Next! NFL.com lists potential head-coaching candidates

Maybe it’s too soon. We don’t know yet if Ben McAdoo can salvage enough of what is left of the 2017 season and reverse some of the obvious damage that has been done inside the locker room — things he will need to do remain head coach of the New York Giants beyond this season.

NFL.com, though, is out with an early list of assistant coaches who might be in line for head-coaching jobs in 2018. In all honesty, I haven’t even begun to really study candidates for potential coach or GM openings with the Giants. It’s really too early. Since we have a list to work from, though, no harm in discussing some of the names on it.

With 31-year-old Sean McVay having success with this week’s Giants opponent, the 5-2 Los Angeles Rams, teams in need of coaches will be looking for the next McVay. Among the names listed in the “next McVay” category is Matt Patricia, the defensive coordinator of the New England Patriots. We know there were some in the fan base beating the drum for Patricia when the Giants replaced Tom Coughlin. Another name that jumped out at me was Houston Texans defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel, but I have no way of knowing if he is ready for a top job.

The “top candidates” list is led by Josh McDaniels. The rest of the list is as follows:

Those who would be getting their first shot: Frank Reich, offensive coordinator, Philadelphia Eagles; Steve Wilks, defensive coordinator, Carolina Panthers; Paul Guenther, defensive coordinator, Cincinnati Bengals; Dave Toub, special teams coordinator, Kansas City Chiefs; Teryl Austin, defensive coordinator, Detroit Lions.

Those who would be getting a second chance: Pat Shurmur, offensive coordinator, Minnesota Vikings; Jim Schwartz, defensive coordinator, Philadelphia Eagles; Mike McCoy, offensive coordinator, Denver Broncos; Leslie Frazier, defensive coordinator, Buffalo Bills; Tom Cable, offensive line coach/assistant head coach, Seattle Seahawks; Mike Smith, defensive coordinator, Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

White whales: Former Raiders and Bucs coach Jon Gruden, Stanford coach David Shaw, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh.

Valentine’s View

If you’re going to obsess about Gruden, or Bill Cowher for that matter, we aren’t going to be able to have a reasonable conversation. Why would either of those guys give up cushy, high-paying TV gigs for the mess of returning to coaching? My $.02 is I think Gruden just likes hearing his name mentioned. Cowher would have returned long ago if he wanted to resume coaching. Harbaugh might want back into the NFL, but he’ll want a lot of money and a lot of control.

The Giants had at least some level of interest in Teryl Austin and Mike Smith a couple of years ago. Would they now? I really don’t know.

The floor is yours, Giants fans. Go ahead and bandy about your ideas for the person you would like to see succeed McAdoo — if, indeed, the Giants move on.