Ranking of available coaching jobs

Many people in the media are categorizing CEO and / or coaching positions. Even some of the applicants for these jobs (and sometimes their opinions are likely to change depending on whether they get a particular job). The subject of my own ranking of vacancies was brought up this week, on Live PFT and elsewhere.

So let’s reduce it to writing, for the six head coach jobs. This is my own personal assessment, and I will explain the reason for each specific placement below.

Do not hesitate to attach a comment with your own ranking. Or to call mine crazy.

1. LA Chargers.

Why n ° 1? Two words: Justin Herbert. The sixth overall pick in the 2020 Draft is the real deal. He’s already one of the best quarterbacks in football.

And the list is otherwise well stocked – much more stocked than their record this year suggests. Joey Bosa. Derwin James. Keenan Allen. Mike Williams. Just to name a few.

There’s a caveat, and it’s an issue the next coach needs to take control of. Why do chargers suffer so many injuries? The next coach should order a comprehensive review of all aspects of the organization’s strength, conditioning and training to see if the injuries are the product of bad luck or bad practice. While many injuries are inevitable, injuries can be minimized with the right approach to flexibility, exercise, and nutrition. Shippers should re-evaluate all of their systems in this regard.

Yet Herbert’s presence does the best job of it. With the right coach, the Chargers could conquer the Los Angeles market and constantly challenge the AFC West Chiefs.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars.

Draft picks, limited space, low expectations, a division that isn’t as competitive as most of the other seven and the possibility of selecting Trevor Lawrence make it a great job. To start with, I would like to know how many games will be played each year in London as the schedule increases to 17. I would also like to know if recent comments from owner Shad Khan suggest he will be closer to Jerry Jones than Robert Kraft when it comes to direct interference.

If Lawrence becomes what most think he will be, it might end up being the best job. For now, however, I’ll be leaning towards the team with the quarterback who has shown he can do it at the NFL level.

3. New York Jets.

Former GM Mike Maccagnan was building the team from the outside to the inside. Current managing director Joe Douglas is building it from the inside out. And that’s the right way, with the offensive and defensive lines being the main focus.

The big question is whether the quarterback will be Sam Darnold or if the second overall pick will be used on a guy like Justin Fields. I would like to know what the front office is planning and if the powers that be will trust me to develop and implement the right plan for the most importing position on the team.

4. Wait until next year.

Before I get to the last three, I have to say this: instead of taking one of these jobs, I would be inclined to wait until 2022. Each of the last three teams has pushed frames between the GM and the coach, executives that can (and will) whisper in the owner’s ear and can potentially undermine or interfere with my efforts. From Rich McKay in Atlanta to Jack Easterby in Houston to Rod Wood and now Chris Spielman in Detroit, hard work becomes even more difficult when there is a possibility that competing agendas will arise in the same football organization.

But if I don’t think the window won’t be open for me next year and I’m willing to give it a shot, that’s how I classify them.

5. Houston Texans.

If Deshaun Watson wants me to be the coach, I want to be the coach – if Deshaun Watson is also willing to accept that I am the coach. If he doesn’t want me to be the coach, I want to know what the plan is to deal with a disgruntled franchise quarterback before he takes the job.

Also, I would need reassurance that Jack Easterby will never be in the dressing room on the sideline or near players or coaching staff. The work is hard enough without worrying about Littlefinger in football trying to put a shiv in my spine.

6. Detroit Lions.

Some teams have a frame as a buffer between the coach / general manager and the property. The Lions now have two: Rod Wood and Chris Spielman. I prefer to stay put and try my luck in 2022. Or in 2023. Or never.

7. Atlanta Falcons.

I am not touching a position that will have two general managers. And that’s what the Falcon will have – the current GM and Rich McKay. Sorry, Arthur, but until you reduce the number of cooks, I’ll wait for another kitchen.

Throwing in a salary cap mess, with or without Matt Ryan and Julio Jones, and it’s just not worth playing craps with my future career interests by becoming the next Falcons coach.