The Detroit Lions need a new offensive coordinator after firing John Morton, and reports suggest they are interested in former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel for the role.
While things didn't pan out in Miami, McDaniel is still a well-respected offensive mind throughout the league and he would be an ideal hire for the Lions.
However, Detroit is going to have plenty of competition for McDaniel's services and that competition can offer McDaniel something the Lions can't: a head-coaching job.
According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, McDaniel is slated to interview for the head-coaching vacancies of the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons and Tennessee Titans.
"Former Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel will interview this week for the Browns, Falcons, Titans and Ravens head coaching jobs, per sources," Pelissero wrote.
Pelissero goes on to add that the Lions will indeed interview McDaniel for their offensive coordinator job.
"McDaniel also is scheduled to interview for the Lions OC job. One of the NFL’s top offensive minds is in high demand," Pelissero added.
This is obviously bad news for the Lions, as we'd expect McDaniel to opt for a head coach job over being Detroit's offensive coordinator if the opportunity presents itself.
The Browns are the least attractive job of the four McDaniel will interview for, as Cleveland has a lot of work to do on the offensive side of the ball and there is no starting quarterback in place, unless you're sold on Shedeur Sanders already.
Even still, a blank slate on offense could be attractive to McDaniel and we believe he'd still opt for the Browns' head coach job over being an offensive coordinator.
The Titans are attractive because of Cam Ward, and the Ravens and Falcons have a lot of attractive pieces on offense for McDaniel to work with and they each present a win-now opportunity.
If McDaniel doesn't land one of those four jobs, the Lions would instantly catapult to the pole position for the former Dolphins head coach.
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