NFL Draft 2012: General Managers Under Most Pressure to Draft Well

Often lost in the hustle and bustle of the NFL draft process is the need for general managers to draft well.

We obviously talk about all the players and the teams until we're blue in the face, but general managers often escape our words.

Not anymore.

These four GMs need to make things happen here and now.

A.J. Smith, San Diego Chargers

Dubbed the "Lord of NO rings," both Smith and coach Norv Turner are on the hot seat. This Chargers team just missed the postseason and they're wasting Philip Rivers' prime by missing on draft picks time and time again.

That cannot happen again this year.

Smith needs to fill the holes this team has or he'll be looking for a new job soon.

Gene Smith, Jacksonville Jaguars

This Smith just had his contract extended, but he's on the ropes and his picks haven't been very good of late. In fact, he's reached far too often in recent years.

The Jags have a new owner and a new head coach and the fact that Smith kept his job through it all is amazing. 

Scott Pioli, Kansas City Chiefs

The former New England Patriot man has some work to do to get back to the postseason. With Romeo Crennel now the head coach, Pioli truly has crafted a Patriots in the AFC West.

But he needs a good draft here. This team has holes and they need to be filled for them to even have a chance at success. And the decision about who lines up under center could become very interesting soon. 

Tom Heckert (and Mike Holmgren), Cleveland Browns

Two first-round picks and a potential quarterback change? Enough said.