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Today, we’re assigning grades for the NFL’s six head-coach openings, plus sharing four prospects to watch during this week’s college football semifinals.

But before that, my thoughts go out to everyone impacted by the heartbreaking Los Angeles fires. Be safe.

Grading the head coach openings 

Success wasn’t immediate for rookies Drake Maye and Caleb Williams, whose teams ranked 31st and 32nd, respectively, in yards per game. But hey, they’ll have new head coaches in 2025!

Here’s how I’d grade the attractiveness of all six currently vacant HC jobs (cap figures per Over the Cap):

Patriots (4-13): B+. Beat reporter Chad Graff describes this roster as “among the worst in the league.”

An optimistic coach might see the NFL’s worst offensive line and skill position group as an opportunity to reshape things their way. Other factors include New England’s especially high expectations, stable owner (albeit one reluctant to spend cash) and residence in the mostly middling AFC East. Also:

• There’s young talent in potential superstar Maye, third-year CB Christian Gonzalez and a (hopefully) healthy DT Christian Barnmore. Maybe backup QB Joe Milton? But that’s about it. Yikes.

• The architect partially responsible, de facto 2024 GM and former scouting director Eliot Wolf, appears to be returning, though the next head coach could change that.

• Overhaul potential: In the upcoming draft, New England has the fourth pick and three more in the top 77, plus an NFL-leading $124 million in cap space. All without needing a QB.

Mike Vrabel, Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn are interviewing in the coming days, with a decision expected shortly after. Former Pats linebacker Vrabel is the front-runner.

Bears (5-12): A-. Chicago also boasts a promising young quarterback on a rookie contract, along with a roster that is dramatically more talented than New England’s.

Other considerations:

• The NFC North is brutal, but Chicago was more competitive than that 1-5 divisional record shows, losing three games to playoff-bound Detroit, Minnesota and Green Bay by a combined five points.

• Their very solid $80 million in cap space would gain an additional $12.5 million if they cut TEs Cole Kmet and Gerald Everett. Most of that money should be used in the trenches, their glaring weakness. (Not all 68 sacks were on QB Williams.) The 1oth pick and an extra second-rounder mean strong draft capital.

• This ownership group has overseen a culture of failure and chose to retain GM Ryan Poles this year, meaning the next coach’s boss may be replaced in the near future.

It’s also fair to wonder if the Bears know what they’re looking for, having requested (or already interviewed) 14 candidates, ranging from 73-year-old Pete Carroll to college coach Matt Campbell. Adam Jahns thinks there might be too many cooks in this kitchen.

Jaguars (4-13): B+. Positives start with the AFC South itself, where for three years running, just nine or 10 wins has been good enough to win the division (including once by the Jags).

• Young talent occupies critical positions, with each of the above locked up for years. Also add 2025’s fifth overall pick.

• Jacksonville offers Shad Khan’s willingness to spend cash (the Jags rank third in active spending, behind only the Browns and Eagles), warm weather and … free trips to the U.K.?

But there are plenty of negatives, including a culture of losing. None of the seven coaches hired by Khan has had a winning record. And:

• It’s fair to question 25-year-old Lawrence’s ability to live up to his $55 million per season contract, and this pass rush was the league’s worst in 2024, per ESPN’s win rates.

• The Jags have a mediocre $36 million in cap space, though cutting WRs Christian Kirk and Josh Reynolds plus TE Evan Engram would free another $20 million. (Maybe those U.K. trips belong down here too?)

They also brought back general manager Trent Baalke, inspiring one potential candidate to tell SI’s John Shipley that it “greatly diminishes my interest in that job.” Ouch.

Raiders (4-13): C. Las Vegas is searching for head coach No. 6 of Mark Davis’ 14-year tenure as controlling owner, and it won’t be Bill Belichick, despite Tom Brady’s ask.

The selling points include:

• Promising returns on GM Tom Telesco’s first draft last year, when he twice snagged the best prospects available, superstar TE Brock Bowers and G Jackson Powers-Johnson.

• The league’s third-youngest roster, which can add more youth with the No. 6 pick and an extra third-rounder (thanks to the Davante Adams trade).

• Foundational players in DT Christian Wilkins and DE Maxx Crosby (who wants to remain but said “we’ll see” when discussing his future), plus a promising offensive line and Bowers.

• The second-most cap space ($107 million) and a free-agent-enticing city.

But there are critical negatives. Primarily, Vegas QBs produced the worst 2024 passer rating of any team on this list. That seems unlikely to improve this offseason, and is a major disadvantage during six games a year against Patrick Mahomes, Bo Nix and Justin Herbert. They also need talent at running back, wide receiver, guard, cornerback and safety. Not good.

