again. He’s made a name for himself by creating cap magic, constantly restructuring contracts to dance around the cap, and seemingly always finding a way to push the consequences into future years, although this strategy is starting to catch up with him.

15: Nick Caserio, Houston Texans

A dozen years as the director of player personnel in New England prepared Caserio for his first job as GM. In many ways, he’s leaned on Patriots-esque strategies when building the Texans roster, prioritizing short-term contracts for affordable veterans in free agency to build out depth. Caserio navigated a quarterback change that would have sunk a lot of other GMs (and nearly sunk him) and now the future looks bright with QB C.J. Stroud as the face of the franchise. Two one-and-done head coaches was a blemish but it seems like a distant memory now with HC DeMeco Ryans. Overall, Caserio has turned the fortunes of this team around.

16: Ryan Poles, Chicago Bears

After 12 seasons rising through the ranks of the Chiefs’ front office, Poles joined the Bears in 2022 and has been a lifesaver for their organization. Since arriving in town, Poles has completely flipped the roster in the span of two years and looks to be building something exciting. Poles turned the 2023 No. 1 overall pick into a war chest of assets, including WR D.J. Moore and the 2024 No. 1 overall, pick which he used on QB Caleb Williams. While it will still take a few seasons to determine how Poles’ moves will pan out long-term, he’s made a major impression in Chicago and has excited the long-dormant franchise.

17: Terry Fontenot, Atlanta Falcons

The former assistant GM in New Orleans, Fontenot was hired in 2021 and has done an excellent job reconstructing Atlanta’s roster. Since he took over, the Falcons have undergone a rebuild of sorts. They never fully bottomed out, but he managed to reconstruct the roster while still fielding a competitive team, adding an infusion of young talent along the offensive line, skill positions, and defense. The team’s major weakness has been quarterback ever since franchise legend Matt Ryan departed, and Fontenot made sure to address that this offseason. Atlanta hopes the combination of veteran QB Kirk Cousins and No. 8 overall QB Michael Penix Jr. keep the position on lockdown for years to come.

18: Omar Khan, Pittsburgh Steelers

Khan joined the Steelers in 2001 where he’s worked as an executive ever since. Promoted to GM in 2022, Khan has been an instrumental part of the Steelers organization for over 20 years and played a significant role in the Super Bowl teams in the 2000s. In particular, Khan is known for his draft and trade savvy, finding value in the middle rounds and flipping players they have no intention of extending into future draft assets. Though the Steelers have struggled to maintain relevancy in the last few seasons, Khan has them on the upswing yet again, and his roster-building principles continue to shine.

19: Chris Grier, Miami Dolphins

An internal promotion in 2016 after spending most of his career with the organization, Grier has had a tumultuous time as GM in Miami. Years of poor results have given way to one of the most competitive teams in the league, thanks to the hiring of HC Mike McDaniel and trading for WR Tyreek Hill. The Dolphins have added a lot of young talent to an up-and-coming defense, although Grier has failed to build a quality offensive line during his time in charge. This has played a major role in Miami’s inability to advance past the wildcard round during Grier’s tenure.

20: Monti Ossenfort, Arizona Cardinals

Needing a radical change after several disappointing seasons, Arizona hired Ossenfort, formerly the Titans’ director of player personnel, to their GM position in 2023. Though he’s only been there a year, Ossenfort has made strides in rebuilding Arizona’s roster. He’s been widely praised for his savvy draft maneuvers and player scouting, routinely making smart draft trades and adding good players. Over the next couple of seasons, we’ll see Ossenfort’s roster take shape and can begin to properly assess his roster-building acumen. The early returns, however, are promising.

21: Ran Carthon, Tennessee Titans

After six years in San Francisco as one of their top executives, Carthon joined the Titans as GM in 2023. He’s already made a major impact in Tennessee, overhauling the roster and helping usher in the next era of Titans football by transitioning from Mike Vrabel to Brian Callahan at head coach. The team drafted QB Will Levis at the top of the second round in 2023, and Carthon has worked to stack the roster around him to get a proper evaluation in 2024. He’s peppered the Titans offense with aging stars who can reliably produce right away. It’s an interesting strategy that will be tested this upcoming season.

22: George Paton, Denver Broncos

The Broncos have been a team embroiled in turmoil for a few years now. Paton was the assistant GM in Minnesota when he was hired by Denver in 2021 and was picky for years about what job he would take. That didn’t stop him from landing in a turbulent situation. In 2023, Denver went through an ownership change, and Super Bowl-winning HC Sean Payton was hired after a one-and-done year from former HC Nathaniel Hackett. Payton now has a significant say on roster decisions, although the fact that Paton survived the transition shows the two work well enough together. Paton has had some good draft classes and hits in the middle rounds, which is a key component to building a healthy roster. Prominent failures like the Hackett hire and Russell Wilson trade have him down here in the rankings, though. 

