I don't think there are any geniuses among the current GM's in the NFL. Good luck and a star QB like Brady, Mahomes or Peyton Manning makes everyone look good.
It's head-shakingly frustrating how many people give KAM credit for something he didn't actually do. He's been consistently undisciplined with cap spending, with a load of unnecessary dead cap money on this year's cap, which in turn contributed to how he structured extensions and UFA contracts. There is a lot of cap room in 25, and then it starts looking very Spielmaneque again in '26. KAM also loves void years more than Bud Grant loved hunting and fishing.
The UFA signings have been remarkably successful, which is great, but the draft ineptitude (giving away picks and those that were actually used being deployed poorly) is a real problem going forward.
It was always odd that the Wilfs and McCaskeys didn't extend or cut bait last offseason. Both teams were going to take rookie QBs, so it behooved the organizations to ensure the QBs were going to come in to stable environments with everyone on the same timeline. With KOC, that mistake is seemingly only going to cost the Wilfs some money, and there's no cap on coaching salaries. One wonders, though, how KAM would have approached the offseason if he'd been extended. As for the Bears, well. . .
I worked imagine it is just as frustrating as listening to people continue reference draft mistakes as evidence against the GM while conveniently leaving out successes.
Three drafts. One a disaster. One which netted two high end starters in Addison and Hockenson (yes he counts). One which netted a potential QB and a player viewed as a top 5 defensive prospect.
Also of note, the GM is responsible for more than just the draft and the organization appears to be on stable ground.
Oh, I forgot to mention the drama free extension for one of the best players in the league. While he didn't draft him, he did keep him and that isn't nothing.
Is it perfect, no. However the results thus far have been more positive than not.
As those results grow, it continues to be amusing to watch people who have an axe to grind about KOM continue to fall back on the same talking points (He messed up that pick! He traded too much that one time!)
The league has multiple examples of organizations which are tire fires. Minnesota isn't one of them.
At some point folks will need give credit where it is due.
I don't think there are any geniuses among the current GM's in the NFL. Good luck and a star QB like Brady, Mahomes or Peyton Manning makes everyone look good.
It's head-shakingly frustrating how many people give KAM credit for something he didn't actually do. He's been consistently undisciplined with cap spending, with a load of unnecessary dead cap money on this year's cap, which in turn contributed to how he structured extensions and UFA contracts. There is a lot of cap room in 25, and then it starts looking very Spielmaneque again in '26. KAM also loves void years more than Bud Grant loved hunting and fishing.
The UFA signings have been remarkably successful, which is great, but the draft ineptitude (giving away picks and those that were actually used being deployed poorly) is a real problem going forward.
It was always odd that the Wilfs and McCaskeys didn't extend or cut bait last offseason. Both teams were going to take rookie QBs, so it behooved the organizations to ensure the QBs were going to come in to stable environments with everyone on the same timeline. With KOC, that mistake is seemingly only going to cost the Wilfs some money, and there's no cap on coaching salaries. One wonders, though, how KAM would have approached the offseason if he'd been extended. As for the Bears, well. . .
I worked imagine it is just as frustrating as listening to people continue reference draft mistakes as evidence against the GM while conveniently leaving out successes.
Three drafts. One a disaster. One which netted two high end starters in Addison and Hockenson (yes he counts). One which netted a potential QB and a player viewed as a top 5 defensive prospect.
Also of note, the GM is responsible for more than just the draft and the organization appears to be on stable ground.
Oh, I forgot to mention the drama free extension for one of the best players in the league. While he didn't draft him, he did keep him and that isn't nothing.
Is it perfect, no. However the results thus far have been more positive than not.
As those results grow, it continues to be amusing to watch people who have an axe to grind about KOM continue to fall back on the same talking points (He messed up that pick! He traded too much that one time!)
The league has multiple examples of organizations which are tire fires. Minnesota isn't one of them.
At some point folks will need give credit where it is due.
What an excellent analysis, Matthew. Thanks so much!