Leap Day: Ranking New NFL Head Coaches & MLB Breakouts

In this 2024 Leap Year, we get our latest bonus day on the calendar. 

To celebrate, we’re looking to help identify the Next Big Things in NFL head coaching and MLB players.

IN THIS EDITION OF BACK OFFICE BUZZ

• Happy Leap Day: Which MLB players are ready to take theirs?

• Power Rankings: NFL’s New Head Coaches – Who’s No. 1? Who’s the sleeper hire?

• The F1 Season Starts: Can any Formula One driver catch Max Verstappen?

• PGA Best Bet: Embrace history to back this Florida course ace

NEW NFL HEAD COACH POWER RANKINGS

As we approach one of the more underrated periods of the NFL season — the NFL Scouting Combine and Free Agency — we offer up a best-to-worst list for the newest head coaches.

Who’s ready to lead their team to new heights? Who’s making us unsure? Let’s line up the eight new (actually, some old) faces.

1. Jim Harbaugh, Los Angeles Chargers

After piloting the University of Michigan to the national championship, Jim Harbaugh returns to the NFL to try to right the Bolts’ ship. We’ve seen the former 49ers head coach have success with Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick. I can’t wait for him to work with Justin Herbert.

Believe in Harbaugh’s NFL return? You can bet on the Los Angeles Chargers to either win the Super Bowl (+3000 at BetMGM Sportsbook) and/or the AFC (+1400).

2. Dave Canales, Carolina Panthers

Dave Canales is a quarterback guru who helped guide Baker Mayfield and Geno Smith to career years. The former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator is exactly what the doctor ordered for Bryce Young, who is coming off a disappointing rookie season.

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3. Mike Macdonald, Seattle Seahawks

Mike Macdonald helped craft the recently elite Baltimore Ravens defense. The Seahawks have a nice collection of young and talented defensive players, highlighted by cornerback Devon Witherspoon. Legion of Boom 2.0 on the way?

4. Dan Quinn, Washington Commanders

Dan Quinn isn’t a flashy hire, but the former Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator is a strong communicator who has assembled a strong staff that includes former Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury. We’ve seen Quinn reach a Super Bowl with the Falcons (but maybe the less said there the better).

5. Jerod Mayo, New England Patriots

Jerod Mayo has gone from the leader of the Patriots defense to inside linebackers coach and now head coach. The 38-year-old could join DeMeco Ryans as another young, former linebacker who excels as head coach after playing for the same team.

6. Raheem Morris, Atlanta Falcons 

Raheem Morris gets another ride on the head coaching carousel following an impressive season as Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator. While this isn’t a splash move, Morris is a respected mind who also brought along Rams cohort Zac Robinson to maximize Atlanta’s talented weapons as OC.

7. Antonio Pierce, Las Vegas Raiders

After winning three of their last five games to end 2023, the Raiders made the right choice in keeping the formerly interim Antonio Pierce. Look for Pierce to continue emphasizing defense and the running game to keep this team competitive.

8. Brian Callahan, Tennessee Titans

The Titans brought in former Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan as their new head coach to help develop quarterback Will Levis. My only criticism of the hire is that it came too early in the hiring process with other coaches available, like Dave Canales. — Frank Ammirante

Who’s the best new NFL coach hire? Tweet us @TheGameDayNFL.

3 MLB PLAYERS READY TO MAKE A LEAP

In honor of Leap Day, let’s look at three players who could emerge among the elite in Major League Baseball by the end of the 2024 season.

1. Triston Casas, 1B, Boston Red Sox

Triston Casas played much better in the second half last season and is poised for a true breakout. In the first half, he slashed .225/.330/,398 but charged to a .317/.417/.617 line thereafter.

The 24-year-old could reach 30 homers over a full season and has plenty of room to grow defensively. Casas is a student of the game who will work diligently to reach his ceiling.

2. Eury Perez, SP, Miami Marlins

The Marlins were understandably careful with the 20-year-old Eury Perez after he arrived in the majors last May. The close monitoring and a hip injury limited him to 91 1/3 innings pitched. Even in that short window, the Dominican righty flashed ample potential, striking out 108 batters while fashioning a WHIP of 1.13. 

Perez should occupy a prominent role in the Miami rotation while seeing a significant workload jump and showcasing a potent four-pitch mix. 

3. Anthony Volpe, SS, New York Yankees

I spoke to a longtime New York baseball writer this week who believes that Anthony Volpe carries All-Star potential for 2024. He learned a lot in his rookie year and will make required adjustments after posting a 27.8% strikeout rate last season.

The Yankees remain high on Volpe, who started his offseason conditioning program early with an eye on second-year improvements. — Scott Engel

BET ON MAD MAX OUT OF THE GATE AS F1 RESTARTS

Max Verstappen: Win Bahrain GP (-360) • DraftKings Sportsbook

I understand if people don’t want to lay -360 odds on Max Verstappen … but who else are you going to pick? Mad Max again stands as a runaway favorite for F1 World Drivers’ Championship Odds.

Verstappen has won 19 of the last 20 F1 races, and recent testing in Bahrain signifies that the new and improved Red Bull car is as solid as it was last year, if not better. 

The general sense from the 18 other drivers on the grid is that Red Bull once again has a major advantage over the rest of the field. Max should have little trouble getting where he wants to be: the front of the pack. 

Verstappen and Sergio Perez finished 1-2 here last year. I expect that to be similar this year. Charles Leclerc would be the third guy I expect to stand on the Bahrain podium, given that Ferrari’s testing numbers were solid. — Sam Wagman

AIM HIGH WITH THIS WEEK’S PGA BEST BET

Eric Cole: Win Cognizant Classic (+3500) • Hard Rock Sportsbook

My favorite outright play this week is also a widely popular choice. Still, Eric Cole has the resume to justify being our top golf prop this week.

He finished runner-up at the PGA National Members Club to Chris Kirk last season in an entertaining playoff. The American has piled up Top 20 finishes over the past several months.

Cole simply fits the Florida course to a tee. The 35-year-old excels on positional, second-shot golf courses, as he showed this season at Pebble Beach (T14) and Wa’ialae Country Club (T13). 

Cole also has gained strokes on approach in 18 of his last 19 events and ranks 23rd among all players on Tour in strokes gained on approach from 150-200 yards. — Sam Wagman

Don’t have Hard Rock Sportsbook in your area? Head to TheGameDay.com for more of our top sportsbooks.