Who are the top candidates for new jobs?
a quick list off the top of my head:
- Hue Jackson, Cincy OC - Raiders HC in 2011. Lots to like in terms of his playcalling. Lots not to like in terms of leadership and organization
- Adam Gase, Chicago OC - Would be the Niners HC if he had agreed to take on Tomsula as DC/AHC last year. Has made Jay Cutler palatable and has 4+ years learning from John Fox.
-Josh McDaniels, NE OC - Failed badly in Denver, where he had way too much power as a first time HC, obviously a great game planner and play caller
Teryl Austin Det DC - should have been hired last year, has done great things in Detroit even as the talent level has decreased
Doug Marrone Jax DC- His decision to get away from Buffalo, and the job he did there in 2014, looks better after a year of Rex's work in Orchard Park
Sean McDermott, Car DC - Had built a consistently good defense that seems specifically designed to work well against modern NFL offenses. You could also see OC Shula getting a job as well.
Wade Phillips, Den DC - Bum's son has done a great job in Denver and probably deserves a third chance as a HC, though I wonder if he has too much of the Norv Turner "great coordinator, lousy HC" stink on him.
MMQB did this list as well:
http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2015/12/30/nfl-head-coach-candidates-list-black-monday
What are the best jobs, at least of the 25% and above rankings in the excellent OP?
1. Indy - you have Andrew Luck, which makes dealing with Irsay worth it.
2. Giants - You have a multiple SuperBowl winning QB, the best young skill position player in the league and a quality owner & GM to work for
3. St Louis- the best overall roster, probably a QB away from a multiple year playoff run
4. San Diego - You have Phillip Rivers, who is worth several wins a year by himself, and some other pieces like Kennan Allen and Jason Verrett, though you are stuck with the underwhelming GM Tom Tolesco
5. Tennessee - Mariotta and another top 2 pick to build with, probably deserves to be higher on this list
6. New Orleans- you are walking into a rebuilding situation, so they will have to give you time, and Loomis is a good GM
7. Miami - A top heavy roster with very limited flexibility going forward, trapped under Ireland and Ross. If you can maintain great injury luck, and somehow develop Ryan Tannehill to take the next step, this team could win
8. Philly - Lots of defensive talent and a great ownership situation, now you just have to fix the damage Chip did to the offensive side of the ball.
9. San Francisco - I can't imagine any credible HC wanting to work for the Jed and Baalke
10. Cleveland - Doesn't require comment, the factory of sadness keeps churning out product.
Finally,
I am fascinated by what might/will happen in New Orleans. Payton probably wants out, it is a bit of a miracle that two guys like him and Mickey Loomis lasted this long together under the cloud of craziness that is the Bensons in New Orleans. Payton has two years left on his deal, and the Saints would be able to get solid compensation from Dallas / NYG / Philly / Miami for him if they put his name out there. I think trading Payton and Brees and bottoming out is the exactly right play for the Saints this year. I don't know if they can get Gruden level compensation for Payton, but it would be close.