The NFL recruiting cycle is heating up. Jan. 22 was the first day teams could interview in-person with candidates who are currently on playoff teams, but no one has been poached yet. stillI feel like it's just a matter of time.
A total of eight head coaching positions are open for the 2023 cycle, with the majority to be filled on or shortly after “Black Monday.” panthers, charger And the Raiders fired their head coach midway through the season after a disappointing start, and they were joined by the Falcons, Titans, Commanders, and Patriots shortly after the regular season. seahawksall looking for new directions.
It will take years for these recruits to resolve the issue and separate the good from the bad. So consider these ratings to be a necessary reaction based on what we know at this point. That said, SB Nation has shown great talent in this regard in the past, giving the Texans an “A+” for hiring DeMeko Ryans last year and an “A” for hiring Mike McDaniel the year before. ing. DolphinMeanwhile, Josh McDaniels was one of my least favorite players in the 2022 recruiting class.
A great coaching hire is about more than just skills. Anyone being considered for a head coaching job in the NFL has great talent. The question is whether they are a good fit for the organization they join and whether their systems align with the organization's vision.
Jerrod Mayo, New England Patriots
This was a surprise to anyone who hadn't been paying attention for the past three years. It's clear the Patriots have Mayo in mind as a future member, most evident in the 2023 recruiting cycle when New England blocked Mayo's interview as defensive coordinator and then That's when he gave him a huge new contract to stay with him. Linebackers coach. When that happens, you know someone is part of a bigger plan.
I can see that vision now, but this hire is only half-hearted for me. I really like Mayo as a coach and there's no doubt he has a great rapport with his players. But I don't like New England moving on under a new head coach with such a closed background.
The 37-year-old's entire coaching career has been under Belichick. His entire playing career took place under Belichick. Therefore, it becomes very difficult to escape from its shadow. With a lack of connections across the NFL, Mayo is concerned that he will have to rely primarily on internal staff and the Pats will need a new approach to the organization to turn a page away from Belichick's legacy. was needed.
This could all work out, and I really like this for New England defensively, but the quality of the staff he can assemble worries me.
Grade: B-
Antonio Pierce, Las Vegas Raiders
This is a decidedly un-Raiders move, so I'm tempted to give it an A on its merits alone. An organization known for chasing new and flashy things made the smart choice to hire Pierce as head coach after it became clear he was up to the job after going 5-4 as an interim. There was pressure from within to promote him.
Pierce has head coaching talent on his resume, including last year as interim player for the Raiders; arizona This guy clearly understands the top-down approach to the organization, and the players really love him.
This one has a bit of a Dan Campbell vibe to it. Campbell had more experience before taking over as the Lions' head coach, but a similar player-first approach could pay off big. With the right offensive coordinator, this is a team that could make some noise in the AFC West sooner rather than later.
Never underestimate the power of a team that believes in its coach.
Class A-
Brian Callahan, Tennessee Titans
This is a bit of a headache. Nothing against Brian Callahan. However, whether he is qualified for the job is a big question at this point.
Little is known about what Callahan's role within the Bengals actually was. Although his title reads “Offensive Coordinator,” it is widely accepted that Zac Taylor called the offense and designed much of the playbook. This lends to the idea that Callahan's primary role was to carry out the vision and organize protection and personnel to fit the plan.
What I don't like about this hire is exactly that. It's about executing someone else's vision.
The Titans' main reason for moving on from Mike Vrabel was a desire to modernize their football operations and take a big step forward. It's unclear whether Callahan, who served as an old-school foil to Taylor's new-school concept, is the right fit.
Callaghan seems better suited to the role of CEO coach, someone who delegates authority to others, rather than someone who directly changes the organization. That's not entirely bad, and with the right staff, this could certainly work. I question how quickly the Titans locked this down and whether it was the right move.
Grade: C
