NFL general manager candidates: new names and familiar faces

Personally I like Elliot Wolf.

NFL general manager candidates: new names and familiar faces
By Albert Breer
NFL Media reporter
Associated Press

Last season's NFL champion was coached by a man who once was fired by the Jets and later was canned by the Patriots. In the Super Bowl, he beat a coach who was fired by the Panthers. And that coach, to get to the big game, beat another coach who long ago was whacked by the Browns.

The point here? Forever, NFL wisdom has held that coaches can benefit long-term from getting the ax.

So why doesn't that go for general managers, as well?

We briefly addressed the question in this notebook a few weeks back. And in the time since, feedback from league folks has rolled in, flowing right into the time of year when my annual "Future General Managers" list runs.

The fact remains, Washington Redskins GM Bruce Allen is the only man in that position that has held the same title somewhere else, which is striking when you count up the nine NFL head coaches who are in second-chance situations, and even more amazing when you look at retread success stories like Ron Wolf, Ernie Accorsi, Bobby Beathard and Bill Polian.

"All these second-chance head coaches, you always hear, 'Well, they learned so much from the experience,' " one current general manager said. "It's like any other job. The second-chance head coaches -- (John) Fox, (Andy) Reid, (Bill) Belichick -- they are better for the experience. It's like Jay Grudensaid, he didn't realize the enormity of the job when he took it. For a GM, you have to manage departments, assess value. It's bizarre to me that you wouldn't want someone with experience."

One NFC executive laid out three reasons for this to us:

1) In the past, there has been less turnover in GM jobs than with coaches.
2) There are fewer young GMs than young head coaches, so fewer go back into the cycle.
3) There's less of a natural progression back after being fired, where coaches can immediately rebuild their reputation as coordinators. (Ken Whisenhunt's arc from 2012 to '14 is a good example.)

The executive then speculated that things could change this year, because two of the above conditions have shifted. The cycle has accelerated -- so fewer GMs are getting second shots at hiring coaches or drafting quarterbacks -- and there are more front-office folks in their late 30s and early 40s. That means the market for a new GM -- and there could be a half-dozen or so teams seeking one in a few weeks -- is more complex than it's been.

So with that in mind, we're presenting our candidates for 2015 in two groups: the second-chancers and the first-timers:

SECOND-CHANCERS

Mark Dominik, ESPN analyst: Was a Buccaneers lifer before being shown the door at the end of last season, so Dominik was part of a championship group early on and built a team that still has young talent. His downfall as GM in Tampa Bay was striking out on his first draft pick -- quarterback Josh Freeman -- which seriously set the franchise back.

Tom Heckert, director of pro personnel, Denver Browns team -- and he sparkled as an evaluator prior to that in Philly. In Denver, the team's success in free agency says plenty about Heckert. He did have a DUI arrest in 2013.

Jeff Ireland, consultant: Last year, CBS Dallas did a study, based on games played and starts, that ranked Miami as the NFL's top drafting team from 2009 to '13. And Ireland drafted Ryan Tannehill between Robert Griffin III and Brandon Weeden during that run. He wasn't perfect, but he was better than you think.

Scot McCloughan, consultant: McCloughan left Trent Baalke and, later, Jim Harbaugh with an incredibly talented team that made three straight NFC title games in San Francisco and was the righthand man to Seahawks GM John Schneider as Seattle became a champion. The Raiders could be a fit here.

Scott Pioli, assistant GM, Atlanta Andy Reid was fairly full. He drafted or re-signed nine Pro Bowl players in K.C. and left the new regime with $20 million in cap space. It wouldn't be shocking if the Jets inquired here.

Mike Tannenbaum, coaching agent: A hard run at a title after consecutive AFC title game appearances left the Jets in a tough spot after his ouster, but he got the team there in the first place and fostered an inclusive environment that people in that building have learned to appreciate in the two years since.

Brian Xanders, senior personnel executive, Detroit Broncos GM, Xanders built the roster that lured Peyton Manning, with Demaryius Thomas among the franchise-level talents acquired. And in Detroit, he's spearheaded an effort to modernize the scouting operation and was part of a coaching search.

FIRST-TIMERS

Chris Ballard, director of player personnel, Kansas City his Dolphins interview in January as a signal that he's ready to seriously consider leaving Foxborough. Instrumental in Belichick's recent Patriot makeover.

Eric DeCosta, assistant GM, Baltimore Giants) to pry him from that.

Brian Gaine, director of pro personnel, Houston Rams, Jets andDolphins, and is a trusted voice in the building of the new Bill O'Brien regime.

Tom Gamble, vice president of player personnel, Philadelphia Chip Kelly and played a major role in the Niners' recent revival. The Jets interviewed him in 2013 and could circle back.

Will McClay, assistant director of player personnel, Dallas Cowboys' resurgence, he should become a hot name.

Terry McDonough, vice president of player personnel, Arizona Cardinals' success has restored his rep after some tough years in Jacksonville.

Rick Mueller, director of pro personnel, Philadelphia Sean Payton's Saints in position to routinely contend.

Ryan Pace, director of player pers
Jon Robinson, director of player personnel, Tampa BayPatriots drafts in 2010, '11 and '12, and joined Tampa in May. Some believe he could eventually land in Houston.

Matt Russell, director of player personnel, Denver Widely regarded as one of the NFL's best evaluators of college talent, Russell is a confidant of John Elway on all decisions. Like Hecker he has a 2013 DUI to explain.

Duke Tobin, director of player personnel, Cincinnati Bengals: Like McClay, Tobin works in an owner-centric model, and has played a substantial role in stocking a very talented roster.

Lionel Vital, director of player personnel, Atlanta Falcons: A Tampa finalist last year, Vital occupies the spot that current GMs Les Snead and David Caldwell once filled. Like McDonough, has a Belichick/Newsome pedigree.

Eliot Wolf, director of pro personnel, Green Bay Packers: Ron Wolf's son would be very young (32) to be a GM, but he is considered a rising star in the business. The success of John Dorsey and Schneider certainly doesn't hurt.