NFL head coach mock draft: Predicting where top candidates land

Detroit Lions: Robert Saleh (San Francisco 49ers DC)

Detroit Lions fans are going into the 2021 offseason not knowing a lick of what is about to happen.

General Manager Bob Quinn is out. Head coach Matt Patricia is out. Matthew Stafford’s fate is unknown at this point. Kenny Golladay is a free agent. The majority of this roster was built to look like the Motor City Patriots.

Whatever brain trust comes to Detroit, the ownership is going to need to be patient because this team needs to be overhauled.

Robert Saleh is one of the hottest head coach candidates in the NFL right now. The 49ers defensive coordinator has been doing a tremendous job over the past few seasons and would have the opportunity to build his own program in Detroit.

The long-term nature of this gig could make it a tougher one for the Lions to attract top coaching prospects to.

Saleh is a player’s coach who knows how to scheme a defense and he’s helped get the 49ers into a position where they execute regardless of injuries or personnel.

It just so happens that Saleh is a Michigan native as well, so this would be a homecoming hire.