Antonio Pierce became the third NFL head coach to lose his job this week, joining Doug Pederson of the Jaguars and Jerod Mayo of the Patriots. With Pierce’s departure, the Raiders now join the Jets, Bears, Saints, Jaguars and Patriots as six teams searching for a new head coach before next season. All six teams have top-10 draft picks, with the Patriots standing out as a prime destination due to their strong organizational structure, the most salary cap space in the NFL, and a young quarterback in Derek Maye. However, the franchise is coming off its worst stretch since Robert Kraft purchased the team in 1994.
Top Coaching Candidates for NFL Teams
Among the most sought-after coaching candidates are Ben Johnson, the offensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions, and Mike Vrabel, the 2021 Coach of the Year with the Tennessee Titans. Despite holding the first overall draft pick, the Titans recently fired their general manager, raising questions about their direction. Another intriguing name is Deion Sanders, who excelled at Colorado despite having no NFL coaching experience. While Sanders has repeatedly stated that he is happy at Colorado, a compelling offer from the Raiders could change his mind, i mean everyone has a price. Sanders has a strong relationship with Raiders owner Mark Davis, and rumors of his potential move have intensified, especially after Deion, while Pierce was still with the Raiders, publicly encouraged him to have his sons, Shedeur and Shilo, drafted into the NFL.
Sanders to the Raiders’ Would Change the Draft
Shedeur Sanders is projected to be a top three pick, with quarterback-needy teams like the Titans, Browns, and Giants in those positions. Should Deion Sanders join the Raiders, the team – currently holding the sixth overall pick – could attempt to trade up to secure Shedeur, creating a father-son dynamic that would transition from the NCAA to the NFL. The Raiders could also target Shilo Sanders, who is projected to go in the third or fourth round, further solidifying the family connection. Even though, i think he would stay at Colorado and won’t get to coach, yet, in the NFL, Sanders has said he won’t let his son go to some poorly organized team (coff, coff Browns, Titans) so we can expect an Eli Manning draft move this year.
While these are still rumors, Deion Sanders has turned Colorado into a competitive program, leading them to nine wins this season, their highest total since 2016. His recruiting efforts have brought young talent to the Buffaloes, and he was instrumental in Travis Hunterwinning the Heisman Trophy this year. Even if he remains at Colorado, Sanders’ legacy continues to grow as the team now looks to win its first bowl since 2004. For now, the NFL waits to see if Deion’s success story takes on its next chapter in Las Vegas. If not, as I see it and being the most sensible thing to do, the Titans would take Cam Ward first, mainly because Deion probably won’t let Shedeur get there, then the Browns would take Travis Hunter for being the best overall player available and the Giants would take Shedeur, but anyway the draft is many days away on April 25th and for the moment rumors are the most likely to be heard.
But even with Deion’s arrival, the Raiders would not change overnight. The franchise has been mired in mediocrity for decades, as the franchise has not had consecutive winning seasons since 2001-2002. Also, in the last three non-playoff seasons, they have a combined record of 18-33 and only two playoff games, both losses in the last 22 years, so it’s not a destination much appreciated by coaches, despite being a team with a lot of history and glorious years in the past.
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