Chicago Bears: Possible Early Ryan Pace Replacement Ideas

Tom Heckert (Senior personnel advisor, Denver Broncos)

Now this is a name that has somewhat disappeared over the past few years and that’s surprising. Like McCloughan he has a history of alcohol abuse, being arrested for DUI in 2013. Nonetheless the man has stayed clean since then and is probably the most overlooked former GM who deserves another chance at the big job. Why? He’s already done it successfully before.

Heckert became GM for the first time in 2006, promoted after five years with the Philadelphia Eagles. During the next five seasons he helped them acquire key names like Brent Celek, Desean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, LeSean McCoy and Brandon Graham. Despite being dismissed in 2010. That same offseason the Cleveland Browns quickly scooped him up as their next GM.

https://twitter.com/timelesssports_/status/908029048537976835

He pretty much picked up where he left off. The Browns had some of their best draft success in the past decade thanks to him. Names like Jordan Camerson, T.J. Ward and Joe Haden highlighted some strong draft classes during his brief three-year run. Ownership fired him again and he became pro personnel director in Denver. Two years later, thanks in large part to the 2014 free agent class he helped scout, they won the Super Bowl.