The 2025 NFL Season is in the books. We still have the playoffs to determine a champion, but for teams that didn’t make the cut, the off-season work begins. That often means changing leadership at the top. There are now eight teams looking for new Head Coaches, but which of them offers the most interesting assets for fantasy?
Below, I’ve ranked the eight Head Coach openings in terms of fantasy appeal. We’ll look at each team’s strengths and biggest questions to see how it ended up where it did. Now, it’s a race to see how each of these openings is filled! Teams appear in ascending order.
#8 Tennessee Titans
2025 Record: 3-14
Strengths: This team has a franchise quarterback—at least on paper. It wasn’t a great season for Cam Ward, who was taken with the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but he wasn’t exactly set up for success. It’s a weak supporting cast, and middling offensive line, and there was no great continuity in coaching as the Titans fired Head Coach Brian Callahan mid-season.
But with a draft that’s not great for quarterbacks, having one might be a benefit. The Titans also hold the fourth overall pick, giving them a chance to add to the team. And the young receivers from a year ago, Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike, at least had some flashes. Young tight end Gunnar Helm also looks promising.
Weaknesses: Unfortunately, there’s not a lot to work with. Tony Pollard is still under contract, though the team could cut him without bearing the full cost. But he was probably the most productive player for the team, and beyond him, there are more questions than answers in the backfield. Calvin Ridley is still under contract, but that feels more like a burden than a blessing. He struggled mightily before getting hurt in 2025, and he carries a hefty cap number.
The Titans’ offensive line is OK, but hardly great, and could use work. Additionally, the AFC South suddenly got very competitive. The Jaguars and Texans made the playoffs, each winning 13 games. And the Colts, before Daniel Jones’ injury, had the best record in the AFC. So, there’s no easy path to victory.
Biggest Question: Is Cam Ward really a franchise quarterback?
#7 Cleveland Browns
2025 Record: 5-12
Strengths: The Browns have some good, young pieces. Quinshon Judkins looked like a great young running back despite a limp offense around him, and Dylan Sampson is a nice complementary piece. The team also found a great young tight end in Harold Fannin, Jr., while still boasting David Njoku on the roster. So, there is some potential in the Browns’ offensive group.
Young receiver Isaiah Bond also showed flashes and could develop further with a better passing game. The Browns also have the sixth overall pick to help restock the cupboard and have one of the better defenses in the league, which can help an emerging offense.
Weaknesses: This starts at quarterback. The team has second-year players Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, neither of whom impressed in rookie starts. Veteran Deshaun Watson is also still on the roster, and his future remains very much up in the air. The team has a couple of good receivers on paper in Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman, but it hasn’t worked out that way. Jeudy is inconsistent, and Tillman can’t stay healthy. That leaves the receiving group with a big question.
Also questionable is the offensive line, which looks OK on paper but is another group that can’t stay on the field. The questions at quarterback and on the line are what ultimately doomed Kevin Stefanski.
Biggest Question: Who plays quarterback? The Browns have three guys; it’s probable none of them is the answer.
#6 Las Vegas Raiders
2025 Record: 3-14
Strengths: Offensively, the Raiders have two great young players. The first is tight end Brock Bowers, who is not only among the best at the position but one of the most dynamic pass-catchers, period. The Raiders also have a good option in the backfield with Ashton Jeanty. The scheme and the line didn’t allow him to thrive as a rookie, but I still believe in the talent. That’s a couple of Blue-Chip playmakers on offense.
In addition, the Raiders have the first overall pick, which leaves them all the options in the draft. That will appeal to any coach who comes in, especially with Geno Smith not being a franchise guy.
Weaknesses: The Raiders have questions on the offense. The quarterback position didn’t work out in 2025. The Raiders took a big swing on Smith, who is still under contract, and he looked bad. The team also traded for Kenny Pickett, but that didn’t help much. Neither did Aidan O’Connell, who looks best suited to be a career backup. So, the Raiders certainly need to find an answer at quarterback. The team also needs help at wide receiver—where they traded away their best guy in Jakobi Myers mid-season—and offensive line.
Biggest Question: Is Fernando Mendoza the guy to lead the Raiders back to glory?
#5 Miami Dolphins
2025 Record: 7-10
Strengths: The Dolphins had a brutal start, caught fire in the middle, and ended badly. That, ultimately, cost Mike McDaniel his job. But the cupboard isn’t totally bare. The Dolphins have a great running back in De’Von Achane, who has proven fairly durable. Behind him, they have some interesting prospects in Jaylen Wright and Ollie Gordon. That gives them some options.
The team also still has Jaylen Waddle, who has been a productive receiver throughout his career. While further back in the draft at pick No. 11, they’re still in position to add some talent.
Weaknesses: The Dolphins don’t have an answer at quarterback. Tua Tagovailoa is still on the roster and carries a massive contract. But he looked poor in 2025, and he ended up benched. Rookie Quinn Ewers got a three-game audition, and it showed that he’s not the answer, either. The Dolphins also have questions on the offensive line and in the passing game.
Tyreek Hill was injured and missed most of the season. He was struggling before the injury and seemed checked out on the team. And yet, he’s under contract for 2026, carrying a hefty cap number and a significant dead cap hit. The team also took a swing at Darren Waller at tight end with mixed results, leaving them searching at the position again.
