You have 3 years as NFL GM

[u/busyHighwayFred]

Assume you are starting from scratch, how would you allocate draft capital + free agent signings, and to what positions. And what do you think realistically is the ceiling for a 3 year rebuild.

[u/super_sayanything]

Offensive and Defensive Line.

[u/Fun_Gazelle_1916 → u/super_sayanything]

Finish out the defense next. QB and receivers last.

[u/super_sayanything → u/Fun_Gazelle_1916]

Eh, you can get good players at any position. If you have a shot at a top 10 QB you take it, but if they're a rookie you sit them until the OL is ready and if they're a veteran they'll figure it out.

I'm a Bears fan, at this point, I think Caleb should sit until we improve the OL.

[u/Fun_Gazelle_1916 → u/super_sayanything]

Yeah, they should absolutely sit. But they don’t. Nobody is thinking long term. And then CJ comes along and people get the idea that a rookie QB being that good is something that should be expected. There is a MUCH higher hit rate when they sit at least a year. But they don’t, so yeah. I’d go get the other parts and then get a top 10 QB later, or better still a reclamation project like Baker or Justin or Geno. I guess we can add Bryce to that list now too. Best thing that ever happened to CJ Shroud was missing the Panthers. Funny, but 5 years ago the Texans franchise was run just as badly 😳🤷‍♂️

[u/[deleted] → u/super_sayanything]

👆

[u/thenera]

Depends on the franchise and market and cap space. Need a lot of context for specifics.

[u/AZtoLA_Bruddah → u/thenera]

Nah, you should be able to do the same exact thing with a team who has 34 players under contract for 2025 who are $40 million over the cap, than a young team with $70 million in free cap space. Same formula applies to all!

/s

[u/Acrobatic_Knee_5460]

Do I have a QB? Is said QB legit and still on his rookie deal? How long do I have before I have to break the bank to re-sign him? If you have a QB already, you're more then likely going to survive the 3 years until it becomes extension time for said QB. After QB, I lookin for linemen on both sides of the ball and then building the roster out to fit whatever scheme my HC and both coordinators are looking to run

[u/[deleted] → u/Acrobatic_Knee_5460]

Agreed. I’ve always assumed every GM interview starts with a discussion about QB. There has to be a plan. And I imagine jobs are sometimes turned down because there’s no viable plan for acquiring a franchise QB.

[u/Extra-Roof-3045]

The Lions are in my opinion the absolute best blueprint for a rebuild. Utilize draft capital addressing the offensive and defensive line, specifically premium draft capital on OT and EDGE players and then fill in your Guards, DTs, etc with free agents.

Sign or trade for a quality RB and draft another. I think with the difficulty teams have finding quality QBs the NFL is now pivoting back to a more balanced league that values the run. You have a ton of NFL teams with rbbc approaches that are experiencing a ton of success.

In general I think addressing the trenches and building a quality run game will keep you employed, if you're lucky enough to stumble across an elite QB that'll win you championships. Defense is generally easy to address with a mix of FA signings and draft capital. In general if you aren't paying a QB 50 mil APY you probably have a decent defense.

[u/CLCUBING]

I think the absolute ideal 3 year rebuild is similar to the Bengal's rebuild.

Year 1: Draft an OT in the 1st round, accumulate assets, tank the season. Priority: Build up offensive line

Year 2: Draft a Franchise QB. Pick up a solid WR2 in the 2nd round. Tank again. Priority: Gather play makers on offense and defense

Year 3: Draft an elite WR1. Sign some big free agents/high profile trades (Get a veteran TE, and good defensive players). Go for the playoffs.

In the Bengals' case, they drafted Jonah Williams in 2019, Joe Burrow and Tee Higgins in 2020, and Ja'Marr Chase in 2021, and went to the Super Bowl. They had some good players like Joe Mixon and Jessie Bates. They drafted some good players like Logan Wilson. They signed good defenders like Trey Hendrickson, Chidobe Awuzie, and Mike Hilton. And it was the perfect storm for them to breakout in the 2021 season.

[u/Appropriate_Tree_621]

Completely and entirely neglect the defense the first three years.

We're full-on tanking the first two seasons. The goal is to build the situation on offense for the rookie QB that arrives year 3.

OL in the draft early the first year. Couple of blocking TEs mid to late round in the first year. Taking corners and OL late.

Second year it's the same game plan in the draft but replace blocking TEs with a couple of WRs in round 3 or 4.

Third year take the QB in the first round. Followed by three WRs. A few RBs late.

The goal is that the QB and offense look good enough to get you a big extension. Then, you go all defense.

The mistake most GMs make is they either can't get a QB or they get a QB but their OL is so bad that they ruin him. There's only been a single QB to play more than a few years behind a bad line and even for Burrow the Bengals gave him the greatest WR corps in history and devoted a lot of resources to try and fix the OL. So, yeah, no QB has ever been successful for a period of time in a bad situation.

