Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus joined Monday’s edition of GoJo and Golic to discuss some of Black Monday’s NFL head coaching changes and the outlook for certain teams going forward.
News came this morning that the New York Giants will retain head coach Brian Daboll and General Manager Joe Schoen. At the same time, the Jacksonville Jaguars elected to fire head coach Doug Pederson but elected to keep general manager Trent Baalke. Sikkema admits he was a little bit shocked that Daboll is getting another season with the Giants, but doesn’t hate it as he likes Daboll as a head coach and does not believe he has had a fair shot at drafting HIS quarterback in New York. He said he does not believe former Giants quarterback Daniel Jones was Daboll or Schoen’s guy, but the Giants were in a tough situation where Jones made the playoffs and they had some success and simply had no choice but to sign him to a big deal despite some harsh criticism because the NFL is a league where the quarterback position is the lifeblood of your franchise. On the bright side, Sikkema believes that Daboll and Schoen will have their chance to get their quarterback as the Giants will have the third pick in the NFL draft.
What does @TampaBayTre think about the Giants sticking with HC Brian Daboll and GM Joe Schoen?
“I don't hate this move because again, I like who Brian Daboll is as a coach. I don't really believe that Daniel Jones was their guy. I think they were in a tough situation where they… pic.twitter.com/r2jTET6h99
— DraftKings Network (@DKNetwork) January 6, 2025
For Jacksonville, it seemed as if the writing had been on the wall for some time on Pederson However, Sikkema said it was shocking that the Jaguars decided to keep Baalke. Sikkema contends that Baalke has had enough time to reshape the Jaguars roster and coaching staff to aid Trevor Lawrence in an effort to be a consistent football team and make deeper playoff runs, a feat that Sikkema believes they are nowhere near close to since the hiring of Baalke. Moreover, the top-tier coaching candidates, such as Ben Johnson and Mike Vrabel, will likely want some level of control over who their GM will be, so keeping Baalke could limit the Jags in their pursuit of the top coaching candidates.
With NFL front office & coaching shakeups coming fast & furious, what’s surprised @TampaBayTre the most so far?
“I am shocked that Trent Baalke is still (in Jacksonville)…He is somebody who has had ample amounts of time to retool this roster and surround Trevor Lawrence with a… pic.twitter.com/3t1KS82ynT
— DraftKings Network (@DKNetwork) January 6, 2025
With five franchises needing head coaches, Sikemma weighed in on whether the Raiders could be a potential sixth opening. he noted that the situation with Antonio Pierce and the Raiders is tough. If the team decides to move on from him because they have a clear replacement who offers a higher ceiling, it would make sense. However, without that plan in place, the decision becomes more complicated. He pointed out that while the roster hasn’t been up to par, the real issue lies with the defense, which is Pierce’s area of expertise. Despite injuries to key players like Christian Wilkins and Maxx Crosby, the secondary and second level struggled significantly, leading to defensive regression. This undermines Pierce’s reputation as a motivator and players’ coach, known for keeping a high defensive floor. Sikkema added that the Raiders’ lack of aggression in last year’s quarterback-heavy draft also hurt the team, but even independent of that, he wouldn’t be surprised if Pierce is shown the door.
The NFL draft order got a bit of a shake-up in Week 18, with the Patriots faithful feeling consternated following their win over the Bills, which dropped them from the first pick down to the fourth. Mike Golic Jr. asked Sikkema to expound on how the win may shift the strategy of those picking at the top of the draft. He shared that the No. 1 pick was important for the Patriots. It was not necessarily to draft their preferred player but to create an opportunity to trade back and accumulate more assets. With their quarterback situation stable, the Patriots weren’t in a desperate position to draft at No. 1 However, staying at the top spot could have allowed them to trade down a few spots to potentially land a key playmaker such as a top offensive lineman or wide receiver. For a team he described as the least talented in the NFL, this missed opportunity to acquire additional assets was a notable loss.
"The Patriots getting the No. 1 overall pick was pretty important for them. They have their quarterback, so they're not as desperate, but I felt it was very important to stay in that one spot to trade back!
— GoJo and Golic (@GoJoandGolic) January 6, 2025
Get the prospect you want and an extra first-round pick next year. For… pic.twitter.com/P2p5wK9K6m
The Patriots’ first pick fumble ultimately puts the Cleveland Browns in an advantageous position at the No. 2 spot, as they are well-positioned to capitalize on several teams’ desperation for a quarterback. He explained that if Tennessee takes a quarterback like Cam Ward at No. 1, other teams without a franchise quarterback could feel pressure to move up for someone like Shedeur Sanders. This potential desperation could give Cleveland leverage to trade back from the second pick.
Watch or listen to the full show below and tune into GoJo and Golic weekday mornings from 8-10 a.m. ET on DraftKings Network! See more about how to watch DraftKings Network here.
SHOW BREAKDOWN
Hour 1: The Lions Win The NFC, Sorry Vikings + Trevor Sikkema on Daboll, Baalke Staying and Mike Evans’ 3M Day
VIDEO
Watch GoJo and Golic every weekday on Samsung TV Plus, Roku, Xumo Play, Google TV and DraftKingsNetwork.com from 8 to 10 a.m. ET. The show is also available via audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also follow Mike Golic Sr. on X at @golic and Mike Golic Jr. on X at @mikegolicjr.
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