NFL Fans Believe They Can Outperform Their Team's GMs

Survey shows Cardinals and Cowboys fans most confident in their own draft skills

Apr. 3, 2026 at 9:21pm

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A cubist painting depicting an abstract NFL draft room scene, with sharp geometric shapes and planes overlapping to create a fragmented, multi-perspective view of the proceedings.A cubist interpretation of the disconnect between NFL fans' perceptions of their team's decision-making and the reality of their general managers' performance.New Orleans Today

A recent survey from casino.org/us found that the majority of fans from all but five NFL teams believe they could construct a roster better than their general manager. The Cardinals and Cowboys fans topped the list, with 79.2% and 76.9% respectively believing they are smarter than their team's GM. The defending champion Seahawks had the most trust in their front office, although over a third of their fans still felt they could do a better job.

Why it matters

This survey highlights the disconnect between what fans perceive as good decision-making and the actual performance of their team's front offices. It also speaks to the passionate nature of NFL fandom, where fans feel deeply invested in their team's roster decisions.

The details

The survey found that Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones were the targets of the most fan skepticism, with their teams topping the list of fans who believe they could build a better roster. Other teams with high percentages of fans who think they're smarter than the GM include the Raiders, Bengals, and Browns. On the other end, the Seahawks, 49ers, Broncos, Eagles and Buccaneers were the only teams where more than half of fans had more confidence in their GM compared to their own skills.

  • The survey was conducted in April 2026, ahead of the upcoming NFL Draft.

The players

Monti Ossenfort

General Manager of the Arizona Cardinals, who has gone 15-36 in his three seasons with the team.

Jerry Jones

Owner of the Dallas Cowboys, whose decision-making has drawn skepticism from a majority of the team's fans.

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What’s next

The survey results will likely spark further debate among NFL fans and media about the decision-making abilities of team front offices compared to the average fan. It will be interesting to see if any GMs or owners respond to the findings.

The takeaway

This survey highlights the passionate nature of NFL fandom, where fans often feel they can outperform the professionals when it comes to roster construction and player evaluation. It also suggests that some teams may need to do a better job of building trust with their fan base through improved on-field performance and transparent decision-making.