Patriots head coach Bill Belichick retains top spot in Rotoworld’s annual NFL GM rankings

A familiar name sits at No. 1 on Rotoworld’s list of the best NFL general managers entering 2020.

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, who had been ranked atop the league by Patrick Daugherty in each of the past six years, will make it seven straight.

“The Bears traded a fourth-round pick for Nick Foles. The Raiders made Marcus Mariota the highest-paid new backup at any position. Bill Belichick? He signed Cam Newton for $550,000 guaranteed on June 28,” Daugherty wrote. “The move was the latest in a long-running trend. As the rest of the league ties itself up into knots trying to catch up with the Patriots, Belichick makes staying on top look easy.”

Pittsburgh Steelers GM Kevin Colbert checked in second on this year’s installment, which takes past achievement into account yet emphasizes recent personnel movement ranging from draft picks to trades to contracts. The Super Bowl LIV-winning Kansas City Chiefs tandem of Brett Veach and Andy Reid followed in third place. And Howie Roseman of the Philadelphia Eagles and Mickey Loomis of the New Orleans Saints round out the leading five as the page turns towards training camp.

“Belichick is not perfect, especially as a general manager. His roster failings are often wielded against him as a weapon, as if he is supposed to bat 1.000,” Daugherty reasoned. “A GM who does not make frequent, annual mistakes is a GM who does not exist. It is how you work around them that bakes the cake.”

For the 68-year-old Belichick, the cake will continue to be baked alongside Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio, who reached a contract extension during an offseason laden with coaching and roster turnover.

“Belichick never focuses on what he doesn’t have,” added Daugherty. “He takes his best shot at putting together a 53-man roster then molds and manipulates it as needed. It’s never flawless, but there are no excuses. Only Bill.”

Two former members of New England’s scouting department – Jon Robinson of the Tennessee Titans and Thomas Dimitroff of the Atlanta Falcons – landed above the GM fold at No. 11 and No. 14, respectively.