NFL coaching watch: Luck & McDaniels a match made in heaven?

The head-coaching carousel has spun less wildly than expected thus far. We are on the third day of the NFL offseason for non-playoff teams. Thus far, five head coaches have joined Ben McAdoo on the unemployment line (or retirement line, in Bruce Arians' case) – the New York Giants fired him a month go – to make the current number of head-coaching openings at six.

Here is a look at the opening and what to expect:

Most intriguing opening, Oakland Raiders: Really, there appears to be no actual intrigue involved with this job. At this point, it seems like it would be a legitimate shock if Jon Gruden doesn’t become Oakland’s coach. But that’s where the intrigue comes in. The fact that Chucky is going back to the Raiders is one of the top three stories of the 2018 offseason no matter what else happens. A week go this seemed like a pipe dream spun out of the mind of a hopeful fan base. Now, it’s about to happen. Wow, man.

Best opening, Detroit Lions: The Lions went 36-28 under Jim Caldwell during his four seasons. They went 9-7 this season. This a solid roster. Of course, the centerpiece is quarterback Matthew Stafford. You can win in Detroit quickly. The Lions will be on the top of coaches' wish lists.

Best job with an asterisk, Indianapolis Colts: If Andrew Luck is going to be healthy in 2018, this is a great opening. Luck missed all last season with a shoulder injury. He recently told reporters he will be ready for 2018. If so, this is a great gig. After all, Luck has Hall of Fame ability.

Worst opening, New York Giants: The team is dreadful. The Eli Manning issue could make this offseason rough, and it’s New York, baby. Going into a pressure cooker with no easy fix can’t be overly appealing for candidates.

Best candidate, Josh McDaniels: Yes, McDaniels was a disaster as a head coach in Denver. But that was a decade ago. The New England Patriots’ offensive coordinator is a special talent. He has matured and will be ready to do a better job in his second go-round as a head coach.

Best fits, McDaniels and Colts: McDaniels and Luck. That Patriots-Colts rivalry would instantly reheat. The Colts would be an instant threat in the AFC.

Most intriguing player, Mitchell Trubisky: Some coach is getting the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 draft. Plus, Trubisky got a lot of great playing experience as a rookie. He was so-so, but he has potential. If the Bears can find a coach who can have the same effect on Trubisky like Sean McVay had on Jared Goff with the Rams this season, they will be in business. That will be the Bears’ goal. So, if a coach really believes in Trubisky, this could be an appealing job.

Tough sell, Arizona Cardinals: The Cardinals are old and need a quarterback with Carson Palmer retiring. The cupboard isn’t bare in Arizona, but the arrow may not be pointing up, either.

Keep an eye out for: There could be more firings. One team to think about is the Tennessee Titans. If the Titans lose at the Kansas City Chiefs in the wild card round on Saturday, Mike Mularkey could get fired. The Titans underachieved this season, and young quarterback Marcus Mariota seemed to take a step back. If Mularkey goes, this will be a prime gig. In fact, McDaniels could be intrigued by this job more than the Indy job because Mariota is younger than Luck. Plus, Tennessee general manager Jon Robinson came from New England and has a relationship with McDaniels.