5 candidates to replace Steve Wilks as Arizona Cardinals coach

2. Josh McDaniels

Even after he backed out of taking the Indianapolis Colts’ job after last season, McDaniels will be in demand for head coaching interviews after this season. Any decline the Patriots’ offense has had this year can be placed on some drop-off from Tom Brady, and the more serious declines of Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman, beyond any substantial shortcomings from McDaniels as the coordinator.

When it comes down to it, for reasons that are his own or otherwise, McDaniels may not become a serious candidate for the job openings with the Browns and Packers. Looming openings with the Jets, Denver Broncos and Cincinnati Bengals don’t look like fits either, and possible openings with the Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars can be added to that list of strained fits. That leaves the Cardinals as the team with an opening that may fit McDaniels, and appeal to him.

Josh Rosen came off as being difficult to coach during the pre-draft process, with little actual evidence to back that up beyond the idea he would question things. The length of time McDaniels has spent working with Brady should make him open to feedback from his quarterback, even a young one like Rosen, and able to set any ego aside.

McDaniels will get another head coaching opportunity at some point. There’s no reason it can’t be in Arizona, if other openings fall by the wayside and they can jump to the front of the line with their selling points.