Ranking the best potential NFL head coaching openings

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 05: Head coach Jason Garrett of the Dallas Cowboys throws a ball during warmups prior to a game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 05, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Cowboys 31-24. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

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Mandatory Credit: David T. Foster III/Charlotte Observer/Tribune News Service via Getty Images /

2. Carolina Panthers

A fairly new owner who wants to win, appears to be willing to let football people make the football decisions and seems ready to pour resources into that end of the operation? Check.

The ability to cultivate (and have a hand in picking?) the quarterback of your choosing? Check.

Plenty of talent in place on both sides of the ball, and enough cap space ($34.8 million) and the prospect of a high first-round pick to add to it? Check.

The firing of Ron Rivera early this month has given the Panthers a theoretical head start on a search for a new head coach. Maybe owner David Tepper has someone in mind, or maybe he just wanted to try to widen the potential options available by moving on Rivera early.

The Panthers do have the aforementioned quarterback question. Cam Newton is headed into the final year of his contract in 2020, with health concerns along the team’s ability to move on from him pretty painlessly. They’ve apparently seen all they need to from Kyle Allen, as rookie Will Grier is slated to start under center for the final two games of the season.

But as suggested the potential ability to hand-pick a quarterback, or at least have some input in the matter, stands to appeal to some head coaching candidates. So the Panthers come in as the runner-up of NFL head coaching openings for this year.

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