NFL Week 18 and coaching carousel latest buzz, predictions - ESPN

It's Week 18 of the 2024 NFL season, and league insiders Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano are here to break down the biggest questions, latest news and notable buzz heading into the regular season's final slate of games. They've been making calls around the league to get the newest information. But because the offseason also begins next week, they've also been checking in on the upcoming coaching carousel and what could happen. And that's our main focus in this week's buzz file.

How many head-coach jobs will be open this cycle, including the three already open (Jets, Saints and Bears)? Where should Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson — one of the hottest candidates at the moment — want to coach next season? And which other coach-to-team pairings make a ton of sense and could happen?

It's all here, as our insiders answer big questions and empty their reporter notebooks with everything they've heard heading into Week 18.

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Openings | Johnson's landing spot
Perfect coaching fits | Interview intel
Latest buzz and notes

Graziano: I'm going to say eight. The Bears, Saints and Jets are already open. The other potential openings I'm watching are the Cowboys, Jaguars, Raiders, Patriots, Colts and Giants. That'd be nine if they all came open, so I'm hedging a bit by saying eight.

Would it be entirely fair for the Raiders to move on from Antonio Pierce after a season without a real quarterback? Of course not, but with Tom Brady joining the ownership group, people are watching for potential change. Could Mike McCarthy keep his job in Dallas? Sure. But Jerry Jones still hasn't extended his contract, and it expires after this season. Have things gone badly enough in Indianapolis that no one should feel safe? You bet,