Biggest Question: It could be Tua, but I’m going with Hill. If he’s back and committed, the Dolphins have some formidable offensive pieces. Will he return?
#4 Arizona Cardinals
2025 Record: 3-14
Strengths: The Cardinals have some good offensive pieces. The team has the best tight end in football in Trey McBride. They also have two good receivers in Michael Wilson, who emerged this season, and Marvin Harrison, Jr., who has yet to be unlocked in this offense. That’s a good starting position.
The Cardinals actually started the season with two wins, then the bottom fell out. But Jacoby Brissett showed the team could remain competitive despite the record. The Cardinals also have the third overall pick, which gives them some options to help with the rebuild.
Weaknesses: The Cardinals don’t have a solid foundation in the backfield. Veteran James Conner isn’t likely back, while Trey Benson hasn’t shown much—or been able to stay healthy—in the two years since he was drafted. The lack of a run game is a problem.
The Cardinals also have major questions at quarterback. Kyler Murray was ineffective, then ended up injured. Despite a large contract, the word is the Cardinals had soured on him. Or maybe only Jonathan Gannon had? That’s a question that has to be answered. But the biggest challenge might be the NFC West, which produced three playoff teams that won at least 12 games. That’s a tall hill to climb for a rebuilding Cardinals team.
Biggest Question: Is Kyler Murray a Cardinal in 2026?
#3 Baltimore Ravens
2025 Record: 8-9
Strengths: Some were surprised that the Ravens moved on from John Harbaugh, but it felt like things had grown stale. But the Ravens have talent. Lamar Jackson is there, and he is a talented and versatile player. Was he injured in 2025, or was he hampered by the scheme? Either way, he wasn’t at his best, but he’s a former MVP with upside.
The Ravens also have Derrick Henry, one of the league’s best runners, under contract. That means they have the core of their offense locked up and ready to return. The team also has some good passing-game assets, with explosive Zay Flowers returning, along with veteran Rashod Bateman and tight end Mark Andrews. Other players are free agents, but the core of this offense is under contract.
Weaknesses: Is Jackson happy? Sometimes in 2025, it was hard to tell whether the star quarterback wanted to be there. It was also hard to tell if the offensive plan remembered that he and Henry were the heart of the team. The Ravens could use help in the offensive scheme and probably a step up on the offensive line. The team also has to decide what to do about tight end Isaiah Likely, who is a free agent.
Biggest Question: Can the Ravens find an offensive scheme that allows them to thrive?
#2 Atlanta Falcons
2025 Record: 8-9
Strengths: The Falcons have two great playmakers in Drake London, one of the league’s best receivers, and Bijan Robinson, one of the league’s best running backs. That is a great starting point for anyone who comes in. The Falcons also showed some heart, finishing 8-9 on the season. That actually left them tied for the best record in the NFC South. That’s another advantage; it’s a winnable division. The team also has a solid, veteran offensive line when healthy, which is a bonus.
Weaknesses: The Falcons have a lot of decisions to make this offseason. Kyle Pitts is a free agent. The team could tag him, negotiate, or let him walk. The same goes for Tyler Allgeier, one of the best No. 2 running backs in the league. Will they keep him, or better yet, can they afford to keep him?
But the biggest question is at quarterback. The team has Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix, Jr., under contract right now. Neither seems like a solid option. Cousins is aging and hasn’t worked out in Atlanta. He re-worked his deal to make it easier, and he’s more likely to be released this offseason. Penix, meanwhile, was up-and-down as a starter before tearing his ACL for a third time. It’s unclear if he can even play in 2026. Finally, the biggest blow to the Falcons is in the draft. The team doesn’t have a First-Round pick after trading it away to bolster the pass rush in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Biggest Question: Who plays quarterback for the Falcons in 2026?
#1 New York Giants
2025 Record: 4-13
Strengths: The Giants have solid starters at all the skill positions. The team took its quarterback of the future, Jaxson Dart, in the 2025 draft. He had some great moments as a starter in 2025. The team also has Jameis Winston as a veteran backup. In the backfield, the Giants have Cam Skattebo returning after a sensational rookie year at times. They also still have Tyrone Tracey, who was a backfield weapon. That gives them a dynamic duo.
In the passing game, Wan’Dale Robinson has developed into a solid target, while they will welcome back stud Malik Nabers. That gives them solid receivers along with a solid young tight end in Theo Johnson. The team also has the fifth overall pick to help bolster the group and sits in a division that feels winnable in the NFC East.
Weaknesses: The Giants’ offensive line isn’t great. Despite pouring money and draft picks into the position, the Giants haven’t managed to get it right. The key to making the most of skill-position talent is for that group to be better. It should be the Giants’ #1 priority, but can they actually get it done? The other weakness is the reckless style of its two biggest stars—Dart and Skattebo. It can be exciting at times, but it leaves them open to injuries and missed time.
Biggest Question: Can Dart avoid the big hits and stay on the field?
Matthew Fox is a die-hard NFL fan and Broncos’ homer. He’s a member of the FSWA. You can find more from him on Twitter @knighthawk7734 or as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast, a part of the Campus2Canton Network.