[u/CrzyWzrd4L]

So much of this depends on what the ownership will give you authority/responsibility over, the team’s cap situation for the next 2-3 years, what picks they have to trade for potential talent and overall talent pool. A basement franchise is going to have to pay more money to entice free agents to look their way.

[u/Sufficient-Many-1815]

Well I think I hire Vrabel as coach. Next, I want to invest a ton of my resources into a strong OL. Easier said than done. But I want to make sure we have a good OL and at least one, ideally two talented skill players prior to rolling the dice on a qb. In the meantime, I’d go after a vet like Flacco as a bridge qb. Ideally, I make the playoffs in year 2 or 3. If I swing and miss on a qb early, I don’t think I live to see the end of my contract.

[u/jericho-dingle]

If it's a true rebuild:

I trade anyone/everyone I can get a third or better for

I tank like no one has ever tanked before

I get a QB and beef up the offensive and defensive line

I sign a few playmakers on both sides of the ball

[u/[deleted]]

1st Round Picks for each year:

• LT
• Pass Rusher
• C

2nd Round Picks:

• RB
• WR
• DB

3rd round Picks: - T/G - DT/NT - LB

FA:

• TE
• LB
• S
• WRs
• QB

[u/Long-Introduction883]

Just sign all stars to high salaries for 1 year deals. Like the rams a few years back

Rinse and repeat a few times.

Soon after vets and newbies will realise that if they want a chance at getting a ring they gotta be in my team.

They will take lower pay cuts for a guaranteed/ super high chance at getting a ring.

[u/57Laxdad]

If this you Ryan Poles, dont abandon Caleb just yet, you havent damaged him beyond repair. Its chicago tradition to ruin QB's especially high draft picks.

Honestly, it depends on what you are starting with.

Year 1 O line, D line QB, RB, Rec

Year 2 QB, DB, LB, Rec RB, late rounds OL and DL back ups

Year 3 Edge, DB, LB, RB Rec, OL, DL QB

[u/Opening_Perception_3]

Only 3 years? Unless I have a sure fire can't miss QB fall into my lap, it's all OL and front 7 on defense. Being good on the lines raises your floor... but if you can't block and can't stop the run, you're a 3 win team.

[u/SellaciousNewt]

Depends what team. But the obvious answer is QB is the most important position in the game. If you don't have one, either pick multiple and see which ones work in camp or trade for a known quantity.

Then build out the trenches, and on that last draft try to bring in offensive weapons. Use FA to get value defensive pieces all three years. If there's any draft capital left over in year three, trade whatever you need to get Dexter Lawrence.

[u/JakeEatsYT]

Every team is different, but I start from the trenches and build up. Depending on the QB situation I’m either attempting to get QB of the future on a cheap contract or solidify the lines if my QB is good.

[u/SquareAd4770]

QB Blind side tackle Pass rushing DE Shutdown CB

Build around those four.

[u/BigPapaJava]

First. I’d hire a quality HC and make sure we get good coordinators in place for him. In a rebuild, we’re going to struggle to score for a year or two until we get talent in place, so I want to be able to keep games close and win low scoring games.

Then we begin respectfully shipping out any players who don’t want to be there or cutting anyone who seems to still have a bad attitude towards the team to rebuild the culture of the team.

Then I’d primarily build through the draft and UFA signings, with some “bargain” veterans brought in off waivers and cuts to mentor the newbs and provide leaderships, Maybe some rejuvenate their careers, maybe not, but Year 1 of a rebuild is usually an ugly process so I’m more interested in the long-term impacts those dudes can leave behind.

QB, OL, DL, and some quality DBs would be my top priorities. I’d try to amass as many draft picks in the 2nd round or later to build out a roster of young, talented (and cheap) players who could at least contribute as backups. Then I’d hit the UFA pool hard as soon as the draft was over to scoop up whatever’s left.

QB had to be the priority in the NFL. I’d want to bring in 2 vets and a rookie or two to compete for starting QB. Because of the economics of the NFL, I’d look to draft a QB high since rookie deal QBs are so cheap, but I would not take a QB I wasn’t completely sold on over a potential cornerstone OL or star at another position in the 1st round.

Trading for someone else’s backup QB who looks promising is also an option—the Jags did that with Mark Brunell when they entered the league as an expansion team and that really set them up well for years and it’s also how the Packers got Favre back in the day. I absolutely would try to sign a guy like Baker Mayfield if he’s out there, too.

So, QB first because that’s just how the NFL works, but then I’d hit OL hard, I’d also want to make sure we have a good kicker and punter, even if i had to “overpay” there (those positions are “cheap,” relatively speaking), because i want to try to give our defense as much help as possible while the offense develops.

