Ranking the NFL's 8 head coaching vacancies

The NFL's coaching carousel is busier than expected this year, with eight jobs available not even a week after the conclusion of the regular season.

More firings could be on the way, as a few teams might consider a change if they make an early exit from the playoffs this weekend. But there's more than enough to talk about already.

Here's a look at all eight head coaching vacancies, counting down from least to most attractive to prospective candidates.

2026 cap space: minus-$17.1M
1st draft pick: No. 6 overall

Kevin Stefanski's history as a two-time NFL Coach of the Year wasn't enough to save his job after the Browns managed eight wins over the last two seasons. Could they upgrade? Sure. Will they actually be able to? Hmm.

Their biggest obstacle is having the least desirable opening in the league. Cleveland seemed to be trending in the right direction at various times under Stefanski, but getting nothing out of a huge investment in Deshaun Watson ultimately sunk the team's chances. The cap was effectively decimated by his unprecedented fully guaranteed contract - along with the numerous restructures that followed - and the overall talent on the roster was hurt by a lack of premium picks.

The Browns are still feeling the effects of that catastrophic decision with one year left on Watson's deal. Cleveland would have quite a bit of flexibility to rebuild were it not for his league-high $80.7-million cap hit in 2026. Instead, that albatross means there's no money to address countless roster needs, including the lack of an obvious starting quarterback and a starting offensive line that's nearly all headed to free agency.

Retaining Andrew Berry as general manager despite all the moves that brought the organization to this juncture probably isn't a selling point for top candidates either. Experienced coaches seeking a second or third chance might be the most willing to take on the unique challenges of this job.

Possible candidates: Mike McDaniel, Mike McCarthy, Jim Schwartz

2026 cap space: minus-$23.2M
1st draft pick: No. 11 overall

We'll probably hear John Harbaugh linked to the Dolphins' job quite a bit. And considering ownership's connections to the Harbaugh family - and willingness to cut a sizable check for a big-name coach - he could very well accept the position.

But that's not the same as being an objectively attractive job for the average candidate. It's entirely possible that the top up-and-coming coaches will stay far away from Miami.

The roster is not in a good place, and a dire cap situation suggests it might have to get worse before it gets better. Cutting Tyreek Hill would save $26.6 million but would barely get the Dolphins back into the black. And the expected move to dump Tua Tagovailoa won't help; releasing the former first-round passer would leave behind a record $99.2 million in dead money. Who's the Dolphins' starting quarterback going to be with such harsh financial constraints and no draft pick until 11th overall? Your guess is as good as mine.

Again, a star candidate like Harbaugh would almost certainly be given the runway to work through the necessary teardown before building the organization back up in his vision. And Stephen Ross would undoubtedly make it worth Harbaugh's while. But less established coaches with options elsewhere might prefer a situation that has a clearer route to success. It'll be a long road back for the Dolphins.

Possible candidates: John Harbaugh, Jesse Minter, Chris Shula

2026 cap space: $25.2M
1st draft pick: No. 3 overall

The Cardinals appeared to be on an upward trajectory heading into this season, but things aren't looking so hot now. While there are some interesting pieces from the last few draft classes, this roster has a long way to go coming off the 3-14 campaign that cost Jonathan Gannon his job.

The primary factor hurting Arizona's pitch to top candidates is uncertainty over the team's quarterback future. Does a change of direction open the door for Kyler Murray to return in 2026? Would the new coach even want him back? If not, what other options do the Cardinals have?

Both quarterbacks worth selecting early in this year's draft could be off the board by the time Arizona is on the clock at No. 3. Finding a trade partner for Murray would open up over $35 million in additional cap space, but there aren't many desirable options to spend that money on. Daniel Jones and Malik Willis headline this year's free-agent quarterback class, and Tua Tagovailoa would join that group if and when the Dolphins release him.

It's understandable that the Cardinals wanted to give Monti Ossenfort more than three years to implement his vision, but being tied to a general manager who's already under pressure doesn't make this already daunting job any more enticing.

Possible candidates: Klint Kubiak, Robert Saleh, Vance Joseph

2026 cap space: $21.4M
1st draft pick: No. 48 overall

The Falcons have a painfully unique ability to make it seem like they're nearing a breakthrough, only to remain the exact same team they've been for the better part of the last decade.

Atlanta could theoretically attract some highly sought-after candidates to help lead the team out of that mediocrity. Raheem Morris only got two years as the head coach before being fired along with general manager Terry Fontenot this week, but it's easy to understand why Arthur Blank felt the need to clean house after this year's setback. He had previously been one of the league's more patient owners.

The Falcons also have some valuable pieces. Bijan Robinson and Drake London provide an elite playmaking duo on offense, 2025 first-rounders Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. finally seem to have solidified Atlanta's pass-rush, and rookie standout Xavier Watts gives Atlanta a trio of impact players in the secondary along with A.J. Terrell Jr. and Jessie Bates III. But there are still major questions about Michael Penix Jr.'s chances of developing into a franchise quarterback, and, after a season-ending knee injury, it's unclear whether he'll be ready for Week 1. Not having a first-round pick also deprives a new regime of its best opportunity to add premium talent.

While being hired at the same time as a new general manager can help establish organizational alignment, you can bet coaching candidates will have questions about the president of football role that Blank is adding to the organization. The head coach and GM will report to the person in this new position. That hire is reportedly expected to be former Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, who has no front-office experience.

