2018 NFL Season: Ranking the Head Coaching Jobs Available
By Erik Lambert
The 2018 NFL season is going to see quite a few changes to several teams, particularly at the head coaching position. That includes some major teams.
At present there are six vacancies available following Black Monday. It’s less than the anticipated 14 that Adam Schefter hinted at a week ago but still signals there will be a massive shift. The question before all the coaching candidates available is which job do they want most? Personal preference is a big part of it but not all jobs are created equal in this sense. Some offer more advantages than others due to certain circumstances.
Here is a rankings of the jobs based on their attractiveness.
#6: Arizona Cardinals
Bruce Arians had a heck of a run with the Cardinals and almost got them to the promised land. In the end he simply ran out of time. Arizona still has pieces to work with for the future. They boast a strong and deep defense and running back David Johnson will return healthy next season. The problems lay at quarterback. Carson Palmer may be nearing retirement and they have no successor in place. Worse still their draft position doesn’t offer an ideal solution to that problem. Last but not least they are growing thin at wide receiver.
#5: New York Giants
Most people would rank this job at the top for the simple fact that it’s the Giants. That’s understandable given their prestige but this isn’t the Giants job of 2004 or even 2016. This team is on the cusp of a major overhaul. Eli Manning is 38-years old and likely has one or two years left at best. Word is they also have a lot of locker room problems on the roster. GM Dave Gettleman is almost certain to start pushing them out. Thus the next coach will be overseeing a likely rebuild. Still, it’s the Giants.
#4: Oakland Raiders
Derek Carr instantly makes the Raiders job appetizing. He’s approaching the prime of his career and has still has superstar potential worth exploring. Jon Gruden rumors aside the job is very much worth pursuing. So why so low on the list? Namely it comes down to two factors. The Raiders defense is a mess and badly needs cleaning up. Also there’s the lingering threat of the team moving to Las Vegas a couple years away. That’s not a distraction a coach might like dealing with.