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Critiquing players and coaches is a common reflex amongst fan bases when their favorite team underperforms, but it's the executives pulling the strings from behind the scenes who truly deserve the most scrutiny. These are the figures responsible for assembling both the roster and the coaching staff, often wielding the power to steer a team toward triumph or disaster.
In the NFL, general managers like Howie Roseman (Eagles) and Brett Veach (Chiefs) represent the pinnacle of success, consistently making decisions that propel their teams forward. However, not all GMs meet this standard, and here are five who have notably faltered, making dubious choices that have led to less-than-stellar results.
Disclaimer: I am not questioning the credentials of any of these GMs or suggesting that I would do better in their place. I'm only highlighting the GMs that have made worse choices compared to their peers in recent years. Whether or not they will find themselves on the hot seat will depend on how their teams fare once the 2024 season starts.
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5. Trent Baalke, Jacksonville Jaguars
Let's start with one of the most hated GMs in NFL history. Trent Baalke does have a Super Bowl appearance and a PFWA Executive of the Year award on his resume, but 49ers fans still resent him to this very day. There were rumors about internal scuffles taking place behind closed doors at the 49ers' offices, mostly notably between Baalke and former head coach Jim Harbaugh. After Harbaugh managed to turn the team around, some even suggested that Baalke was continually leaking stories to the media that made Harbaugh look bad out of jealousy for wanting all the credit instead. However, no one truly knows what happened, but after three straight NFC Championship games and a Super Bowl appearance from 2011-13, the 49ers quickly fell apart.
Eventually, team owner Jed York had to choose between Baalke and Harbaugh, and he chose Baalke. The 49ers faithful hated this move and Baalke's poor track record of drafting soon turned one of the best teams in the NFL into a joke. He hired Chip Kelly in 2016, and the Niners finished with a 2-14 record, which caused both of them to get fired and the 49ers completely cleaned house.
Baalke watching the O-Line pic.twitter.com/sJmihi12JO
— Jamal St. Cyr (@JStCyrTV) July 27, 2024
After working as an advisor for the NFL, Baalke was hired by the Jaguars in 2020 as their director of player personnel. He was promoted as the interim GM midway through the 2020 campaign and was hired full-time at the end of the season. The Jags looked like they'd own the AFC South for the next decade after drafting quarterback Trevor Lawrence, followed by their playoff run in 2022, but everything changed last year. The Jaguars are now likely worse than the Texans, and we saw the Colts and Titans make some intriguing moves this offseason. Baalke better hope they can turn things around.
4. Terry Fontenot, Atlanta Falcons
After spending many years with the Saints as a scout, Fontenot was promoted to the team's assistant GM in 2020.
One year later, Fontenot was hired by the Falcons as their general manager, and he hired Arthur Smith to be the team's new head coach. Fontenot and Smith led the Falcons to three straight 7-10 seasons and no playoff appearances despite playing in the worst division in the NFL. Smith was fired in January, but Fontenot was given another chance to right the ship.
Falcons GM Terry Fontenot doesn't mind having Michael Penix Jr. as a backup for an extended period.
He sees it as "a great problem to have." pic.twitter.com/hQi01Vu12b
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) April 26, 2024
Fontenot struck gold in the offseason, signing quarterback Kirk Cousins to finally end Atlanta's quarterback woes. However, he was fined by the NFL for violating the anti-tampering policy by negotiating with Cousins' agent before he was supposed to.
Fontenot also made things worse by drafting Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft just one month later after signing Cousins without notifying him of any plans to bring in a highly drafted successor at quarterback. The Falcons easily have the best roster in the NFC South on paper, so Fontenot has to justify his decisions and win the division this year. If he doesn't, he could very well pay with his job. Taking Penix at No. 8 overall would have been fine if he truly was the Falcons' guy but mixing that pick in with Cousins when their defense finished dead last in sacks last year just doesn't make much sense. Fontenot is going to quickly find out that he can't straddle both sides of the fence in the NFL.