23: Joe Douglas, New York Jets

Coming over from the Eagles in 2019, Douglas has had a rocky time as Jets GM. Douglas was a rare summer GM hire and didn’t have a full offseason to put his stamp on the team initially, but when that chance came he hired HC Robert Saleh and drafted QB Zach Wilson at No. 2 overall in 2021. Wilson flamed out in New York and is now in Denver. Saleh has an 18-33 record through three years. In 2023, the Jets traded for former MVP QB Aaron Rodgers, hoping he could be the quarterback that could elevate a solid roster to the playoffs. Unfortunately, Rodgers tore his Achilles on the fourth snap of the season, leaving the Jets in largely the same position as the year before. Without at least a playoff appearance this season, it’s hard to see anyone from this regime surviving.

24: Trent Baalke, Jacksonville Jaguars

No GM in the league gets more excited about athletic potential than Baalke. Hired in 2020 as director of player personnel and later promoted to GM, Baalke has had some ups and downs during his time in Jacksonville. As a draft scout, he’s had more misses than hits, and his draft philosophy has been called into question repeatedly over the last few seasons with some head-scratching choices. The Jaguars have made up for that in free agency to some extent, though it feels like the team still has work to do to turn the corner. Baalke’s job probably depends on getting over that hump.

25: Duke Tobin, Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals are an interesting organization. Tobin is officially the director of player personnel, a position he has held since 1999. But in Cincinnati, this makes him the highest-ranking front office official and the de facto-general manager. And in this, Tobin doesn’t have a significant track record of success. While the current version of the Bengals is one of the best teams in the NFL, since 1999 they’ve been one of the more hapless teams in the sport. Tobin still has more work to do to change the narrative on his tenure, but if he manages to hold the team together around star QB Joe Burrow, he might do just that.

26: Jerry Jones, Dallas Cowboys

The days of Jones winning Super Bowls with HC Jimmy Johnson are long in the rear-view mirror. Lately, Jones’s work as GM has held this team back significantly. When he’s not showing his team’s draft board to the cameras, he’s refusing to extend key franchise cornerstones. Jones has owned the team since 1989 and installed himself as GM, and that kind of unchecked organizational control has caught up with him. In fairness to Jones, the Cowboys have built a strong roster and have competed at the top of the NFC for the last few seasons. That said, Jones continually makes head-scratching decisions with their premium assets, and this offseason in particular, has failed to address the major roster concerns the team had.

27: Joe Schoen, New York Giants

Serving as the assistant GM in Buffalo for four years before the Giants brought him on in 2022, Schoen was expected to be an excellent GM hire but hasn’t lived up to that billing just yet. Faced with unexpected success after his inaugural season, Schoen elected to pay QB Daniel Jones a substantial contract and failed to meet the contractual demands of fan-favorite RB Saquon Barkley. The Jones deal was criticized at the time and has aged even poorer than expected, while the Giants were forced to watch Barkley sign with the division-rival Eagles this offseason. Though Schoen has drafted fairly well since being hired, it’s been three years and the roster might not necessarily be better than it was when Schoen inherited it, which is rarely a good sign for a GM’s job security.

28: Adam Peters, Washington Commanders

When the new ownership in Washington cleaned house in the front office, they brought in Peters to be their new GM. Peters formerly served as the assistant GM in San Francisco, and Washington hopes he can bring a similar roster-building acumen to them. Early returns are promising, with a strong draft that should set the foundation for the organization moving forward. Over the next few seasons, we’ll see how these picks play out, and what else Peters does in Washington.

29: Eliot Wolf, New England Patriots

Wolf is a tough GM to rank. A longtime executive with the Packers, Wolf joined the Patriots staff in 2020 as a consultant before being promoted to director of scouting in 2022. With HC Bill Belichick’s retirement, Wolf was promoted to executive vice president of player personnel this offseason and now serves as the team’s de facto GM. Wolf has kicked off a new era for the organization by drafting QB Drake Maye with the No. 3 pick, and it will be interesting to monitor how things change in New England without Belichick at the helm.

30: Joe Hortiz, Los Angeles Chargers

After 24 years with the Ravens, Hortiz gets his first chance at a GM job with the Chargers. Just hired in 2024, he joins new HC Jim Harbaugh as the future of the Chargers franchise. Harbaugh appears to have the final say between the two, though Hortiz will be asked to draw on his scouting background to build the roster. Los Angeles has a star in QB Justin Herbert, and time is ticking to capitalize on his prime, lest he becomes another Philip Rivers.

31: Tom Telesco, Las Vegas Raiders

Telesco landed on his feet after being ousted as GM of the Chargers, having spent 10 years in that position. Hired by the Raiders, Telesco is tasked with kickstarting a franchise that hasn’t had much recent success and without a clear future plan in place. During his tenure with the Chargers, Telesco failed to build a seriously competitive roster, whiffing on several major picks and signing underwhelming free agents to bloated contracts. He now has a chance to right his record with the Raiders.

32: Dan Morgan, Carolina Panthers

One of the newest GMs on the block, Morgan has his work cut out for him. After spending three seasons as the assistant GM in Carolina, Morgan was promoted to full GM status in 2024. He’s already done some serious work in adding much-needed talent to this roster to better help out young QB Bryce Young. However, Morgan had to overpay for talent in free agency and his hands aren’t clean in the current state of the roster. Time will tell how he handles this roster, and what becomes of this version of the Panthers.