This was the tightest race of them all, with Holmes, the Lions’ executive vice president and general manager, getting six votes to edge out Bills GM Brandon Beane (five) and Eagles EVP/GM Howie Roseman (4.5).

Holmes’ first three draft classes as GM (2021-23) formed Detroit’s young core: Penei Sewell, Alim McNeill, Aidan Hutchinson, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Jahmyr Gibbs, Sam LaPorta, Brian Branch, et al. The Lions have a clear vision of the type of players they want to fit Dan Campbell’s culture and aren’t afraid to go get said players wherever they see value. Acquiring quarterback Jared Goff as part of the Matthew Stafford trade in Holmes’ first month on the job continues to pay dividends, and Holmes has done work to fortify the roster amidst a seemingly unending series of injuries, particularly on defense. Even after Sunday’s shootout loss to Buffalo, the Lions are 12-2, in control of their fate in the NFC North and one win away from setting a franchise record for most wins in a season.

Beane’s offseason overhaul — including the departures of veterans Stefon Diggs, Gabe Davis, Mitch Morse, Leonard Floyd, Tyrel Dodson, Tre’Davious White and Jordan Poyer, among others — had many observers predicting a down year in Buffalo. Instead, the Bills won their fifth consecutive AFC East title and Josh Allen is the MVP front-runner, throwing to a remodeled receiver corps led by Khalil Shakir, rookie Keon Coleman and veteran trade acquisition Amari Cooper. The Bills have just 32 starts this season from players acquired in 2024; Beane and coach Sean McDermott bet in part on their ability to grow from within. This might be their best team yet.

Roseman, who seems to make this list every year, hit a home run in free agency with Saquon Barkley and appears to have hit on top draft picks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. He avoided a contract standoff and landed a 2026 conditional third-round pick from the Jets for Haason Reddick, who didn’t report to New York until late October. He had replacements ready for center Jason Kelce and defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, who both retired after last season. The Eagles are headed to playoffs for a fourth consecutive season under coach Nick Sirianni, with hope alive to secure the NFC’s No. 1 overall seed.

Others receiving votes included Minnesota’s Kwesi Adofo-Mensah (2.5), the Rams’ Les Snead (two), Tampa Bay’s Jason Licht (one), Washington’s Adam Peters (one), Green Bay’s Brian Gutekunst (one), Pittsburgh’s Omar Khan (one), New England’s Eliot Wolf (one) and Kansas City’s Brett Veach (one). One executive abstained.