Browns OC Freddie Kitchens Favored to be Cardinals Next Head Coach

• Early odds pin Browns OC as favorite to land vacant Cardinals job
• Freddie Kitchens’ work with Baker Mayfield drawing attention
• Identifying the best bet for the Cardinals in this head coaching carousel

In just one short year, the Cleveland Browns have gone from a winless season, to a franchise on the rise, with great pieces both on and off the field.

Some so desirable, other teams are potentially interested in snatching them up.

That’s the case for offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens, who has landed on the top the odds board as the favorite to replace Steve Wilks, who lasted just one season.

Let’s see if Kitchens is the right bet for this coaching spot – one of eight vacancies across the NFL.

Odds to be Next Cardinals Head Coach

*Odds taken 1/4

Kitchens’ Work With Baker Mayfield Turned Heads

Whatever Kitchens did to turn Mayfield into the record-setting rookie QB Cleveland envisioned when drafting him first overall last year, Arizona would want him to do the same with Josh Rosen.

At this point last year, nobody thought @bakermayfield was a 1st overall pick & he not only set a rookie record for TD passes, but set a new standard for waking up while awakening a whole town. That’s what a 1st overall pick should do. Congrats to the #Browns⁠ ⁠ and their fans

— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) December 31, 2018

Under the Hue Jackson / Todd Haley regime, Mayfield threw eight TDs to six interceptions, and had a 78.9 passer rating.

With Kitchens, Mayfield shined, tossing 19 TDs and eight interceptions, while finishing with a passer rating for the year of 93.7.

Baker mayfield had 27 TD in rookie season history pic.twitter.com/jKGWelI14q

— Caleb Whitten 1997 (@1997_whitten) December 31, 2018

And more than anything else, the Browns became both dangerous and innovative on the offensive side of the ball.

Baker Mayfield hit em with a fake toss to himself on the end-around before launching a TD to Jarvis Landrypic.twitter.com/vzJRb7TXdw

— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) December 30, 2018

That never materialized for Rosen, who was forced into action early after Sam Bradford failed to resemble anything close to competent play in the two-plus games he appeared.

Cardinals’ Josh Rosen relinquishes second Pick-6 of first quarter. ?

(?: @NFL)pic.twitter.com/bKjwvKoNsd

— theScore (@theScore) October 19, 2018

Rosen finished dead last in passer rating on the season, and ranked 33rd in passing yards per game at 163, a paltry 5.80 yards per attempt. He also was seventh in the NFL in sacks taken, eating turf 45 times.

Chicago didn't give Josh Rosen a chance for a Hail Mary on the game's final play as the #Bears sack the Arizona rookie to complete a 16-14 win over the #AZCardinals. #CHIvsAZ pic.twitter.com/MPrMkmntRz

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) September 23, 2018

About the only thing the Cardinals did right was lose 13 games, which netted them the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. With a franchise QB already in the building, Arizona can restock the talent pool fast, turning that chip into multiple picks.

That would be enticing to any head coaching candidate.

Who’s the Best Bet Here?

Do a quick scan on social media, and let’s just say that Cleveland doesn’t want to mess up a good thing with their prized pick.

#Browns averaged 23.75 ppg in 2018 w/ Freddie Kitchens calling plays.

Previous 10 years, we averaged 16.56 pts.

Call off the search, grab a tallboy, grab a DC, and have yourself a great weekend pic.twitter.com/KNqXldZTYc

— Dave @ BIGPLAY (@BIGPLAYdaveymac) January 4, 2019

The front office is acting accordingly, which leads many to believe Kitchens has an inside track to the job with the Browns.

The #Browns are blocking rival teams from interviewing OC Freddie Kitchens, who's expected to be candidate in Cleveland's ongoing head-coaching search.

➡️ https://t.co/0eXTEkVciM pic.twitter.com/yq5zKgJP5t

— Yahoo Sports NFL (@YahooSportsNFL) January 4, 2019

So who’s the best bet?

Newly minted USC OC/QB Coach Kliff Kingsbury has a solid track record of working and grooming talented pivots at the college level, with names like Johnny Manziel, Mayfield, and Patrick Mahomes on his resume.

If developing Rosen is the priority, he could be interesting at +600.

Sean McVay re Kliff Kingsbury as possible NFL coach: "He’s capable of it. I think he’s been a very good head coach. I think he’s demonstrated the ability to do a lot of different things at a high level, and he’s got a great offensive mind. "

— Gary Klein (@LATimesklein) January 2, 2019

Eric Bieniemy (+500) has been under the wing of Andy Reid since 2013, and could bring that offensive excellence similar to how Matt Nagy (also from the Reid coaching tree) infused life into the Bears.

Former Lions' and Colts' HC Jim Caldwell interviewed with the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday, per source. Caldwell now has interviewed with the Packers, Browns and Cardinals, and the Jets have expressed interest.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 4, 2019

I think the Jim Caldwell (+500) bet is interesting: he was able to cobble out good, but not great seasons in Detroit, with good, but not great rosters. And, just a season removed, things have sort of collapsed under new HC Matt Patricia.

With Cleveland likely holding onto Kitchens, I like the fresh face of Kingsbury or an old reliable like Caldwell. One thing is for sure: it won’t be Kurt Warner.