Grant Cohn: Rating the GMs — 49ers' Trent Baalke vs. Raiders' Reggie McKenzie

Trent Baalke or Reggie McKenzie?

Who is the better general manager? Who has accomplished more in the NFL and who has a brighter future? Which general manager would you want to run your favorite team right now?

Let's compare their biggest achievements and failures.

Baalke's Brilliant Moves (starting with the most brilliant)

1. Hiring Jim Harbaugh in 2011.

The best thing Baalke ever did. In Harbaugh's first season with the Niners, he won 13 regular-season games and went to the NFC championship game, where the team lost in overtime. A few weeks later, Baalke won the Pro Football Writers Association Executive of the Year Award and received a contract extension through 2016 thanks to Harbaugh's brilliant coaching.

2. Drafting NaVorro Bowman in 2010.

Bowman spent his rookie season on the bench, then became a starter in his second season, earned three consecutive first-team All-Pro selections, tore up his knee, missed a season, came back and earned his fourth first-team All-Pro selection just one year removed from knee surgery. One of the best third-round picks ever.

3. Drafting Bruce Miller in 2011.

Miller played defensive end in college, but Baalke drafted him to play fullback, a position Miller had never played. By the end of Miller's rookie season he already was one of the best fullbacks in the NFL, and Baalke seemed like genius.

4. Trading for Anquan Boldin in 2013.

One of the most lopsided trades in NFL history. The Niners gave up only a sixth-round pick for Boldin who, in his first season with the Niners, caught 85 passes and helped lead the team to its third consecutive NFC championship game appearance.

5. Drafting Mike Iupati in 2010.

Some general managers are against drafting guards in the first round. Not Baalke. He drafted a guard from the University of Idaho with the 17th pick in 2010. This guard had to be great to justify the selection, and he was great. Iupati immediately became one of the best run-blockers in the NFL.

McKenzie's Brilliant Moves

1. Drafting Khalil Mack in 2014.

Mack fell to the Raiders at Pick No. 5 because he, like Iupati, played at a small college. The University of Buffalo. Not an NFL factory. McKenzie took Mack anyway, and now he might be the best player in the league.

2. Drafting Derek Carr in 2014.

Another supreme talent who fell to the Raiders because he played at a small school, Fresno State. In retrospect, Carr should have been a top-five pick and the first quarterback drafted.

3. Drafting Amari Cooper in 2015.

Many draft experts said the Raiders should take Kevin White, not Amari Cooper, because White is a bigger and faster receiver. McKenzie picked Cooper, who made the Pro Bowl as a rookie, while White fractured his shin and missed the entire season.

4. Hiring Jack Del Rio in 2015.

After McKenzie spent three seasons rebuilding the Raiders from the ground up, they finally were ready to compete. But they needed a strong head coach to create and enforce a standard of excellence. Del Rio did both right away. He was the perfect hire.

5. Signing Sean Smith in 2016.

The top cornerback on the free-agent market this offseason. Smith chose to sign with the Raiders instead of his former team, the Kansas City Chiefs, who finished 11-5 last season. Now the Raiders are the team to beat in the AFC West.

6. Signing Bruce Irvin in 2016.

Even though the Raiders had Mack and Aldon Smith, McKenzie signed one of the best pass-rushers on the market this offseason – Bruce Irvin. Now, the Raiders have three excellent pass-rushers, and possibly the best pass rush in the league.

7. Signing Kelechi Osemele in 2016.

You may remember Osemele as the guard who manhandled Justin Smith in the Super Bowl a few seasons ago. Osemele was the top offensive lineman on the market this offseason, and he'll make the Raiders' offensive line one of the biggest and strongest in the league.

8. Drafting Gabe Jackson in 2014.

As good as Osemele is, Jackson might be better. He's the Raiders' starting left guard and one of the best run-blockers in the NFL. Has been since his first game in the league. McKenzie drafted him in the third round.