Possible candidates: Kevin Stefanski, Klint Kubiak, Mike LaFleur

2026 cap space: $96.7M
1st draft pick: No. 4 overall

Cam Ward didn't produce the most spectacular numbers as a rookie, but that had more to do with his dreadful situation in Tennessee than his level of play. The No. 1 overall pick showed flashes of brilliance throughout, giving prospective coaches at least one very important reason to be excited about the future of this team.

Tennessee's roster can be perceived one of two ways: Either this is the ultimate project that will require several years of methodical rebuilding, or it's a ready-made opportunity to construct something from the ground up - no teardown necessary. The Titans also have the second-most cap space of any team in the league, and an early run on quarterbacks in the draft would ensure an impact defender falls into their lap at No. 4.

Similar to the Raiders' vacancy, the most significant drawbacks involve factors that are completely out of the coach's control. Will the same ownership group that fired Mike Vrabel at the end of the 2023 season and then gave his successor just 23 games offer the necessary patience and support to finally get the Titans on track?

The organization has long had an unusual structure, creating confusion about who's actually making football decisions between general manager Mike Borgonzi and president of football operations Chad Brinker. Amy Adams Strunk attempted to rectify the issue in a recent letter to fans, outlining a more typical front-office setup, but it remains to be seen whether that makes things run more smoothly. You can't blame candidates for being skeptical.

Possible candidates: Robert Saleh, Mike McCarthy, Matt Nagy

2026 cap space: $88.6M
1st draft pick: No. 1 overall

It'll be fascinating to see what kinds of candidates have genuine interest in the Raiders' job. The appeal of this opening largely depends on what you're looking for - or, perhaps more accurately, what you're willing to put up with.

On the surface, Las Vegas offers a blank slate allowing a new coach to build a team entirely according to his vision. You've got the No. 1 overall pick to use on a potential franchise quarterback, plus a few blue-chip talents in Maxx Crosby, Brock Bowers, and Ashton Jeanty. There's lots of financial flexibility to bolster the offensive line and defense in free agency, with some veteran cuts likely to bump the cap space above $100 million. The Raiders also have state-of-the-art facilities and an ownership group, now backed by some deep-pocketed investors, that's clearly willing to spend big on the coaching staff.

Sounds great, right? It could be. But that all depends on ownership, with Tom Brady serving a primary role in major football decisions, learning from its latest blunders and finally starting to act like a serious organization. As enticing as some of the above advantages may be, they don't mean much if these are the same old Raiders. The franchise is searching for its sixth different coach since moving to Las Vegas in 2020. Will things actually be different this time?

Brady will have to make quite the pitch if the Raiders hope to land a top candidate.

Possible candidates: Brian Flores, Vance Joseph, Jesse Minter

2026 cap space: $4.5M
1st draft pick: No. 5 overall

If the Ravens' job is an A-plus opening, consider the Giants a solid B. And they're the only team that comes close.

Let's start with the positives: There's a lot to like about the talent in some key areas. The foundation of any great defense is built in the trenches. And with No. 3 overall pick Abdul Carter settling in alongside Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Dexter Lawrence, New York has as much talent as any front in football. Malik Nabers should be back on the path to superstar receiver status after returning from this year's knee injury, Andrew Thomas is a stud at left tackle, and Cam Skattebo showed plenty of promise as a potential feature back before his rookie season was cut short.

Jaxson Dart may not be for everyone, and it remains to be seen whether he can develop into a true franchise quarterback. But he showed enough flashes during his rookie season to be considered a plus by most coaching candidates. And while the Giants have gone through a bit of a rough patch of late - they're now 10 years removed from their last season with double-digit wins - this is still one of the marquee organizations in the NFL.

So what's not to like? Well, for some reason, ownership doesn't see the need for a change at GM. Joe Schoen leading the coaching search suggests he'll remain in his role for a fifth season, potentially complicating the fit with top candidates who want to be aligned with the front office. On a related note, one would hope that a team coming off a four-win season had more than a projected $4.5 million in cap space to improve the roster. Schoen's uninspiring management created a situation where the Giants can't even take full advantage of having a starting quarterback on a rookie contract.

Possible candidates: John Harbaugh, Kevin Stefanski, Jeff Hafley

2026 cap space: $20.8M
1st draft pick: No. 14 overall

Baltimore should have its pick of the top candidates on the market. Lead jobs don't get much more appealing.

Opportunities to take over a roster featuring a two-time MVP in the midst of his prime just don't come around very often. In a league where quarterback play has an outsized impact on team success, Lamar Jackson's presence alone makes this the best head coaching vacancy in the last five years.

The rest of the roster does require some fine-tuning after a frustrating season, but the track record of a front office led by general manager Eric DeCosta should give candidates total confidence that they'll get the pieces they need to be successful. If the Ravens make the right moves to address deficiencies at receiver and in the pass-rush, and they also bring in some fresh ideas on both sides of the ball, there's no reason they can't immediately resume being legitimate Super Bowl contenders.

And it's not just about the path to success, either. The Ravens also offer something most other teams on this list can't: stability. While John Harbaugh deserves most of the credit for the consistency across an 18-year stint in Baltimore, that kind of extended run doesn't happen without steady ownership creating a winning culture from the top. The Ravens' decision will also be a significant domino, since any team that isn't in the mix for Harbaugh could be stuck waiting for them to make their hire.

Possible candidates: Jesse Minter, Brian Flores, Kliff Kingsbury

(Salary cap data source: Over the Cap)

Dan Wilkins is theScore's senior NFL writer.