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By Tyler Erzberger
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If you're a head coach candidate and you get an initial interview, it's a great sign.
You're in the mix. A lot of times, this talk is less formal over webcam to meet with the front office and see if there's a possible fit.
But if you get the second interview and both parties agree to meet in person, that's when you become a finalist.
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And that's what is happening with former Miami Dolphins attacking whizkid Mike McDaniel, as he's set to fly early next week to meet with the team he might be the future head coach for.
McDaniel had an amazing first few years in Florida before struggling in the past two seasons, with the health and injuries of starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa taking a toll on the team. The once flashy, exciting Dolphins offense turned muted and stagnant, with McDaniel eventually asked to leave after a back-and-forth over whether he would stay on.
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The team he might be leading next year might see even McDaniel at his worst as an improvement on their offense, that being the Cleveland Browns.
Although McDaniel and the Browns almost seem like an antithesis of one another, with one being offense-centric and the other all about the defense, it might be a case of opposites attracting.
The Browns already have an elite defense, with little need to tinker or change, headlined by new all-time single-season sacks leader Myles Garrett.
They do need to vastly overhaul and fix the offense, though, and that's where McDaniel can come in and attempt to take over. If the Browns can even be an average offense next season, they could win the AFC North and host a playoff game.
If McDaniel and the Browns come to an agreement, the next step would be to figure out their QB situation for the upcoming campaign. Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel both were drafted last year, but neither did enough to confirm their spot as the team's starting signal caller.
So it'd be a question of whether the Browns once again look at the draft for a new option, or if they strike in the free agency market for a veteran to take over and run McDaniel's schemes. A player like Malik Willis, who is set to be a free agent, could be the perfect QB for McDaniel to build around in Cleveland.
McDaniel is not the only finalist. Ravens defensive coordinator Todd Monken, Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski, and Packers DC Jeff Hafley are also said to still be in the mix, with interviews to come.
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