Best NFL coaching vacancy Atlanta Falcons job tops the board

[sharonorn]

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly we move from the annual spate of firings to the game of speculating about .When making such evaluations, it's worth remembering there are just 32 of these head-coaching jobs out there. I once heard someone say each and every NFL head-coaching gig is just right: If it were any worse, you wouldn't take it; if it were any better, there wouldn't be an opening. The best job, in short, is any one that is available.Having said that, some good jobs are better than others. There is a pecking order when it comes to overall desirability, and in this quarterback-driven league, the stability and upside at that position remains one of the best criteria for a se sing a job's promise.1) Atlanta FalconsJudging by which team has the best QB, Atlanta's clearly the top job -- is the finest quarterback among those whose teams are hiring head coaches. He has a career completion rate of 64 percent and a 2:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Although free agency will affect the profile of this offense, the skill positions are abundant with , , , and .The downside to this job is the defense. It's devoid of talent, which somehow got the head coach () -- as opposed to the Malik Hooker Jersey general manager (Thomas Dimitroff) -- fired. But alas, my coaching bias is showing ... Beyond the cornerbacks, who show potential, might be Atlanta's best defensive player, and I'm not sure he could start for another team in the NFL. Not to mention, he's set to be a free agent this offseason.This would lead you to believe the will bring in a defensive-minded coach, but I don't know how that will make much of a difference until they channel more resources toward this side of the ball. I have worked with Tony Dungy, Monte Kiffin, , , and , and I'll tell you something: and defensive coordinator are as good a pair of defensive coaches as have ever coached in this game. It's going to take more than a coaching change to get this team back on track.2) Oakland RaidersHarrison: Power RankingsWhat does the pecking order look like with the regular season behind us and the postseason on tap? Elliot Harrison weighs in. Listing the ' opening as second-best will surprise a lot of people. But if you follow the QB-centric mindset detailed above, offers plenty of promise. He just showed, in Year 1, that the pro game is not too big for him. Carr completed close to 60 percent of his pa ses and piled up 21 touchdown throws (against 12 interceptions) with little to no talent around him.The have a ton of cap room -- and after more than a decade of incompetence, expectations are at a bare minimum in Oakland.3) San Francisco 49ersAt face value, this is the best job available. This is the first time in the last four seasons that the team won't be playing in the NFC title game -- a stellar run that also included a appearance. Quarterback has shown flashes of brilliance and po se ses one of the smoothest throwing motions I've ever seen. Defensively, they are fast and stout. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is a potential candidate to take over the head job, but even if he doesn't, he could stay on and keep the defensive system intact.The downside is that CEO Jed York made it clear that the expectation, even in Year 1, is to be in the . There will be no honeymoon. The new coach will be compared to at every turn. And that's the difference between Nos. 2 and 3 on this list: 8-8 could get you Coach of the Year in Oakland but earn you a dismi sal in San Francisco.4) New York JetsThis team has a great deal of potential, with a solid front seven defensively. But the quarterback position is sketchy at best. showed some flashes down the stretch, but the second-year pro hasn't exhibited much consistency yet.The have plenty of cap room and are in a division that features largely uneven quarterback play -- other than that of , of course, but he can't play forever.5) Chicago BearsThis ranking likely will raise some eyebrows, but I gue s it comes down to what you think of . Deep in offensive talent, the still were weirdly ineffective for much of the season.And despite the offensive riches -- Chicago might boast the best skill-position group in the NFL -- the defense completely lacks difference makers. Honestly, the new coach probably has to start from scratch on that side of the ball.6) Buffalo BillsFor the sake of efficiency, I could simply copy and paste the above description of the here. The have an exceptional front seven (maybe the best in the NFL) and a questionable quarterback situation. Of course, even 's future looks bright compared to 's. In the wake of 's retirement, Buffalo will -- or, at least, should -- be once again starting over at the position that has seen since Jim Kelly's final season.It gets worse. While the other teams on this list each have a top-15 pick or better in the 2015 , the don't have a first-round choice at all, having shipped it to the as part of last May's trade. And it's not like Buffalo is the easiest place to convince the league's top free agents to move to, not compared to Atlanta, San Francisco, New York City and Chicago.ConclusionThis group Quenton Nelson Jersey of coaching vacancies is more promising than last year's collection, as it offers more at the game's most important position. That said, the only sure thing -- the only quarterback who comes risk-free -- is in Atlanta. The coach who lands the job will be a step ahead of his coaching-carousel brethren.Follow Brian Billick on Twitter .