New Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker has yet to hire a coach to his staff, but he's already taken a blowtorch to Matt Eberflus' throne by firing three of his assistants.
Meanwhile, defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton left to reunite with Robert Saleh in Tennessee as the Titans’ run game coordinator and defensive line coach. Whitecotton had been viewed as the lone holdover from Matt Eberflus’ staff with a realistic chance of surviving the regime change.
Wholesale changes are undoubtedly on the way, and the Cleveland Browns may hand Parker a dream assistant on a silver platter after shockingly hiring Todd Monken as their head coach.
Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, a finalist for the HC job, did not take the news well. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that a visibly upset Schwartz left the building and told other coaches that he's not coming back to Cleveland.
This opens the door for Parker and the Cowboys to swoop in and make Schwartz the NFL's highest-paid defensive assistant.
Cowboys should pounce on Jim Schwartz amid Browns' Todd Monken fallout
Schwartz is still under contract with the Browns, who want him back. That presents a problem, but Cleveland can get that sorted without lifting a finger.
The bigger hurdle for Dallas is that Schwartz would become a candidate for any team that's still searching for a defensive coordinator.
As of this writing, the Bills, Chargers, and 49ers are all still on the DC hunt. The one saving grace is that those teams are deep in the interview process, and it may take time for Schwartz to shake free from Cleveland, given his contract and the team's desire to keep him.
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Regardless, the Cowboys would be smart to give him a call. That calculus changes if Parker’s philosophies and defensive vision don’t align with Schwartz’s, but this still represents a prime opportunity for Dallas to pair its first-time DC with one of the most accomplished defensive minds in football.
Of course, Schwartz was just on the doorstep of becoming a head coach. It stands to reason he’ll want a defensive coordinator role where he can call plays. Being Parker’s second-in-command, regardless of salary, may not be a compelling enough pitch.
But it certainly doesn't hurt to call. Bill Belichick just got snubbed from the Pro Football Hall of Fame for crying out loud.
Crazier things have happened.