UNCrules2187

With regards to the cap, I don't have a problem with doing simple restructures for guys like Moore and Moton. Both have been relatively healthy their entire careers, are still young and productive, and figure to be in the team's plans for at least the next 3 years. Base salary restructures of Moore and Moton alone open up ~$19.5m of cap space.

The only way the next Panthers HC doesn't have an offensive background is if they decide to promote Wilks to the full-time job. Even if they interview someone like Ryans, Ejiro, or Quinn, I don't think any of those candidates have a real shot. The only wild card candidate I could see being hired would be Raheem Morris given he has previous HC experience and has worked on both sides of the ball.

Yeah that's why I only included the Carolina portion and left the rest out. If that's a no-no, can edit it out. Other highlights: Denver: Payton is their top choice, but he may not want them. Payton likely waiting out to see what happens with the LA gigs. Arizona: Vance Joseph expected to be a candidate. Need someone who will maximize and challenge Murray. Harbaugh - wants Colts job but will take any job if offered

Just sign Evan Engram in FA. He's your former first round pick and gave the Jags 766 yards and 4 TDs on a 1 year, $9m deal. Could also look at Mike Gesicki. Prior to this year, he put up back to back 700+ yard seasons and has averaged 4.5 TDs/year over the last 4 years.

Of those 3, only Gonzalez was a first round pick. Gronk was 42nd overall, Kelce 63rd overall. No need to waste a top 10 pick on a TE.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/insider/story/_/id/35420999/nfl-head-coach-openings-latest-buzz-rumors-candidates-broncos-cardinals-panthers-including-sean-payton-jim-harbaugh

No thanks to a first round TE, waste of a pick. You can find stars in the middle of the draft, that's where all the top TEs in the league have been draft: Kelce - 3rd round Kittle - 5th round Andrews - 3rd round Knox - 3rd round Kmet - 2nd round Hockenson, Engram and Njoku are the only 3 first rounders in the top 10 in yards this season and 2 of those 3 are vets on their 2nd team while Njoku was picked at the end of round 1 (29 overall).

I'd love Flores as well but given he and Wilks are suing the Dolphins/NFL together, I have a hard time believing he'd come to be a DC in Carolina for a...non-minority first time HC if Tepper passes over Wilks for the HC gig. Not to mention Johnson was on Miami's staff when Flores was hired as HC and he wasn't retained by Flores.

Reich interviewing today per Rapoport

Looking into this some more for a separate post on DC candidates for the young OCs, but couple of other names: Vance Joseph - was DC in Miami in 2016 when Johnson was TE coach. Joseph has prior HC experience (Broncos 2017-2018) and may not be retained in Arizona after Kingsbury firing; would be an ideal pairing IMO Matt Burke - was LB coach (2016) and then DC (2017-2018) in Miami when Johnson was on staff. Was then a defensive assistant (2019) and later DL coach and run game coordinator (2020) in Philly under Doug Pederson. Currently DL coach in Arizona and unlikely to be retained after the Kingsbury firing

In-person interviews with outside candidates that are currently employed by NFL teams cannot be conducted until Tuesday, 1/17 per league rules.

Mike Mularkey was Tennessee's interim HC in 2015 after two previous HC stints with Buffalo (2004-2005) and Jacksonville (2012). He went 18-14 (.563 win %) in 2 seasons with one playoff appearance before being fired after the 2017 season. Doug Marrone was Jacksonville's interim HC at the end of 2016 after being the Bills HC from 2013-2014. He went 22-42 (.343 win %) in 4 seasons with the Jags with one playoff appearance before being fired after the 2020 season.

For everyone who thinks Wilks did a great job and should get the HC gig (and to be clear, I think he did a very good job given the circumstances)...why is he not a candidate for any of the other vacancies (excluding Arizona because we know why he won't be one there)? Doesn't that tell you something?

Got it. I just can't see Wilks staying on as DC for a hot shot young offensive prospect at HC. Feels like it would undermine that coach's influence with the team given how the locker room feels about Wilks and campaigning for him to get the HC job full-time. As you said, probably only Dorsey could make it work since they likely have a pre-existing relationship.

Dorsey and Wilks package would only be with Dorsey as HC and Wilks being ok staying on as DC. Dorsey is not leaving a SB contender and an All-Pro QB to make a lateral move.

Daboll and Kafka had Daniel Jones put up 3,200 yards, 15 TDs, and a 92.5 QB rating/60.7 QBR with Darius Slayton, Richie James, Isaiah Hodgins, and Daniel Bellinger as their top receiving options.

Tepper got conned by Rhule, no question about it. I think he's admitting to that by looking for guys that, even if they are young, have real NFL experience. Putting aside Wilks, Caldwell, and Reich, each of these guys have monumentally more NFL experience than Rhule did. Counting both player and coach experience: Steichen: 12 years (all coaching) Johnson: 11 years (all coaching) Dorsey: 15 years (6 as a player, 9 as a coach) Kafka: 11 years (5 as a player, 6 as a coach) Rhule, prior to being named HC, had exactly 1 year of NFL experience. All 4 of the young OC candidates have spent the past decade-plus in a professional environment around professional players and professional coaches.

For next season, McVay is either on the Rams sideline or on a pregame show/TV booth. He's not going to another team.

I think if Wilks is kept and Reich comes on as OC that would be a very viable option.

"Solid but unspectacular" is the very definition of this franchise over the course of its history. I believe Wilks is more of the same. You may get an occasional double digit win season and playoff appearance in a stream of 7-10 and 8-9 seasons. I'd rather try something fresh. Sure, a first time HC could flame out. But as an owner you can't be willing to settle for mediocre, especially when the NFL is geared towards year over year makeovers unlike other major sports leagues.

Not sure why you think retread HCs are any better: https://pro-football-history.com/blog/10/18/redemption-or-retread

Neither Kafka nor Dorsey were on the roster during his playing days. Dorsey spent a year as a scout and 5 years as QB coach in Carolina though.

Feels like Eric B’s chance for a HC gig has come and gone. He’s interview with like half the league and no one’s thought enough to take the plunge. No (known) interview requests this go around so far either.