NFL News

The 2016 NFL head coaching hiring cycle is now complete following the Titans’ promotion of interim HC Mike Mularkey to the full-time job. Seven new head coaches were named, but as our head coaching search tracker shows, many more candidates were a part of interview processes around the league. Let’s take a look at some of those coaches who didn’t land a job this year (but who could certainly be candidates again at this time next season):

• Teryl Austin – Lions DC: Like he was in 2015, Austin was among the most popular candidates on the interview circuit, as he was scheduled to interview for five of the seven vacancies (Browns, Dolphins, Eagles, Giants, and Titans). Instead, he’ll return to Detroit under head coach Jim Caldwell, who will remain with the club for as least one more season. Austin, whose defenses have finished in the top half of the league in terms of DVOA in each of the past two years, should be a viable head coaching candidate again in 2017.
• Tom Coughlin – former Giants HC: After resigning in New York, Coughlin didn’t opt for retirement, instead interviewing for both the 49ers and Eagles head coaching jobs. In fact, the Philadelphia gig was likely his for the taking, but Coughlin withdrew his name after realizing that most of his former assistants would be staying with the Giants (and new HC Ben McAdoo). Coughlin will be 71 years old when the 2017 season begins, so his days as a head coach are probably over.
• Doug Marrone – Jaguars OL coach: Marrone has been on the hunt for a head coaching job ever since opting out of his Bills contract following the 2015 season. He met with the Browns, Dolphins, Giants, and Titans but, as he did last year, failed to land a new gig. He’ll once again lead Jacksonville’s offensive line (and serve as the club’s assistant head coach) this season.
• Josh McDaniels and Matt Patricia – Patriots OC/DC: Between the two, McDaniels and Patricia only ended up taking one interview (Patricia with the Browns). But both coaches were hot names on the coaching market as a result of being key figures in New England’s success. The Dolphins requested interviews with both (neither went), and both were considered strong candidates for the Titans vacancy. Spending another season under the tutelage of Bill Belichick isn’t the worst outcome, however, and both will look for top jobs again next year.
• Sean McDermott – Panthers DC: For a coach who has lead one of the league’s best defenses for the past five year (including a No. 3 DVOA finish this season), McDermott didn’t garner that much interest. He interviewed with the Browns and Buccaneers, and was also linked to the Giants and Eagles jobs. McDermott never seemed close to landing a head coaching job, however, so another season in Carolina is in the cards.
• Anthony Lynn – Bills RB coach: Lynn — who is also an assistant head coach with Buffalo — might have the least name value of anyone on this list, but he did interview for two jobs (Dolphins and 49ers). Former NFL scout Dan Hatman recently tweeted that Lynn “has head coach written all over him,” so perhaps the 2017 cycle will be kinder to his prospects.
• Mike Shanahan – former NFL head coach: 2016 marked the second consecutive season that Shanahan was linked to the 49ers’ head coaching position, and of course, the second consecutive that San Francisco chose another candidate. He also interviewed for the Dolphins job. At 63 years old, it’s doubtful that Shanahan will be a candidate for vacancies next year.
• Mike Smith – former Falcons HC: After sitting out the 2015 season, Smith interviewed for both the Dolphins and Giants jobs, and was mentioned as a candidate for the 49ers and Buccaneers gigs. As it stands, he will be heading to Tampa Bay, albeit as Dirk Koetter‘s new defensive coordinator.

An AFC team’s scout revealed North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz rates as his team’s No. 1 quarterback in the 2016 draft class, Matt Miller of Nerdy Football writes.

Said team doesn’t expect the Division I-FCS national champion signal-caller to be on the board, however, when they select late in the first round.

Missing time due to injury this season, Wentz threw for 42 touchdown passes and 14 interceptions in his two years starting for the Bison.

Conversely, early-entry player Paxton Lynch did not impress one school’s scouting director, who told Miller, “Go watch him against any good team and tell me how he did. He’s overrated.”

In Mel Kiper Jr.’s first mock draft, the 6-foot-7 Lynch goes off the board at No. 15, with Wentz lasting until No. 22.

Here is some more about the upcoming draft class:

• Clemson wide receiver Mike Williams announced he’d return for the 2016 season after fracturing his neck in a preseason accident. He would have rated as Miller’s No. 1 receiver in this class had he declared early. Miller also places Tigers defensive ends Shaq Lawson and Kevin Dodd among his top 25 prospects.
• Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith‘s floor should be no lower than No. 18, an AFC scouting director tells NFL.com’s Albert Breer. The anonymous scouting director hasn’t seen any medical reports on Smith’s knee, recently repaired via reconstructive surgery, and how the early-entry linebacker’s medical evaluations go at the Scouting Combine next month will contribute to his placement, notes Breer, who adds the Irish’s top prospect would have gone in the top three or four picks had he not torn his ACL and MCL.
• Another collegiate player with an ACL injury — Mississippi corner Will Redmond — is also drawing attention from NFL scouts, per Breer. Redmond, who injured his knee in October, could be ready for the beginning of the season, and while he is now projected as a mid-round pick, he was garnering interest as potential first-rounder prior to his ACL tear.

Dallas Robinson contributed to this post.

A day after we heard Hue Jackson wasn’t planning to hire an offensive coordinator to start his Browns regime, the Browns are negotiating with former Colts OC Pep Hamilton, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer (on Twitter).

Hamilton is in talks to become the Browns’ assistant head coach/offense, basically becoming the top offensive assistant to Jackson in the event these negotiations progress toward Hamilton joining the Browns’ staff.

Jackson, per Cabot will be the Browns’ play-caller this season, just as he was with the Bengals the past two years and with the Raiders, when he coached in Oakland in 2011.

Hamilton, who called plays in Indianapolis before being fired after the Colts started 3-5 this season, met with Jackson on Friday to initially discuss a potential role in Cleveland.

The Browns today informed 2015 offensive coordinator John DeFilippo he would not be back next season. DeFilippo has two years remaining on his contract, which the team will be required to pay out.

Andrew Luck‘s offensive coordinator at Stanford before moving to Indianapolis, Hamilton carried a reputation as a conservative play-caller with the Colts. Hamilton reportedly wasn’t receptive to internal calls to speed up the Colts’ offense this season. An injured Luck helped the Colts regress from third in total offense in Hamilton’s final full season in Indianapolis to 28th this season.

Hamilton previously served as the quarterbacks coach for the Jets, 49ers and Bears from 2004-2009 before spending three seasons in Palo Alto.

Photo courtesy USA Today Sports Images