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Cleveland Browns: Potential head coaching candidates if Freddie Kitchens is fired

By Matthew McFatridge

WACO, TX - OCTOBER 28: Head coach Matt Rhule of the Baylor Bears looks on as Baylor plays the Texas Longhorns in the first half at McLane Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Waco, Texas. Texas won 38-7. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
WACO, TX - OCTOBER 28: Head coach Matt Rhule of the Baylor Bears looks on as Baylor plays the Texas Longhorns in the first half at McLane Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Waco, Texas. Texas won 38-7. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) /
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NORMAN, OK – SEPTEMBER 28: Head Coach Lincoln Riley of the Oklahoma Sooners during warm ups before the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners defeated the Red Raiders 55-16. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK – SEPTEMBER 28: Head Coach Lincoln Riley of the Oklahoma Sooners during warm ups before the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners defeated the Red Raiders 55-16. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /

Lincoln Riley – Oklahoma Sooners Head Coach

Hiring Lincoln Riley is the dream of every NFL fan whose team has a need for a game-changing head coach. That’s exactly what Riley is, too, as he’s one of the great young minds in football.

Since taking over for Sooner coaching legend Bob Stoops, Riley is 28-4 with back to back Big 12 conference titles and College Football Playoff appearances. Riley has also coached back to back Heisman Trophy winners and has his current quarterback playing at a Heisman winning level.

The biggest thing that could draw him to Cleveland? One of those Heisman winning quarterbacks, Baker Mayfield. Along with Mayfield are a plethora of weapons to work with, be it the uber-talented Nick Chubb or athletic freaks at wide receiver in Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry.

Riley has been lauded by everyone who follows football as an offensive genius. If you’ve seen any of his games as head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners, you see exactly why everyone wants him as their coach. While Freddie Kitchens looks lost in his first time leading an entire team, and often has made head scratching play calls at times this season, Riley would be very unlikely to have those issues. He’s known for finding mismatches and making the most of talent at every position.

There are two big concerns with hiring Riley. The first concern is that it is unknown if he really wants to leave Oklahoma or the college game. Some coaches are meant to be college coaches, and Riley loves what he does and how he can do it at Oklahoma. He’s able to recruit the players he wants and build the type of team he wants to.

If Cleveland or any other NFL team were to hire Riley, he’d likely want some input on personnel and players. It’s unknown how willing general manager John Dorsey or the Browns organization would be on that particular issue, but with a coach as talented as Lincoln Riley, it may be something worth considering.

The second concern with hiring Riley is that nobody knows exactly how much it would cost. Riley loves his job, and makes a lot of money coaching there. Currently making $6 million per season, it would probably take close to double that per season to take the leap into the NFL.

That’s a large amount of money to pay someone who hasn’t coached in the NFL before, but if the Browns are serious about winning and getting the most out of the talent they have on offense, the best choice is Lincoln Riley.

Should Dorsey or the Haslams decide to move on from Freddie Kitchens and look elsewhere, they should strongly consider opening the door to Riley. Giving him control of the team’s personnel and allowing him to work with Baker Mayfield again could be very beneficial for both sides. Lincoln Riley could finally be the answer for the Browns, who seem to be on the verge of something very special.

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The organization just needs one final spark, and hiring Lincoln Riley could be that spark that ignites the flame to help get the Cleveland Browns to glory.

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