Gruden ranked No. 15 overall
Russell Baxter from FanSided recently ranked all 32 current NFL head coaches, starting with Joe Judge from the New York Giants in dead last. The No. 1 head coach was no big surprise, as New England Patriots head honco in a hoodie, Bill Belichick, was given the top spot on this list.
For Gruden, he was ranked in the top half of the NFL, but only by one spot. Overall, Gruden was the No. 15 ranked head coach on Baxter’s list, though the writer did give him credit for starting to turn the franchise around.
"There certainly progress being made when it comes to the franchise under his guidance but they’re still a lot of work to be done for a team that has been to the playoffs once since ‘03."
Of course, if the Raiders continue on their current trajectory, that is going to mean they will become perennial playoff contenders once again with Gruden at the helm. He and Mike Mayock have revamped this roster in the last two offseasons, and this is as deep a team as we have seen in quite some time.
The offense is loaded in 2020, with Derek Carr returning for his seventh season fresh off setting a career-high in passing yards despite having issues at wide receiver last year. Running back Josh Jacobs and tight end Darren Waller are elite players at their position group, and a very cohesive offensive line returns at full strength this season.
As always, the Raiders will have their issues on defense, as there are plenty of new faces, but overall, the talent on that side of the ball is much better than it has been in year’s past. Las Vegas will be looking to make a statement in their first season in the desert, and they certainly have the right guy leading them in Gruden.