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The Falcons haven’t shied away from blockbuster names in their latest head coaching search, first meeting with longtime Patriots coach Bill Belichick, then hosting the University of Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh on Tuesday. It’s clear the latter is prepared for a return to the NFL, also meeting with the Chargers and drawing public praise from his brother, John, as “the best team-builder in football.”
But why might the former 49ers coach be a particularly good selection for the Falcons? And vice-versa? Here are three big reasons:
An instant path to contention
No disrespect to the Buccaneers, who are one win away from an NFC title game appearance (!), but the NFC South has been especially, shall we say, open-ended in recent years. Among the teams with current head coaching vacancies, the Falcons arguably have the greatest dual offering of 1.) rebuilding assets, and 2.) postseason chances. The last two division titles have been claimed by eight- and nine-win finishes, respectively, and the other clubs — the Panthers and Saints — are either rebuilding or stuck in mud. Atlanta, on the other hand, arguably entered 2023 with the quartet’s best roster — save for quarterback — and simply underdelivered offensively, with weapons like Bijan Robinson and Kyle Pitts regularly underutilized.
A clear shot at a top QB prospect
Harbaugh could probably maximize a veteran stopgap, be it Taylor Heinicke or a free agent like Tyrod Taylor, but another big reason to believe this pairing would work — and result in a quick return to relevance — is the fact Atlanta is well-positioned to upgrade under center. The Falcons currently hold the No. 8 pick in the draft, which isn’t high enough to guarantee one of the consensus top-two prospects in Caleb Williams and Drake Maye, but gives them a feasible path to a next-tier rookie like Jayden Daniels or Michael Penix Jr. There’s also the possibility of packaging picks to acquire…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/jim-harbaugh-interviews-with-falcons-why-michigan-coach-could-be-the-perfect-fit-for-atlanta-in-2024/
Author : Cody Benjamin
Publish date : 2024-01-17 15:44:56
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