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3 NFL General Managers that are thriving in 2022

By Brendan Danaher

2022 NFL Draft; New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas (left) chats with head coach Robert Saleh during an OTA at Jets Atlantic Health Training Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports
2022 NFL Draft; New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas (left) chats with head coach Robert Saleh during an OTA at Jets Atlantic Health Training Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kansas City Chiefs
Mar 1, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach talks to the media during the 2022 NFL Combine. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Brett Veach, Kansas City Chiefs

This may seem obvious or make some people angry but the #1 general manager of 2022 (thus far) is Brett Veach of the Kansas City Chiefs. Veach was an instrumental part of the Chiefs winning their first Super Bowl in 2019 (no, not counting the 1970 championship) and in his six seasons as general manager, Veach has continued to assemble high-powered rosters.

Veach has not always been impeccable as the second-round pick of defensive end Breeland Speaks was a true disaster from the start. Veach’s errors in the draft however are so marginal that those same players would be top-tier on other teams. Critics argue that linebacker Willie Gay who was selected in the second round of the 2020 draft, was a bust but currently is a consistent starter despite a suspension in 2022.

Let’s get a look at the good. Veach is credited as the man that is responsible for drafting Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes is a generational talent and is not only the best player the Chiefs ever drafted but he may end up as one of the greatest quarterbacks we have ever seen. Hitting on one draft pick isn’t reason enough to dub Veach the best general manager ever but he had a heck of a year in 2022.

Veach shocked the NFL world by trading speedster receiver Tyreek Hill to the Dolphins for a plethora of picks and in turn used those picks to select defensive end George Karlaftis (and cornerback Trent McDuffie) who are instant impact players. Veach also compensated for the loss of Hill by signing free agent receivers Juju Smith-Schuster, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling and most recently traded for Kadarius Toney from the Giants. Toney, if he can stay healthy, is the closest comparison to Tyreek Hill.

The Chiefs are currently decimating the AFC, specifically the AFC West, with an 8-2 record and have no signs of slowing down. The Chiefs have won three AFC Championships, played in two Super Bowls, and won one of them with Brett Veach as the general manager. What is mind-blowing about these achievements is Veach is not even close to done and as long as he has Patrick Mahomes at the helm the Chiefs are not done either. Veach may go down as one of the best to ever do it, therefore he has to land at the #1 position.

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