9. Signing Rodney Hudson in 2015.

McKenzie tried to sign big-name players in 2015, but most weren't interested in joining a rebuilding team coming off a three-win season. So McKenzie signed a no-name player – center Rodney Hudson, who now is one of best at his position.

10. Signing Michael Crabtree in 2015.

Crabtree was a big-name player who was coming off the worst season of his career. The Niners let him leave. Baalke thought he had no talent left. Baalke was wrong. Crabtree signed with the Raiders and had his second-best season as a pro.

11. Drafting Latavius Murray in 2013.

A former sixth-round pick, Murray is the fourth Pro-Bowl player McKenzie has drafted.

Baalke's Major Screw-ups

1. Firing Jim Harbaugh in 2014.

Maybe the biggest screw-up in 49ers history. This is Baalke's legacy - Jed York shares the blame. They couldn't make things work with one of the best coaches in sports.

2. Hiring Jim Tomsula in 2015.

Not only did Baalke fire a great coach, he replaced him with one of the worst ever. Tomsula. He may never coach again at any level – he was that bad last season. Jed York also gets an assist on this one.

3. Drafting A.J. Jenkins in 2012.

Jenkins was a receiver who couldn't beat man coverage, not even in practice, not even if he had infinite time to get open. He's out of the league.

4. Drafting Tank Carradine in 2013.

Carradine played 4-3 defensive end in college and was a terrific pass-rusher. For some reason, Baalke made him gain 25 pounds and become a run-stopping 3-4 defensive end. Didn't work. Now, Baalke has made Carradine lose 30 pounds and become a 3-4 outside linebacker, which won't work either. Not Carradine's position. Not Carradine's fault. Baalke is ruining this kid.

5. Drafting LaMichael James in 2012.

Former second-round pick whom Baalke drafted eventually to replace Frank Gore. The Niners cut James during his third season with the team.

6. Not re-signing Mike Iupati in 2015.

In his first season with his new team, the Arizona Cardinals, Iupati went to the Pro Bowl. The player Baalke acquired to replace Iupati, Jordan Devey, lost his starting job after just nine games.

7. Signing Reggie Bush in 2015.

Baalke needed to sign a quality running back to back up injury-prone starter Carlos Hyde last season. But, Baalke signed Reggie Bush, who's even more injury prone than Hyde, and carried the ball eight times before tearing his ACL.

8. Signing Darnell Dockett in 2015.

Docket was 34 and coming off a torn ACL when Baalke gave him a two-year, $7.5 million deal. The Niners cut him before the season started.

9. Signing Shareece Wright in 2015.

Baalke signed Wright to replace starting corner Chris Culliver, who signed with Washington. Wright failed to win a starting job and the Niners cut him after five games.

McKenzie's Major Screw-ups

1. Trading for Matt Flynn in 2013.

The Raiders traded two fifth-round picks to the Seattle Seahawks for quarterback Matt Flynn, and paid him $6.5 million for just one start. He lost his job to Terrelle Pryor, now a wide receiver for the Browns.

2. Drafting D.J. Hayden in 2013.

McKenzie drafted Hayden with the 12th pick. Hayden was supposed to be special. Today, he is one of the worst corners in the NFL. Oops.

Final Score

Baalke: Five brilliant moves and nine major screw-ups. Most of his brilliant acquisitions no longer are on the team, meaning Baalke has done more bad than good. That's why the Niners have gotten worse three years in a row and have one of the least-talented rosters in the league.

McKenzie: Ten brilliant moves and two major screw-ups. All of his brilliant acquisitions still are on the team, meaning McKenzie has done more good than bad. That's why the Raiders have one of the most-talented rosters in the NFL.

And that's why McKenzie is better than Baalke.

Grant Cohn writes sports columns and the “Inside the 49ers” blog for The Press Democrat's website. You can reach him at grantcohn@gmail.com.