Draft Day decision makers: St. Louis Rams

St. Louis Rams General Manger Billy Devaney will run the 2010 draft for the team. This will be his second draft where he ran the show. That is a lot different from how the Rams use to run their drafts, where generally speaking since their days in Los Angeles they allowed their head coach to make the final decision on draft day.

 Draft Day decision makers: Detroit Lions

The best thing we can say about Martin Mayhew is that he spent seven years under former Lions GM Matt Millen learning how to not conduct a NFL Draft. In all honesty many Detroit Lions fans were not very happy when it was announced that Mayhew would be taking over for his former mentor. Since taking over Mayhew has done noting but good.

 Draft Day decision makers: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

General Manager Mark Domenik has been with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the last 14 years. 2010 will be his second year as GM, and he has final say on what the team will do in the draft. He consults with Head Coach Raheem Morris, and Director of College Scouting Dennis Hickey. Pro Scout coordinator Doug Williams also has some input. As think tank's go this Bucs have a relatively young one.

 Draft Day decision makers: Washington Redskins

The first question that we have to ask is how involved is Owner Daniel Snyder in the personnel moves of this team? Has he leaned his lesson? Will he allow new General Manger Bruce Allen and Head Coach Mike Shanahan decide what players they need and which ones they don't?

 Draft Day decision makers: Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs hired Scott Pioli to be their General Manager, a year ago to do one thing, to help this team draft better. In the 2005 to 2007 drafts the Chiefs not only netted three starters, but only four backups. The Chiefs are a bad football team because their drafting as been so bad.

 Draft Day decision makers: Seattle Seahawks

Of all the 32 NFL teams, the Seahawks have the biggest questions heading into the 2010 NFL Draft. Pete Carroll is the new head coach and Vice President. John Schneider is the new General Manager, and he team says the draft will be conducted by committee.

 Draft Day Decision makers: Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns have a new Brain trust. Led by new President Mike Holmgren, and new General Manager Tom Heckert. Head Coach Eric Mangini also figures into this equation as well. They are a lot better than what the Browns have had since returning to the league in 1999.

 Draft Day decision makers: Oakland Raiders

To be perfectly honest this is the one I don't even want to write. I will call into question the sanity of Raiders owner Al Davis and every Raider fan out here with a first grade education will line up to call me an idiot and talk about the football genius of Al Davis.

 Draft Day Decision makers: Buffalo Bills

Veteran NFL man Buddy Nix steps in to be the Buffalo Bills General Manager. Nix was a regional scout for the Bills in the 1990's and then worked for the San Diego Chargers eventually earning the title of Assistant General Manager.  He is widely considered to be one of the best talent evaluators in the NFL today, and he was a big part of the reason the Chargers were able to turn their team around.

 Draft Day decision makers: Jacksonville Jaguars

Gene Smith has been with the Jacksonville Jaguars for 16 years, in January 2009 he was given the title of General Manager in a front office shake up. It appears that he is the guy who makes the final calls on draft day, but I am sure he gets a lot of input from Head Coach Jack Del Rio, Head of Player personnel Terry McDonough, and Andy Dengler their National Scout.

 Draft Day decision makers: Denver Broncos

Brian Xanders is the General Manager, but head coach Josh McDaniels has a lot of say in personnel matters. The also rely on Matt Russell their director of College scouting. This will be this bran trust's second NFL draft, and to be fair there is a lot of room for improvement.

 Draft Day decision makers: Miami Dolphins

Sure Jeff Ireland holds the title of General Manager, but come on we all know Bill Parcells is calling the shots. That will include who they draft with 12th overall pick, and probably who cleans up the trash at Joe Robbie, I mean Dolphins, I mean whatever their stadium is called this week. 

 Draft Day Decision makers: San Francisco 49ers

 Draft Day decision makers: New York Giants

Jerry Reese is the General Manager of the New York Giants, and 2010 will be the fourth time that he has taken the lead with the Giants on draft day. He worked for a number of years with former Giants GM Ernie Accorsi.

 Draft Day decision makers: Tennessee Titans

Mike Reinfeldt holds the title of Executive Vice President and General Manager, but Head Coach Jeff Fisher also holds an executive VP title, and owner Bud Adams will step in on draft day when he feels it necessary. Fisher and Reinfeldt hold the most weight, but will be joined n the war room by Vincent Marino Director of Football Administration, Tina Tuggle Director of player development, and Lake Dawson Director of College Scouting.

 Draft Day decision makers: Pittsburgh Steelers

Head Coach Mike Tomlin, like Bill Cowher before him, as a large part of the say on what this team does on draft day. However Director of Football Operations Kevin Colbert actually conducts the draft. Ron Hughes joins the group in the war room as Director of College Scouting, and of course their full complement of scouts.

 Draft Day decision makers: Atlanta Falcons

This will be the third draft conducted by Atlanta Falcons General Manger Thomas Dimitroff. He and head Coach Mike Smith share the philosophy that a winning team is built through the draft not via free agency. They will be joined in the Flacons war room for the 2010 NFL Draft by Nick Polk the Director of Football Administration, Kevin Winston senior Director of Player Development, Les Snead Director of Player Personnel, and David Caldwell the director of College Scouting. Of course their full complement of scouts will also be in attendance.

 Draft Day Decision makers: Houston Texans

We can go ahead and call this the Denver Broncos connection. General Manger Rick Smith was hired from the Broncos in 2006, and 2010 will be his fourth draft with the Houston Texans. Gary Kubiak also came from the Broncos coaching staff and although his background is in offense, three of the four first round picks made during his tenure have been defensive players. They will be joined in the Texans war room by Director of Pro Personnel Brian Gardner, Dale Strahm their Director of College Scouting, and of course their full complement of College scouts.

