This time of the year, NFL teams that haven’t been successful start thinking about the future. The New York Jets, for instance, have already fired general manager Joe Douglas.

After our list with potential head coaches, let’s do a similar exercise with executives in line to be general managers over the next couple of years.

Brian Gaine, Buffalo Bills assistant GM

He was the Texans' GM for two years, and things went south in his relationship with head coach Bill O'Brien. But he built a good roster, and has helped Brandon Beane to do it again with the Bills.

Reggie McKenzie, Miami Dolphins senior personnel executive

Another former GM, he was the Raiders' top guy from 2012 to 2018, but lost space in his final season with Jon Gruden as the HC. However, the Raiders haven't been as good again as they were when McKenzie was there. He has a strong background with the Green Bay Packers and has been with the Dolphins since 2019.

Matt Groh, New England Patriots director of player personnel

Groh was the top executive behind Bill Belichick in the final years of his tenure. Even though he was surpassed by Eliot Wolf after Belichick parted ways with the franchise, Groh is still a respected talent evaluator.

Phil Savage, New York Jets interim GM

Savage has a big track record, being the Cleveland Browns' GM from 2005 to 2008. He was also the GM for AAF's Arizona Hotshots in 2019. He's since been with the Jets as a senior personnel advisor and was promoted to interim GM after the franchise fired Joe Douglas.

George Kokinis, Baltimore Ravens vice president of player personnel

When Joe Hortiz left the Ravens to become the Los Angeles Chargers GM, Kokinis was promoted to become the top guy under Eric DeCosta. He's been with the franchise since 1991, first in Cleveland and after the relocation to Baltimore.

Andy Weidl, Pittsburgh Steelers assistant GM

Weidl has worked with the Eagles and Steelers. Since Joe Douglas' firing from the Jets, he has been mentioned as a potential candidate.

Glenn Cook, Cleveland Browns assistant GM/VP of player personnel

Cook has worked for the Colts and Packers before arriving to the Browns in 2016. He survived the Sashi Brown and John Dorsey eras and has been promoted twice under Andrew Berry.

Trey Brown, Cincinnati Bengals senior personnel executive

Brown worked for the Patriots and Eagles, then left the NFL to work in the AAF and XFL. He got back into the NFL in 2021 as a Bengals scout and was promoted to his current role one year later.

Ed Dodds, Indianapolis Colts assistant GM

Dodds has been the Colts' assistant GM since 2018 and he's a frequent presence on these types of lists for several years now. He has a scouting background and helped build the Legion of Boom with the Seattle Seahawks.

Morocco Brown, Indianapolis Colts chief personnel executive

Brown also has a scouting background, but with more pro scout experience, and he was promoted to his current role in 2018. He has worked for the Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders, and Cleveland Browns.

Mike Borgonzi, Kansas City Chiefs assistant GM

Also a frequent name on future GM lists, Borgonzi has been with the Chiefs since 2009 and has been promoted four times since Andy Reid was hired as a head coach in 2013. As an assistant GM, he helped build the team that won two consecutive championships.

Champ Kelly, Las Vegas Raiders assistant GM

The Raiders won't receive many flowers after this year's performance, but Kelly is respected around the league and took over as the interim GM after Dave Ziegler's firing last year.

Will McClay, Dallas Cowboys vice president of player personnel

We have this discussion every year, because McClay is a de facto GM in Dallas, but he works under Jerry Jones. He is very well compensated for that. The question is if at some point he will want to have full autonomy to build a roster. If he does, several teams would be interested.

Ian Cunningham, Chicago Bears assistant GM

Cunningham has been with the Ravens and Eagles, which is probably the best combined background you can have in the NFL. He has worked for the Bears since 2022.

Ray Agnew, Detroit Lions assistant GM

The Lions have arguably the best roster in the league, so don't be surprised if the staff gets looks around the NFL. Agnew, a former Rams director of pro personnel, followed Brad Holmes to Detroit in 2021.

Jon-Eric Sullivan, Green Bay Packers vice president of player personnel

Sullivan has been with the Packers since 2004, starting as a scout. He was promoted to director of college scouting in 2016 and to co-director of player personnel in 2018, when Brian Gutekunst took over as the Packers GM. He's been one of the top voices in Green Bay. He's been in his current role since 2022.

Ryan Grigson, Minnesota Vikings senior vice president of player personnel

Grigson had a questionable tenure as the Colts GM between 2012 and 2016, but has rebuilt his value since. With the Vikings under Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, he's the top scouting voice in the room.

Jeff Ireland, New Orleans Saints assistant GM and college scouting director

He's the tope scout behind Mickey Loomis. You can argue that the Saints haven't had much draft success lately, but Ireland has experience as the Dolphins GM between 2008 and 2013 and has been with the Saints since 2015, which includes that magical 2017 draft class.

John Spytek, Tampa Bay Buccaneers assistant GM

The Bucs have been a consistent franchise in terms of roster-building, even after the difficult task of keeping a good team after Tom Brady departed. He's been in the NFL since 2004, with the Lions, Eagles, Browns, Broncos, and with the Bucs since 2016. Spytek has two Super Bowl rings, with Denver and Tampa Bay.

Jim Nagy, Senior Bowl executive director

Nagy has an NFL background working as a scout for the Commanders, Patriots, Chiefs, and Seahawks. Since 2018, he's been the Senior Bowl chief scout, with a strong staff working under him already.

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