Ranking the Chicago Bears GM candidates being interviewed

Chicago Bears GM Candidate: 8
Jeff Ireland – Saints, Assistant General Manager

Jeff Ireland is currently in his seventh season with the Saints. Before landing with New Orleans, Jeff Ireland was the general manager of the Miami Dolphins for six years. Prior to this stint, he also saw time with as a scout with the Cowboys and scout with the Kansas City Chiefs. Total, he has been in the NFL at some compacity in the scouting department or executive department since 1994. For those counting at home, that’s 27 years.

Ireland has some past success, but there’s no way I’d put him in my top five unless he can guarantee he could bring Sean Payton with him. Since that cannot happn, Ireland falls below some of the “never-done-its” in my rankings. He saw one winning season and one playoff appearance over his six-year GM stint. This is too mediocre.

Chicago Bears GM Candidate: 7
Ran Carthon – 49ers, Director of Player Personnel

One reason I should have Ran Carthon higher on my list is because of his awesome beard. Carthon is just a little too green for me. He only has one season under his belt as the 49ers’ director of personnel. He has a total of 13 years in the league (not counting his playing days), nothing jumps out at me.

Carthon started with the Falcons as a pro scout. He spent four seasons with them before moving onto the Rams as director of pro personnel for five years. Carthon took on the same position with the 49ers for five seasons before being promoted to his current position. Nothing about these teams during Carthon’s tenure says the Chicago Bears should be interested.