As NFL fans, we often rank players relative to their peers, whether it’s by position or team. However, rarely do fans consider the general managers of each team, and how they affect the environment and situation a player is in. In this article, I go over the best five general managers in football.
1. Brett Veach, Kansas City Chiefs
Veach started off as a young scout with the Chiefs after a brief coaching stint with the Philadelphia Eagles. In 2017, Veach made a name for himself in the industry through player evaluations and team building. At the 2017 draft, the Chiefs were coming off a 10-6 season with former first-round draftee Alex Smith, so drafting a quarterback in the first round was not popular. Nevertheless, Veach was adamant about the Chiefs considering Mahomes from Texas Tech. Veach convinced the staff about the potential Mahomes had, and the Chiefs ended up trading up from 27 to 10 to select him. We all know how well Veach’s intuition worked out. However, Veach’s success as a manager is evident beyond just the Mahomes selection. Veach has made some quality moves and picks, like trading away Tyreek Hill for five picks and still winning Super Bowls without him. Veach and his staff have been adding key pieces to the defensive side, too, with guys like Trent McDuffie, George Karlafits, Nic Bolton, and many more. Because of this, Veach has cemented himself as the premier general manager in football, as he continues to build one of the best rosters in football every year and bring championships to Kansas City.
2. Eric DeCosta, Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens’ longtime general manager and NFL Hall of Famer Ozzie Newsome retired in 2019 and handed the reins to Eric DeCosta. Many wondered if this change would lead to regression for the team or how the Ravens would look, but DeCosta has put those concerns to rest. DeCosta has overseen four seasons of 10-plus wins, two first seeds, and an appearance in the 2023-24 AFC Championship Game. Obviously, the next step for the team is the Lombardi Trophy, but his resume speaks for itself. DeCosta is a fantastic evaluator; every year, the Ravens excel in the draft, leading to a competitive roster year in and year out. Players like Zay Flowers, Kyle Hamilton, Odafe Oweh, and Tyler Linderbaum have been tremendous first-round picks. Additionally, in the third round of the 2020 draft, DeCosta selected DT Justin Madubuike out of Texas A&M, who recently secured a massive deal as one of the best interior defenders in football. DeCosta also makes smart, budget-friendly signings that might not carry as much name recognition but consistently pay dividends, as seen with Nelson Agholor, Kyle Van Noy, and Jadeveon Clowney, all of whom excelled as Ravens.
3. John Lynch, San Francisco 49ers
We all know how good Lynch was as a player, but he has been just as impressive in the personnel department. Lynch consistently puts together some of the best rosters in football, featuring offensive talent like Brandon Aiyuk, George Kittle, and Deebo Samuel and defensive studs like Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw. Lynch has also been active in the trade market, securing stars like Christian McCaffrey and Trent Williams via trade. Brock Purdy, who Lynch selected with the last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, has proven to be a solid starter as well. Overall, Lynch has proved he is a great team builder and a good evaluator, which ultimately led to the 49ers being one of the best teams in football. So much so, that the 49ers have reached two Super Bowls in the last four years. Lynch has made the 49ers the team to beat since taking over the job in 2017 and was named the 2019 Executive of the Year by the Pro Football Writers of America after the 13-3 season the 49ers had.
4. Howie Roseman, Philadelphia Eagles
Roseman has recently drafted numerous standout players like DeVonta Smith, Jalen Carter, Josh Sweat, Jalen Hurts, Dallas Goedert, and Jordan Mailata. Not to mention franchise cornerstones like Jason Kelce, Lane Johnson, and Fletcher Cox, who highlight Roseman’s impressive ability to find players who can maintain their prowess over a long career. Roseman has also added talent through trades. For example, he brought A.J. Brown, who has emerged as one of the league’s best receivers, to Philadelphia through a trade. Roseman is a two-time NFL Executive of the Year and brought Philadelphia a Super Bowl ring in 2017 and an appearance in 2023. The Eagles have also earned playoff trips in five of the last six seasons and won three NFC East championships (2017, ’19, ’22).
5. Les Snead, Los Angeles Rams
Snead has a clear philosophy when it comes to team building: he wants the best possible players on his team, even if it means giving up major draft capital. And to his credit, it has worked. The Rams were crowned champions in 2022 and made an appearance in the Super Bowl in 2018. Snead has drafted talent like Aaron Donald, Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, Kobie Turner, Jared Goff, and Todd Gurley. Snead has an eye for acquiring talent from other teams, too. Snead traded for star quarterback Matthew Stafford, who ultimately led the team to a Super Bowl, and also signed and traded for guys like Odell Beckham Jr. and Von Miller. Snead has a special eye for team building and assembling rosters that fit the Rams’ scheme on both sides of the ball.