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NFL insider notebook: Vikings top ranking of head coaching openings, plus divisional round picks
Jonathan Jones' weekly look inside the NFL includes Mike McCarthy digging himself a deeper hole
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Call me crazy, but I think the team with a solid quarterback, running back, offensive line and defense in place is the best head-coaching spot in the NFL right now.
I'm talking about the Minnesota Vikings, of course. Having asked around the league this past week, several coaches, agents and executives would agree. Mike Zimmer's philosophies had gotten stale in Minnesota, but new blood can shake things up.
There are plenty of factors in determining "best spot" right now. Some of these teams don't even have GMs yet. With some teams, you have to project to free agency what their chances are of markedly improving the team.
I have the Vikings No. 1 because you don't have to worry about the QB position right now. Kirk Cousins is under contract and more than capable of getting you to the playoffs. That's more than can be said about the overwhelming majority of teams searching for head coaches. On top of that, you have a patient-enough ownership group in the Wilfs that won't meddle in your affairs.
Here's how I see the jobs ranking, in order of best to worst: Minnesota, Chicago, Miami, Denver, Las Vegas, New York Giants, Jaguars, Texans.
The Bears are a legacy franchise that recently changed its reporting structure at the top. Ted Phillips is no longer the go-between, and the Bears have a franchise quarterback on a rookie contract in Justin Fields. (You'll note much of this list is motivated by the *current* quarterback situation with respective teams.)
I think here is where the debate really starts, and if you want to switch these next two teams, that's fine with me. I have the Dolphins at No. 3 because they have a quarterback in Tua Tagovailoa, a GM in Chris Grier who just had a fantastic draft last year (Jaylen Waddle, Jaelan Phillips and Jevon Holland), and upwards of $70 million in cap space come March. For as ugly as the offensive line is, you have the capital to make it better.