 Draft Day decision makers: Cincinnati Bengals

Without a doubt Team President Mike Brown, has the final say, but the Bengals war room is a collaborative effort and he works closely with head coach Marvin Lewis. Director of player personnel Duke Tobin is a trusted eye for talent, and is also relied on heavily. Pete and Paul Brown also carry the title of Vice President Player Personnel and will join the war room, along with their full complement of scouts.

 Draft Day decision makers: New England Patriots

So we know that Head Coach Bill Belichick has the final say on all personnel matters. 2009 was the first draft in the Patriots post Scott Pioli era, and Belichick now relies heavily on Director of Player Personnel Nick Ceserio, and football advisor Floyd Reese. For the most part, they are the main brain trust for this team on draft day. One important thing to remember here is Belichick does not keep a full draft board; he only ranks the players he feels can fit his system, and then selects them when the Patriots get on the clock.

 Draft Day decision makers: Green Bay Packers

Brett Favre's arch nemesis Ted Thompson is the General Manger, and the one calling the shots for this team on draft day. He has been with the Packers since 2005; Thompson worked in the Seattle Seahawks front office, and previously for the Packers as assistant Director of Player Personnel.  His chief Lieutenants are Director of Football Operations Reggie McKenzie and Director of College Scouting John Dorsey.

 Draft Day decision makers: Philadelphia Eagles

While Head Coach Andy Reid has the final say on personnel issues, it seems that the Eagles, as an organization have pulled some of that responsibility back from him. New General Manger Howie Roseman seems to have a lot more say than his predecessor did. While the two work closely together it seems Reid has had to give up some of his power to keep his job. College Scouting Director, Ryan Grigson, always insures that this team is very prepared on draft day, and as an organization they rarely make a mistake in the first round. These three seem to work well together, and can usually come to a consensus on who is the best player available. That is the strategy they generally invoke in their war room.

 Draft Day decision makers: Baltimore Ravens

The NFL Draft for the Baltimore Ravens is the Ozzie Newsome show, and why shouldn’t it be. The first two draft picks this cat made went on to be future Hall of Fame players. This is a guy who has turned picking in the first round, especially the second half of the first round, into an art form. He has the final say all personnel issues, but is joined in the Ravens war room by VP of Football Administration Pat Moriarty, Director of Player Development OJ Brigance, Director of Player Personnel Eric Decosta, and Director of College Scouting Joe Hortiz.

 Draft Day decision makers: Arizona Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals General Manager Rod Graves has the final say on all personnel matters be that in free agency or on draft day. However, after winning two straight division titles Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt also has a large say. They are advised by an up and comer in NFL front office circles, Director of Player Personnel Steve Keim. Keim oversees a quality personnel staff, which includes Reggie Terry their Director of Football Administration. They of course will be joined in their war room by their full complement of scouts.

 Draft Day decison makers: Dallas Cowboys

Jerry Jones is not only the owner of the Dallas Cowboys, but he also serves as their General Manger. Some think Jones to be a goofball, and at time he is, but he has a pretty good record on draft day. He relies heavily on Tom Ciskowski, who runs the pro and college personnel departments. Ciskowski has put his stamp on the last few Cowboys drafts. Executive Vice President Stephen Jones also has a lot of say, and has been very involved in recent years.

 Draft Day decision makers: San Diego Chargers

AJ Smith is the Executive Vice President and General Manager for this club, and he has been so, since 2003. He has been with the club for the past nine seasons, and has a philosophy of building the team through the draft. Ed McGuire is his chief assistant, and Jimmy Raye is the director of pro personnel. John Spanos is the Director of college scouting and they will be joined in the war room by their full complement of scouts.

 Draft Day decision makers: New York Jets

General Manager Mike Tannenbaum has the final say over all personnel decisions. However Head Coach Rex Ryan is a very good evaluator of defensive talent, and his voice his listened to within the organization. Tannenbaum has been with the Jets since 1997amd took over the GM duties from Terry Bradway in 2006.

 Draft Day decison makers: Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings will be led on draft day by Vice President of Player Personnel Rick Speilman. He is in charge of all player personnel issues and heads the college and pro scouting departments. He will be joined in the war room by Rob Brzezinski Vice President of Football Operations, George Paton Director of Player Personnel, Scott Studwell Director of College Scouting, and of course their full complement of scouts.

 Draft Day decision makers: Indianapolis Colts

For the Indianapolis Colts draft day is the Bill Polian show. Of course these days it is a family affair as his son Chris has taken over the day-to-day football operations of this team. Bill is one what would call a draft day genius. He built the Buffalo Bills team that went to four straight Super Bowls, got the Carolina Panthers off the ground, and has built the Colts into one of the finest teams in the league. Bill has been with the Colts since 1997, and should remain there until 2012 when he fully hands his son the reigns.

 Draft Day decision makers: New Orleans Saints

Mickey Loomis has been the Saints General Manger since 2002, after spending 15 years with the Seattle Seahawks. He works hand in hand with Head Coach Sean Payton on draft day. Payton is an excellent evaluator of offensive talent, and this team has done very well in the draft. Khai Hartley is their Director of Football operations, Rick Reiprish is their Director of College Scouting, and all will have a seat in the war room on draft day. They of course will be joined by their full complement of scouts.