2024 GM Candidates

[DerwinBosa]

or a Rodney Harrison

No, thanks.

[DerwinBosa]

Adam Peters, Asst. GM, 49ers


When John Lynch was hired as the San Francisco 49ers’ general manage in 2017, one of the first things he did was steal the highly regarded Peters away from the Denver Broncos.

Peters spent seven years with the Broncos as an area scout, a national scout, their assistant director of college scouting and finally, their director of college scouting.

The year before Lynch, Peters and coach Kyle Shanahan arrived, the 49ers were 2-14. In the past four years, they’ve made it to the NFC Championship Game three times and the Super Bowl once.

Peters interviewed for the Giants’ GM job last year that went to Joe Schoen. He also interviewed for the Tennessee Titans GM job this year but declined an interview with Arizona for its GM opening.

“He seems to be very comfortable where he is,’’ said Mike Tannenbaum, a former NFL executive and current analyst for The 33rd Team. “But if he wants to be a GM somewhere else, he certainly will have some opportunities.’’

Ian Cunningham, Asst. GM, Bears


Cunningham is one of two personnel people on this list — Andy Weidl is the other — who learned at the Ozzie Newsome School of Scouting, aka the Baltimore Ravens.

“Guys who learned and trained under Ozzie, it was like getting a law degree from Harvard,’’ said Brian Baldinger, an NFL Network analyst. “He was hard on guys but gave them the leeway to show what they could do.

“Ozzie and the guys that trained under him, they’re not like many other guys. Even in the Ravens’ heyday, if you went to practice, Ozzie seldom was on the field. He’d be in a shed with the lawnmowers watching practice. He felt it wasn’t his job to be in the spotlight.

“He trained his scouts to work on their weaknesses, work on their blind spots. Anybody who trained under Ozzie, you have to take them seriously as a candidate when there is a job opening. It’s like coaching under Andy Reid.’’

Cunningham, 38, learned the trade under Newsome, joining the Ravens in 2008 as a personnel assistant and serving as an area scout for the team from 2013-16.

“That’s where I grew up,’’ he said. “That’s where I cut my teeth.’’

The Philadelphia Eagles hired him in 2017 to be their director of college scouting. He was promoted to assistant director of player personnel in 2019 and director of player personnel in 2021. He was hired by the Chicago Bears last year as their assistant general manager under Ryan Poles.

Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer reported in January that Cunningham was offered the Arizona Cardinals’ GM job that went to Monti Ossenfort but turned it down.

The Ravens had a run of six consecutive playoff appearances in the seven years Cunningham was with the organization, including a Super Bowl title in 2012. The Eagles were in the playoffs four of the five years Cunningham was with them and won a Super Bowl in 2017.

“Ian has learned from some really good guys with both the Ravens and Eagles,’’ Baldinger said. “He’s coming out of the right nests.’’

Cunningham was a two-year starting offensive lineman at the University of Virginia, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s in education and human development.

“Ian is smart, thinks broadly, and has expertise in all of the areas that a GM needs to know,’’ Tannenbaum said. “Working for the Ravens and Eagles was great training to run your own ship.’’

Andy Weidl, Asst. GM, Pittsburgh Steelers


Weidl is another Newsome disciple. The former Villanova offensive lineman spent a decade as an area scout for Newsome and the Ravens before joining the Eagles as their assistant director of player personnel in 2016.

He was the Eagles’ vice president of player personnel last year when he interviewed and was a finalist for the Steelers’ GM job. The Steelers ended up staying in-house and hiring Omar Khan, who had been with the organization for more than 20 years.

But Weidl, a Pittsburgh native who began his career with the Steelers, accepted the assistant job under Khan.

Weidl isn’t looking to leave. His wife also is a Pittsburgh native. They just built a new house there. But if he gets an opportunity to run his own show somewhere, it would be hard to turn down.

[Boltjolt]

AJ Smith record was 95-65 with multiple afc west titles in his 10 year run. TT has the same 10 year run with an even W/L record and no afc west titles.

True but AJ also didn't have a Mahomes in the division. In fact the Chiefs weren't that great and neither was Denver.
From 2004 to 2013 the Chiefs had 3 winning records. In 2012 they were 2-14.

Andy Reed was hired in Jan 2013. And in the 2013 season they went 11-5 for that 3rd winning season in that span.

[Bolt4Knob]

If today holds that the Chiefs win
Telesco should be fired tomorrow with Staley
let Herbert have his surgery to fix the finger
and trade off a bunch of players

[Boltinloudguy]

2nd command behind Howie Roseman. I want a GM that is not afraid to move around the draft board, trade players or trade for players.

[Bolt4Knob]

2nd command behind Howie Roseman. I want a GM that is not afraid to move around the draft board, trade players or trade for players.

Telesco has made four trades in the draft that I can recall - all to move up, not back

He has made a few trades at the deadline - traded for Lissemore, traded out Dez King and Inman

I am not sure what he does - but he is a clueless, overmatched GM in the NFL.