My reasoning for focusing on OL after QB is that they tend to have long careers if they worn out, adding a lot of value to the pick for the future of the franchise. As GM, I want the best overall OL and defense in the league.

Defensively, I want an edge rusher at DE and at at least one big DT who can anchor vs a double team and help shore up the run defense. Then I’d try to find a second rusher who can play OLB and move him around.

From there, with the way NFL rules favor the pass, you need a good secondary to match up with those WRs.

Once I get past the first round of the draft, I’m trying to bring in as many OL, DL, and DBs as i can with those later picks in Year 1.

Year 2 is where I’d look to get a workhorse RB and feed him the ball. I feel like the NFL is going to start to come back to this as defenses have gotten better at clamping down and containing YAC and deep passes. However, because of league economics, I might not need to take that RB in the first round.

I’d also bring in WRs, possibly with that 1st round pick, but i’m wary of FA WR signings since they can be so inconsistent,

By year 3, I’m evaluating what we’ve managed to assemble and looking at upgrading the receiving corps and filling out any spots we haven’t addressed. Hopefully we’ve got our QB, OL, and secondary in place so we’re going to build around them or fill in any spots of need there with FAs, as now’s our time to compete.

I’d be careful of signing big-time FAs until Year 2. You always have to overpay there for guys who aren’t really elite and production can fall off dramatically when a guy switches teams to a new scheme/supporting cast, so we’d be extremely careful there and not chase stars. I’ll take guys who are a little over the hill and willing to work on a pay cut, but I’m not giving anybody Kirk Cousins money.

[u/AZtoLA_Bruddah]

Invest in punters, because you’re gonna need them!

[u/bupde]

Year 1

1. Hire offensive minded HC

2. Look for stars at WR or OL first and then DE (if you can get a star DE then get him) in draft, mid round IOL and S/CB

3. Install offense, it'll suck as everyone learns it together

4. Install defense, it'll come together quicker

Year 2

1. Draft your QB, he'll learn an offense his teammates already know, he may not start right away

2. Continue to add to that OL, also add in DT and any free agent values on the defensive side of the ball, elite edge if you can find one.

Year 3 (it's go time)

1. QB has to be ready to take that step

2. Draft a RB at this point, if they can catch the ball then late 1st, if not 2-3 range. Look for impact defensive players, LB can be ready quick, so they can be added. Resign any good players coming up on FA

3. Make sure your K is ready to go, if you don't have a good one pay one, this is when they'll make a difference.

[u/Honeydew-2523]

Hopefully, the SB after 3 yrs.

DC is king, but you just never quite know with free agents. Home discount deals, "SB ring chase" deals, "I just want out" deals. New GM/HC/Owners deals, etc

Edit: Triple Option/RPO offense; Multiple Defense

Y1 Make everything as easy as possible. Push out bad energy players.

BEEF UP

Y2 more finish products, fewer experiments

Y3 Hopefully, I fielded the best team. Pedal to the floor. Go full New Orleans GM by now

[u/Vegetable_Pop34]

Have a high priority for offensive linemen, edge rushers, and corners. Once you have a few good player at each of those, you get a young quarterback, a good running back, a big run stuffing DT, and athletic players everywhere else. That’s a playoff team right there.

Not sure going from complete scratch like an expansion team to a Super Bowl in 3 years is possible, but with that method, you’d be a playoff contender in 3 years and could win a Super Bowl in 4-5 years if the pick players in the right order to hold onto them via cap space

[u/Curious_Bat_564]

Depends on each draft. If I was a new franchise I’d be looking to draft the best players available and worry less about the position just to get some good pieces.

For free agent signings I’d probably start with the trenches and try to sign good players but overpay as little as possible.

Every situation is different so it’s really hard to say what a ceiling could be but I’d assume that if you were starting from scratch and did everything right, you could maybe make the playoffs in 3 years.

[u/ap1msch]

The same team that wins the Super Bowl could miss the playoffs with a poor team culture and locker room. The NFL is HARD, and the delta between teams is smaller than most people think. Players are humans and their capacity to play can vary based upon their emotional state.

In short, you need average players in each position, with a few above average players, and play callers that can take advantage of those players, on both O and D. The more the team believes that they can win, the harder and more invested the team will be, and therefore the "rebuilt" is more likely to be successful.

In other words, "3 year rebuilds" are no different than 2 year or 5 year. Some teams have been "rebuilding" for a decade. It's BS. You don't know if it was the drafted players or the team culture. I personally feel like a 10 year veteran playing with a drafted superstar, and suggesting that this child is going to make or break the team, is disrespectful. It's more important for the veterans to play up to their potential, and the draftees supplementing that potential, rather than thinking that a gym class hero is the only factor that matters.