THE TOP 5
1) TODD BOWLES (DBs/Miami) - "Bowles, 45, is a former NFL player who has coached for Bill Parcells in both Dallas and Miami. He is regarded as a hard worker and a good teacher. The thing I really like about him is that he's not wedded to one specific system. He can coach either the 4-3 or the 3-4. He also has ties to the Green Bay organization. He worked in the personnel department under Ron Wolf (and alongside Ted Thompson) in the mid-90s.
2) SEAN MCDERMOTT (DBs/Philadelphia) - "McDermott, 34, is the perfect choice if you're looking to find the next [Giants DC] Steve Spagnuolo. He's worked under Jim Johnson for 10 years. I also like the fact that he's coached multiple positions. His resume is very similar to those of Spagnuolo and [Ravens HC] John Harbaugh. That's a good selling point.
3) SAL SUNSERI (DL/Carolina) - "Sunseri, 49, has been flying under the radar in Carolina, but he does an excellent job year after year. He's a fiery-type of coach who gets the most out of his players. He worked with Mike McCarthy at Pitt in the late 80s. I'm not sure if the two are still friendly, but that prior relationship can't hurt."
4) CHUCK CECIL (DBs/Tennessee) - "Cecil, 44, would make a lot of sense. He played for the Packers from 88 to 92 and he'd get a strong recommendation from Titans GM Mike Reinfeldt, who happens to be very close with Thompson. Cecil is an extremely intense coach who would give any defense an instant identity. His only real negative is a reckless driving conviction from earlier in the year."