How attractive is Las Vegas for potential head coaches?
Now that the Las Vegas Raiders have officially fired Antonio Pierce and will begin the offseason, let’s take a look and where the Raiders’ head coach opening ranks among the five other vacancies in the NFL. Factors considered are the quarterback situation, 2025 NFL Draft picks, salary cap space and roster.
Draft picks are via Tankathon and salary cap information is via Over The Cap.
1. New England Patriots
QB: Drake Maye
Top 100 Draft Picks: 4, 38, 69, 77 (from ATL)
Salary Cap: $127.7 million (1st in NFL)
With how well Maye played this season and the Patriots having the most cap space in the league, New England should be an attractive destination for head coach candidates this offseason. Also, the team doesn’t have many notable impending free agents and has a couple of young, promising defensive players in Christian Gonzalez and Christian Barmore. The offensive line needs work but that’s where the cap space and fourth overall pick come in.
2. Chicago Bears
QB: Caleb Williams
Top 100 Draft Picks: 10, 39 (from CAR), 41, 72
Salary Cap: $80.1 million (5th in NFL)
Williams was far from perfect this fall, but he had moments where his talent and potential were obvious. The USC product was widely considered the top quarterback in last year’s draft, so an offensive-minded head coach would likely look forward to the opportunity to work with the 2024 No. 1 overall pick. Plus, Chicago has plenty of money to spend and a good defense led by Jaylon Johnson and Montez Sweat.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images
QB: Trevor Lawrence
Top 100 Draft Picks: 5, 36, 70, 92 (from MIN)
Salary Cap: $34.9 million (18th in NFL)
Another former No. 1 overall pick, Lawrence was good enough to earn a contract extension last offseason before struggling in 2024. However, like Williams, the former Pro Bowler’s talent should be enough to entice one of the top offensive-minded candidates this season. Also, Josh Allen-Hines is an elite edge defender to build the defense around, and the fifth overall pick should allow Jacksonville to land another young premier defender. The biggest issues with the Jags are the relative lack of cap space and having to work with general manager Trent Baalke, who many thought might get fired on ‘Black Monday’.
4. Las Vegas Raiders
QB: Aidan O’Connell
Top 100 Draft Picks: 6, 37, 68, 73 (from NYJ)
Salary Cap: $107.3 million (2nd in NFL)
The Raiders’ biggest issue is they don’t have a clear starting quarterback or a clear path to get one. The cap space is nice and could help with that, but the best option on the open market will be Sam Darnold. Also, Las Vegas is in a tough spot to draft Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward—widely considered the top QBs in the draft class—by picking behind three teams who also could use a signal-caller. That said, the Raiders do have a decent roster along with plenty of cap space and four picks within the Top 100 to make it even better. If Mark Davis is willing to offer a longer contract to provide more job security and let the quarterback situation work itself out, Sin City could become a more attractive destination.
5. New York Jets
QB: Aaron Rodgers
Top 100 Draft Picks: 7, 42, 96 (from DET)
Salary Cap: $28.9 million (20th in NFL)
Rodgers is likely on his way out of New York, but then who is going to take over at quarterback? That will help create more salary cap space, $9.5 million with a post-June 1 cut, but Darnold has already crashed with the Jets and the organization is in a worse spot than the Raiders for drafting a quarterback. Plus, who would want to work with Woody Johnson after the recent reports that have come out? Led by Quinnen Williams, Gang Green does have plenty of talent on defense, but the quarterback situation and questions on offense make the club a hard sell for candidates with other options.
6. New Orleans Saints
QB: Derek Carr
Top 100 Draft Picks: 9, 40, 71, 90 (from WSH)
Salary Cap: $-66.8 million
Two words; cap hell. Granted, Mickey Loomis is a wizard who has constantly gotten the Saints above water over the last few years. However, the roster is also very old with defensive stars like Tyrann Mathieu, Cameron Jordan and Demario Davis approaching or in their mid-30s. Plus, Carr might have to be a cap casualty to save $30 million (post-June 1) and then it becomes a question of if a coach wants to work with Spencer Rattler. With no cap space and a worse pick than Las Vegas and New York, the quarterback situation is pretty bleak in New Orleans.