Cleveland Browns coaching candidates: 6 Best replacements for Freddie Kitchens

2. Brian Daboll

Current Position: Bills offensive coordinator

One of the best jobs that any coach in the NFL has done in the 2019 season has been what Brian Daboll has done with the Buffalo Bills. Despite having a young, limited quarterback in Josh Allen and either lackluster, one-dimensional or just unproven weapons around the signal-caller, they’ve flashed success time and again this season, which is a testament to Daboll.

Perhaps the biggest shortcoming of Kitchens’ tenure with the Browns was trying to force the issue with his players and, thus, putting them in bad and unforgiving situations. Daboll has proven that he will do the exact opposite given his track record with the Bills. Thus, he emerges as one of the best candidates to take the job and get this team going in the right direction.

1. Robert Saleh

Current Position: 49ers defensive coordinator

Amid this slew of offensive-minded names listed as potential Browns coaching candidates, Robert Saleh stands out as the defensive-minded of the bunch. He’s brought a group of talented 49ers defensive players that had consistently underperformed previously and has made them one of the elite groups in the NFL this season. And now, he’s going to be coveted in virtually every coaching search.

Why Saleh comes out as my top candidate for Cleveland here, however, is that he would get back to what could make this Browns team great. Yes, Mayfield and the offense have talent and Saleh would need a great offensive mind to aid him. However, Myles Garrett and a talent-laden young defense can be the identity of this team. And picking a coach from a young, winning culture in San Francisco would be the type of hire that Dorsey and DePodesta need to make.