New York Jets General Manager Candidate Power Rankings

While other names might enter the mix, there are currently six confirmed candidates for the Jets' general manager job. Most of them have impressive resumes. It's a refreshing change from the last major search the Jets had, the offensive coordinator search a year ago, which felt rushed. It was almost like the Jets decided on the first name that popped into their head. This has been a thorough process to this point.

Everybody has an opinion. I reserve the right to change mine at any time, but here is my current preference in order.

1. John Dorsey: He has over a decade of experience in charge of Drafts for an organization that has been one of the best in the league at drafting talent.

2. Dave Caldwell: He doesn't have as long of a track record as Dorsey, but the Falcons went from what appeared to be a hopeless situation to having five straight winning seasons and one of the most talented rosters in the league in no small part because of the smart moves Caldwell helped them make in the Draft.

3. Tom Gamble: He is highly regarded in the league and has pretty much done it all from scouting to coaching to dealing with contracts to running a personnel department. I just wonder whether he's a hot candidate today if the 49ers had hired Pat Shurmur instead of Jim Harbaugh last year.

4. Marc Ross: He's young, but he already has a solid track record as a guy running good Drafts for successful organizations.

5. Tom Heckert: The gap between 4 and 5 on this list is a lot bigger than the gap between 1 and 4 for me. With any of the top 4, I'd be inclined to give the Jets the benefit of the doubt. Heckert would make me question Woody Johnson. He's a just fired retread coming off an unsuccessful stint in Cleveland. Sure, you could talk yourself into Heckert, but I don't want somebody I have to talk myself into, not with candidates who would legitimately excite the fanbase.

6. Scott Cohen: Heckert might not be a great choice, but I think fans might reenact a scene from Les Miserables at team headquarters in Florham Park if the Jets make an internal hire.