Zolak & Bertrand: How desirable would Patriots head coach opening be?

Zolak & Bertrand debate just how desirable the Patriots would be on the list of potential head coach openings across the NFL should they decide to part ways with Bill Belichick. They also discussed how they rank the opening across the league:

Beetle: If you were a head coach, who would you pick? And therefore which one do you think Bill should pick?

Zolak: I'm going Raiders number one. I'm going Chargers number two. And you could you could figure out the rest. And I put Washington at the bottom. Because I think that's a long rebuild. That's a bad karma. That's a bad team. Barely just got a uniform. Barely just got a name. Stadium sucks. You know, interesting owner ownership group. [David] Tepper down there in Carolina. Not great. That's a stadium, it needs an overhaul. Their situation is okay. They don't have a great facility I'm interested in. Like what's Atlanta's facility look like? You know. Got the dome there. Tough fan base. They don't back you much. Raiders. You've got the ear the owner. I think that guy will give you anything because he's crazy. I think Raiders would give him everything.

Beetle: I have a different order. Right now I would pick the Chargers number one. Chargers would be the team that is ready to win. They are ready to win games as you walk through the door. That'll be number one. You put Washington at the bottom right? I put them second on the list. They have the second overall pick in the draft. You'll have your pick of anybody not named Caleb Williams. You can get the young quarterback that you like. You're dealing from a position of strength in the draft, and you've got the most cap space in the league. You can make it your own there pretty damn quick. So I would put them high on the list.

Right now, the focus around the New England Patriots is on the future of head coach Bill Belichick. That future is expected to be discussed in the coming days between Belichick and Patriots ownership.

Without even knowing whether Belichick will be back or not though, suitors may already be lining up for his potentially empty seat. That list includes a familiar name.

READ MORE:

--Patriots 2024 draft positioning set
--An early look at the 2024 schedule
--What would Bill Belichick's return to the Patriots look like?

According to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report, current Tennessee Titans head coach and former Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel "is interested in the idea of returning to the Patriots, should New England part ways with Bill Belichick." Vrabel is still employed by the Titans as of Monday morning, but after a 6-11 season is expected to have his own sit-down with ownership this week with his future up in the air as well.

Vrabel played the majority of his NFL career for Belichick, with the Patriots from 2001-2008. He later got into coaching and after coming up through the Houston Texans organization was hired as the Titans head coach in 2018. After a 9-7 season to start Vrabel's Titans made the playoffs each of the next three years with a trip to the AFC Championship Game in 2019. That run had Vrabel in the conversation as one of the top young head coaches in the league.

However the Titans failed to keep their roster together, notably trading wide receiver A.J. Brown rather than re-signing him in 2022. That plus a lack of a solid plan at quarterback led Tennessee to go 7-10 and 6-11 the last two seasons, missing the playoffs in both.

Amid those struggles, Vrabel's reported frustration in Tennessee, and the Patriots' own down season in 2023, Vrabel has been rumored as a potential Belichick replacement for the past few months. That speculation only intensified when Vrabel was invited back to Gillette Stadium this fall to be inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame, and spoke glowingly of the organization.

Of course, nothing can happen here until/if both Belichick and Vrabel end up parting ways with their respective employers. If that does happen though, Vrabel seems poised to be among the top candidates linked to the Patriots' job opening.

Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at abarth@985TheSportsHub.com.