Caleb Harris
2024 NFL The offseason saw many big names swap places in the most important positions: coach and defender. In fact, 12 different teams – nearly 40% of the league – are ready to open the new season with a new duo.
So which new duo is most promising? We’re ranking all 12 as summer approaches. Some clarifications:
- A team just needs a new starting quarterback or coach to qualify (i.e. Justin Herbert was the signal-caller for the Los Angeles Chargers for four years, but he was paired with Jim Harbaugh for the first time). Last year, for reference, there were three teams with both. This year, there are four.
- Who qualifies as a “new” quarterback? Any projected starter who did not start Week 1 or multiple games for their team in the previous year.
- We are ranking duos, not their respective teams. That said, quarterback-coach pairings can be a good indicator of where a team stands. Chances are, if your favorite team’s duo is at the top of the list, they will be in a better position to overcome other roster weaknesses.
Now let’s get down to business:
*New to the team
Brissett is considered a starter, showing a steady hand in unstable situations. He also has never posted a winning record in a major role. His conservative approach may mesh well with Mayo’s defensive direction, but the ceiling seems inherently low here, which makes third-overall pick Drake Maye all the more intriguing. Could he take control sooner or later?
Pierce has already received rave reviews internally for restoring the Raiders’ culture, but we’ve only seen him lead nine games as interim head coach, and he’s working on defining an “ongoing” quarterback situation: whether it’s the plucky journeyman Minshew or the young and traditional Aidan O’Connell, Las Vegas once again appears to be treading water.
10. Broncos: Bo Nix (QB)*, Sean Payton (HC)
The rookie Nix is not guaranteed a spot in Week 1, but at 24 years old, with extensive college experience, he has the edge over Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson. All indications are that his ultra-efficient approach is in line with Payton’s short-area attack. But he’s a projection, and Payton’s peak days with the New Orleans Saints, calling a dominant offense, seem like an increasingly distant memory.
Daniels exudes athletic upside, giving Washington arguably its most dynamic dual-threat passer since early career Robert Griffin III. But durability is a concern, as it was with RG3, and Quinn could be an even bigger wildcard: His defensive record is impressive, but he hasn’t overseen a winning team since 2017, when he deployed Matt Ryan and Julio Jones at their best.
Young was two steps behind NFL speed in a lackluster 2023 debut, and his smaller frame remains a concern, but the former No. 1 overall pick has a more inspiring defender this time around. After maximizing Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield at separate stops, Canales could be just the energizer needed to ease Young’s burden and restore the quarterback’s poise.
As a “generational” talent and No. 1 overall pick, Williams is doing a lot of the heavy lifting here, considering Eberflus went 10-24 — and never stabilized exile Justin Fields’ setup — prior to his arrival. But Eberflus oversaw a defensive rejuvenation in late 2023, and Williams’ supercharged shooting should be aided by an updated group of skill weapons.
At 35, Wilson is no longer the ever-elusive big-play performer of his Super Bowl-winning Seattle Seahawks days, but he’s probably a little more stable than he showed in his tumultuous tenure with the Broncos. Working with an old-school ground-and-pound leader like Tomlin seems like a perfect fit. But young Justin Fields’ most tempting gifts loom in the background.
5. Titans: Will Levis (QB), Brian Callahan (HC)*
A big, hard-hitting second-round rookie in 2023, Levis was erratic in nine starts to open his NFL career, but he has uncanny strength as both a power thrower and a runner. Not only did he improve the weaponry in his first full year as “the guy,” but he also had a new coach in Callahan who had a direct hand in Joe Burrow’s confident start with the Cincinnati Bengals.
That’s too high for Darnold alone; the former New York Jets prospect has only appeared in spurts, and first-round rookie JJ McCarthy — a potential play-action sage — could usurp him sooner or later. But O’Connell got top-notch stuff from Kirk Cousins, and his positive leadership is felt in that building. Minnesota is prepared to compete regardless of who is under center.
At 33 years old, coming off a subdued, injury-plagued season, Smith may or may not be Seattle’s long-term answer. But he has a talent for darts since reviving his career with the Seahawks and still has solid weapons. Macdonald, meanwhile, should help give Smith and the offense some long-awaited defensive support after overseeing the fast, physical and versatile Baltimore Ravens.
Atlanta’s surprise top-10 pick of Michael Penix Jr. proved that the club isn’t necessarily as sold on Cousins as we all thought in March, but even approaching 36 coming off a torn Achilles tendon, The former Minnesota Vikings captain brings a lot of needed stability to the focal point of a surging offense. Morris, meanwhile, is a likable leader whose defensive prowess should balance the lineup.
1. Chargers: Justin Herbert (QB), Jim Harbaugh (HC)*
Questions about Herbert’s reassembled support aside, this is easily the most talented and/or gifted duo of the group. While important questions remain, Herbert has all the physical tools and early-career hallmarks of a perennial Pro Bowl pocket passer. And Harbaugh, despite a nine-year hiatus from the NFL, has led triumphant programs wherever he has been. The former Michigan and San Francisco 49ers coach should bring more discipline and old-fashioned toughness to Los Angeles, helping Herbert and Co. attack the AFC West with a new level of confidence.
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