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.