CBS Sports claims Falcons have NFL’s least desirable coaching vacancy
The Atlanta Falcons are one of six NFL teams with a head-coaching vacancy, and one of seven franchises in need of a new general manager. As the Falcons continue to interview different candidates — Joe Brady, Eric Bieniemy, Brad Holmes, Morocco Brown and Robert Saleh — analysts continue to rank the different job openings.
CBS Sports’ Tyler Sullivan ranked the vacancies for head coach in order from most to least desirable. Atlanta was listed as the league’s least desirable coaching destination.
His reasoning is largely due to quarterback Matt Ryan’s age and cap hit for 2021. Couple that with the Falcons now being $31 million over the projected salary cap for 2021, and any incoming candidate would be behind the eight ball from the jump. Rich McKay said that candidates aren’t expressing overt concerns, but it’s hard to imagine that won’t be a factor in accepting a position.
McKay also said he’s unwilling to jeopardize the future of the team in any attempt to win now. This likely means Atlanta will attempt to hang on to Ryan if possible. The amount of dead money would handcuff the team in any rebuilding process.
The Falcons have some big-time decisions to make during the offseason, including who to select with the fourth-overall pick in the 2021 draft.
