There are currently seven open head coaching positions in the NFL, with two more potentially opening in the coming days. The search for new coaches is in full swing for everyone. But which team is best positioned? Which offers the best possible situation for each candidate?
sport.de does the check and ranks the best circumstances for new head coaches with a view to the 2024 season.
First of all, it should be said that the Philadelphia Eagles would be at the top if they ultimately pull the ripcord on Nick Sirianni. The Eagles also have an excellent general manager in Howie Roseman.
The New England Patriots, who have already decided on Jerod Mayo as Bill Belichick’s successor, would be more in the middle of the field because the offense is a major construction site and some top performers also need to be replaced defensively. All of this without clear structures in the front office.
NFL: The best landing spots for head coaches in 2024
The Panthers cleaned up a lot and, after Frank Reich, also fired general manager Scott Fitterer over the course of the season. What I mean is: it is still unclear who will get this position, which creates an additional vacuum in this organization. What makes matters worse is that owner David Tepper obviously has a very short fuse and no patience at all.
After certainly holding on to Matt Rhule for too long, Reich’s dismissal was very early in his first season, especially since the squad really doesn’t have much to offer. And you have to argue as of now that you didn’t necessarily make the right choice with Bryce Young when it comes to the QB of the future.
Several top performers will soon become free agents, including edge rusher Brian Burns, who ideally should have been traded two years ago. Now he will probably be retained via a franchise tag, which should reduce the Panthers’ cap space to a minimum.
The roster is weak, there is no first-round pick this year and Tepper has clearly shown that he has not created a particularly pleasant working atmosphere. Anyone who ends up getting this job should be prepared for the fact that they could possibly be looking for a job again in the near future.
Now things get a little more controversial because the Las Vegas viewpoint, including the stadium and team facilities, is outstanding. There are other points of concern. On the one hand, there is owner Mark Davis, who is certainly not one of the best in his field and sometimes does strange things. The whole McDaniels act was his fault and no one knows what conclusions he draws from it.
The team needs a new head coach and a new GM, so it is now completely unclear where the team is headed. The team itself, as it has been for a few years now, consists of a few big stars, but also a lot of average people. Additionally, I am not convinced that Aidan O’Connell is the quarterback of the future.
There is a mediocre amount of cap space, and you also have your own and a few other late draft picks from previous trades available. Whoever ultimately takes over here, and that could well be interim coach Antonio Pierce, will not be able to expect major upgrades per se. To make matters worse, the AFC West will continue to be fiercely competitive in the future. So playoffs are not necessarily a realistic prospect.
The Titans are facing a major upheaval. They will lose some long-time performers, but as of now they have the third-largest cap space in the NFL at just over $70 million. They also have the seventh pick in the draft. They have a big question mark at quarterback and the offensive line probably needs an overhaul as well. In addition, the defense has not looked particularly solid in recent years under Mike Vrabel.
But the new coach at least comes with the hope that larger, positive changes can be made early on with the existing capital. The problem, of course, is owner Amy Adams Strunk, who famously chose former GM Jon Robinson and then Vrabel to essentially choose two pawn sacrifices to distract from the fact that she herself was wrong in her decision not to pay AJ Brown a few years ago. initiated the downward trend. And instead of explaining this to the press, she sent first Vrabel and now GM Ran Carthon, who had precious little to do with the respective decision.
That probably won’t stop a young coach from getting involved, but it will probably be difficult to work in a completely relaxed manner.
The Seahawks have been a mediocre team for years now that can beat top teams on good days, but they just lack the quality to do that consistently. Geno Smith is a solid quarterback, but he would need an upgrade for the next step. However, the means for this are unlikely to be available again.
The structure is solid offensively, but defensively the front remains a problem, as does the middle of the secondary. They currently have negative cap space and the question arises as to whether another head coach can get as much out of this team as the always excited Pete Carroll. It is positive that John Schneider remains the squad builder of recent years.
It’s also positive that you have several cornerstones for the future in the offensive skill positions and defensively with Devon Witherspoon. However, the general direction of the organization is questionable, after all it is unclear whether Jody Allen, the sister of the late owner Paul Allen, will sell the franchise in the near future.
The Chargers have a very talented core and – that’s their biggest plus: They already have a star quarterback, so a head coach – and GM, after Tom Telesco was also fired – no longer has to worry about that. The task will be more to bring the horsepower of Justin Herbert and Co. onto the road.
The defense also needs to be brought into shape, with several top performers becoming free agents, including cornerback Michael Davis and linebacker Kenneth Murray. Since running back Austin Ekeler’s contract is also expiring, it will be relatively difficult to keep everyone, especially since they currently have the second-least cap space at -44 million dollars.
You have all your draft picks and, among other things, the fifth pick overall, which makes an upgrade possible at several positions. The biggest question mark, however, is team owner Dean Spanos, who, along with brother John (team president), has had an impressively poor hand in coaching decisions in recent years. It’s quite possible that he’ll miss the mark again.
The Falcons undoubtedly have a good overall squad, but what is missing is of course the quarterback. But they certainly have ammunition to trade up from the eighth pick in the draft and significantly improve this situation.
The defense is in place, as is the structure around the quarterback with several dangerous receivers and Bijan Robinson in the backfield. A look at the free agents also reveals that there are no real top performers facing departures, but rather legacy issues. When it comes to cap space, you’re not in a good position with around 15 million effective cap space, but something can certainly be done with a few maneuvers.
Basically, the organization is very well and stable under owner Arthur Blank, who is considered a generous and calm guy who doesn’t get involved in sports. If you will, the Falcons are just one quarterback and a capable head coach away from competitiveness, especially since the NFC South can be won with a little competency.
Who would have thought that the Washington Commanders could one day be seen as the best possible place to work? The new owner Josh Harris makes it possible.
He represents a spirit of optimism, wants to completely reposition the capital’s team and return it to its old glory from the pre-Snyder era. And the sporting framework is already in place for this.
The defense is well staffed with a healthy mix of experience and young people with potential. The offense, on the other hand, currently has one of the best young receivers in the league in Terry McLaurin. In addition, an important personnel detail has already been clarified, as a new GM came with Adam Peters, who has worked in personnel at the 49ers for years and made a name for himself in the league.
Here, too, the quarterback is missing, but with the second pick in the draft, the Commanders are guaranteed one of the two best talents – it will probably be Drake Maye, if Caleb Williams doesn’t fall into their lap if the Bears do something crazy.
But that’s not all, because the Commanders have five picks in the first three rounds of the draft and, with $63 million in effective cap space, the most financial leeway of any team for the upcoming free agency.
The Commanders offer a good framework with a lot of opportunities to improve the team according to the ideas of the new coach. All of this with the backing of a new, highly motivated owner. What more do you want?
Marcus Blumberg