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10 potential general manager candidates for the Washington Football Team

By Jacob Camenker

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 25: Vice President of Player Personnel Kyle Smith of the Washington Football Team speaks to the media at the Indiana Convention Center on February 25, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) *** Local Capture *** Kyle Smith
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 25: Vice President of Player Personnel Kyle Smith of the Washington Football Team speaks to the media at the Indiana Convention Center on February 25, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) *** Local Capture *** Kyle Smith /
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MIAMI GARDENS, FL – AUGUST 24: General Manager Jeff Ireland of the Miami Dolphins watches prior to his team playing against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Sun Life Stadium on August 24, 2013 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FL – AUGUST 24: General Manager Jeff Ireland of the Miami Dolphins watches prior to his team playing against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Sun Life Stadium on August 24, 2013 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images) /

15. . Assistant General Manager. New Orleans Saints. Jeff Ireland. 8. player

Jeff Ireland was once a GM with the Dolphins. It didn’t go very well for him.

Ireland was involved in a couple of embarrassing incidences during his time in Miami. First, at the 2010 NFL Combine, he asked Dez Bryant if his mother was a prostitute and later had to apologize for his line of questioning.

Second, Ireland was in charge of the Dolphins during the infamous Bullygate scandal. During that time, Jonathan Martin was bullied by Richie Incognito among others in the Dolphins locker room. Ireland was made aware of what was going on, but he did little to stop it and even told Martin he should “punch” Incognito.

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Obviously, those two instances are examples of poor judgment, but they both occurred more than eight years ago now. Ireland has, hopefully, learned from those mistakes and since that time, he has done a great job as an assistant in the Saints’ personnel department.

Ireland has been with the Saints since 2015 and during that time, the Saints have drafted better than most teams across the league. They have had success at each level of the draft, and each year since 2016, they have found key contributors outside the first round. This includes:

  • 2016: WR Michael Thomas (Round 2)
  • 2017: RB Alvin Kamara (Round 3), S Marcus Williams (Round 2)
  • 2018: WR Tre’Quan Smith (Round 3)
  • 2019: C Erik McCoy (Round 2), S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (Round 4)
  • 2020: TE Adam Trautman (Round 3)

That’s one of the reasons that the Saints have so much good depth. They draft really well. In fact, they do so well in the draft that some of their late picks don’t even make the roster but go on to find key roles with other teams.

Ireland’s skills would fit well into the Washington front office. He could upgrade their depth and further strengthen their ability to find talent outside of the first round. If not for his previous issues, he would be higher on this list, but he definitely deserves consideration for a top job again.

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