Post-2016 NFL Draft Update: RosterWatch General Manager Rankings
Access the GM Rankings in the RosterWatch GM Tracker
Biggest Risers: Jon Robinson, Sashi Brown, Bob Quinn, John Schneider
Biggest Fallers: Ted Thompson, Mike Maccagnan, Thomas Dimitroff
Seahawks GM John Schneider has climbed to the top of the mountain after an outstanding performance in the 2016 NFL Draft. He’s overtaken Steve Keim for the No. 1 spot in our GM Rankings. It’s an elite Top 5, and it seems Bill Belichick will always be the gatekeeper, one who is certainly capable of seizing the number one spot for himself at all times.
DG, as the real OGs call him – pulled up his big boy pants and put on his #ThugLife hat in post-draft free agency. He went gangster on the rest of the league, nabbing his latest monster pass catcher – Keyarris Garrett, the stud out of Tulsa.
In both Dave Gettleman and Steve Keim we trust – and both came away from this draft with value on elite defensive line talent. While John Elway had the guts to make a move that could shore up the Broncos future in a big way – causing Jerry Jones to have a few sleepless nights over losing Paxton Lynch in the process. That move was priceless.
*Photo Credit @keeppoundingg
The real story, though, is the rise of a new class of GMs in the NFL, a class that threatens the balance of power on the field. That charge is strictly being led by Vikings GM Rick Spielman and Redskins GM Scot McCloughan. Reggie McKenzie and David Caldwell are in a hurry to join them. It appears McKenzie has come through with a complete 180 from his early years in Oakland. And Jon Robinson, Ryan Pace, and Jason Licht appear to have signed up for the fast-track program. Browns GM Sashi Brown is every bit as precocious as those guys, however he’s working from behind the eight-ball. Most of the GMs that fell in these rankings – it wasn’t really their own doing – they simply can’t keep pace with the group outlined above.
It looks like Ozzie Newsome still has his fastball. But, we’re not entirely sure Ted Thompson does.
Bob Quinn in Detroit and Doug Whaley in Buffalo are guys to watch right now. Quinn just seriously committed to rebuilding this roster inside-out from the trenches in a way that we love, and Whaley is quietly starting to peel off some very talented draft picks the last three years. Plus, you have to give him some credit for Tyrod Taylor.
We’ve been hard on Rick Smith and Jerry Reese, but we want to give them some credit for pulling out all the stops, having some type of vision, and at least trying. They both have room to move up significantly in the rankings if things shake out. Smith made monster moves this offseason that the jury is still out on in Brock Osweiler and Lamar Miller. However, their success is a big “if,” so, for now, both get a small bump and remain in the bottom tier of general managers in the NFL.
Fortunately for the other 30 GMs in the league, nobody’s in a tier with Tom Telesco and Ryan Grigson. Those two have the basement all to themselves. We’d like to credit them for Joey Bosa and Ryan Kelly, two players we believe are outstanding, but a monkey could have selected those guys. They fell in their laps. Both Grigson and Telesco turned right back into pumpkins in round 2 and beyond.