3. Mickey Loomis, New Orleans Saints
Loomis has been the general manager of the Saints since 2002 and is very close with team owner Gayle Benson. Some even call him the team's de facto owner, so it's hard to imagine seeing him ever get fired. Loomis won't leave the team unless it's on his terms, but a section of Saints fans thinks his departure would benefit them in the long run. Many think the game has passed him by, just like what happened to Bill Belichick in 2023.
Saints general manager Mickey Loomis lays out in full detail why he's keeping Dennis Allen as head coach. @FOX8NOLA pic.twitter.com/jBWzm9yCOs
— Garland Gillen (@garlandgillen) January 17, 2024
Belichick only made the playoffs twice without Tom Brady, and Loomis has never made the playoffs without Drew Brees or Sean Payton. The Saints have gone 25-26 since Brees' retirement, and Jameis Winston, Trevor Siemian, Andy Dalton, and Derek Carr under center haven't been able to bring the team back to its former glory.
The Falcons are stronger than ever, the Panthers have made some intriguing moves, and the Buccaneers have re-signed their most important core players. Things are not looking good for the Saints in 2024, especially when you consider their salary cap situation. According to Spotrac, the Saints have the most guaranteed money committed through the 2025 season and are a projected $102 million over the cap. Not good.
2. Joe Schoen, New York Giants
Schoen began his football journey as a scout for the Panthers and Dolphins before joining the Bills as their assistant GM. He impressed in that role, helping Brandon Beane transform the Bills from a laughingstock to a Super Bowl contender from 2017-21.
He was then hired by the Giants as their GM after the 2021 season and immediately picked Bills OC Brian Daboll as the team's new head coach. The Giants had an awesome 2022 season albeit making the playoffs and winning a playoff game. Schoen's stock was at its all-time peak.
Giants GM Joe Schoen: "This is the year for Daniel Jones. The plan all along was to give him a couple of years. Is he our guy for the next 10 years?"
Well, he's entering his SIXTH year as starter. Weren't the last 5 years enough to make a decision? 🤔#Giants100 #NFLTwitter pic.twitter.com/ODxu8aDlez
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) July 3, 2024
This peak would be short-lived, as Schoen made some very questionable moves last year. The biggest one was Daniel Jones' massive four-year, $160 million extension. He also didn't sign Saquon Barkley long-term, allowing him to join their arch-rival Philadelphia Eagles one year later.
And who could forget when he traded a third-round pick for Darren Waller, who spent a large part of the year on injured reserve before retiring? The decision to give Daniel Jones yet another chance this year, after five unimpressive years as the starter, is also a very questionable one as well.
1. George Paton, Denver Broncos
Paton barely held on to his job this offseason, and it's clear he only has one year left to impress the higher-ups in Denver, as well as head Sean Payton, who holds a lot of power. After rising through the ranks in Chicago, Miami, and Minnesota, Paton was hired as Broncos GM before the 2021 season.
He had a relatively quiet first year in charge but then decided to go all-out in 2022 by trading for quarterback Russell Wilson in an attempt to bring the Broncos back to the playoffs for the first time since Peyton Manning's retirement, and we all know how that turned out.
We’ve notified QB Russell Wilson that he will be released after the league year begins March 13.
A statement from GM George Paton and HC Sean Payton: pic.twitter.com/EJO5mNMjew
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) March 4, 2024
Paton fired former head coach Vic Fangio and hired Nathaniel Hackett to be the team's next head coach. Many expected the Broncos to give the Chiefs a run for their money in the AFC West, but they finished 5-12 and Hackett was dismissed before the year was up.
Paton sacrificed some of his internal power within the organization by trading for Sean Payton with the New Orleans Saints, but the team failed to make the playoffs once again last season. He then released Wilson after just two years (some say it was Payton), but it was a move that will cause the team to take an $85 million dead cap hit over the next two seasons. Yikes.
How did you feel about this list? Thanks again for reading and be sure to stay tuned to us here at RotoBaller for all the NFL action in 2024!
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