Saints (5-12): C-. New Orleans has some draws, including an owner always willing to spend (with a major caveat these days), their place in the winnable NFC South, and six picks in the first four rounds, including the No. 9 selection.

The negatives:

• At quarterback, the mediocre Derek Carr (who played just 10 games in 2024) has a no-trade clause and refuses to take a pay cut on a contract that could be restructured to save $30 million — but would likely lock the 33-year-old into starting the next two seasons. Gross.

• Their veteran talent is either gone (CB Marshon Lattimore was traded, OT Ryan Ramczyk is expected to retire) or aging quickly (35-year-old Cameron Jordan, 29-year-old Alvin Kamara), while WR Chris Olave, LT Taliese Fuaga and CB Kool-Aid McKinstry are talented but there are reasons to doubt them going forward.

• By this point, longtime GM Mickey Loomis’ salary cap situation is infamous. This team is already a league-worst $50 million over the 2025 cap, twice as bad as even the Browns, with Olave eligible for an extension. It’s a mess that will take years to recover from, though I expect they’ll continue to kick the proverbial can. 
  

Jets (5-12): D+. This city should be an attractive free-agent market, and this roster has plenty of young talent, including WR Garrett Wilson and DT Quinnen Williams.

There’s also the No. 7 draft pick, a division with winnable games and a chance for GM-HC alignment, since they are the sole team with a clear opening at both positions.

But the Jets always have plenty of questions, this time about things like:

• The future of QB Aaron Rodgers. Beat reporter Zack Rosenblatt would be surprised if the 41-year-old returns. A post-June 1 cut would save the Jets $9.5 million in cap space.

• Just $29 million in cap room. And Wilson, Hall, CB Sauce Gardner and LB Jermaine Johnson are eligible for extensions. It’d be nearly impossible for Davante Adams ($38 million cap hit) to return without a reworked contract.

• Organizational dysfunction, the most crucial worry. As we learned recently, Woody Johnson seemed to follow decision-making advice from his teenage sons and cited “Madden” ratings when evaluating players, just for two examples.

One thing is clear: None of the six are home-run opportunities, though the potential of the three franchise-type quarterbacks makes this a rare coaching cycle. 

Dianna has the latest on a coach coveted by more than one of these teams:

What Dianna’s Hearing: Ben Johnson’s surprising list

If there’s one thing we’ve learned about Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson over the past few offseasons: When it comes to head-coaching vacancies, he is picky.

That’s why it’s something of a surprise that he is scheduled for four virtual interviews —  with the Bears, Jaguars, Raiders and Patriots — during this Lions bye week.

About Johnson’s interview tomorrow with New England: The Patriots are also meeting with Mike Vrabel, the other candidate every team seems to want. And since Vrabel isn’t subject to the same restrictions as current team employees, he will be in Foxboro this week, with a chance to accept a job while Johnson prepares for the Lions’ first playoff game next weekend.

Back to you, Jacob.

Four 2025 prospects to watch 

I plan to watch the CFP semifinals tonight (Penn State vs. Notre Dame at 7:30 ET on ESPN or Fubo, which you can try for free) and tomorrow (Texas vs. Ohio State at 7:30), with the title game following on Jan. 20.

These rosters are highly talented, and thankfully, draft expert Dane Brugler recently shared his list of the top prospects to watch in these games. I’ll be keeping an especially close eye on four potential first-round picks. Dane’s thoughts in quotations:

Penn State edge Abdul Carter. A projected top-five pick, Carter’s status is uncertain after he left the Nittany Lions’ quarterfinal with an arm/shoulder injury. If he plays, he “has the juice off the edge to completely blow up an offensive game plan.” Carolina, Las Vegas or Chicago seem ideal.

Penn State TE Tyler Warren. Projected to land in the late first round, the multi-talented, 6-foot-6 Mackey Award winner is “an immediate starter with exceptional catch-point skills.” Landing spots could include Denver or Indianapolis.

Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka. While you shouldn’t miss Ohio State’s true freshman WR Jeremiah Smith (who would probably be the No. 1 pick this year, if he were eligible), his running mate is a projected late first-rounder who “would shred NFL defenses in a Rashee Rice-like role.” Buffalo or Pittsburgh could come calling.

Texas OT Kelvin Banks Jr. Expect this 320-pound winner of two national 2024 awards to go in the top 20 or even top 10. He “looks like a plug-and-play starter,” though whether he plays guard or tackle is uncertain. Chicago, L.A. and Seattle should be interested.

For more, including how these questionable QB prospects could improve their stock, read Dane’s full article. To stay updated on all things college football, my go-to is Jayna Bardahl’s Until Saturday newsletter. Enjoy the games!

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(Photo: Quinn Harris / Getty Images)