Should Patriots Target Eric Bienemy as Offensive Coordinator?
The New England Patriots have a massive hole regarding who will run their offense in 2024.
Whether it will be Josh McDaniels, or other assistants across the league, head coach Jerod Mayo knows that having a play-calling offensive coordinator will make or break his tenure in New England.
While the Patriots have certainly gone through plenty of names in the early stages, arguably the top one hasn't yet been interviewed.
And he absolutely should.
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Not even two years ago, Eric Bieniemy was considered the hottest assistant name in NFL circles. Issues with the interview process and a difficult past have been the only reason Bieniemy has yet to receive a head coaching job.
Making things even more difficult is that after leaving the Kansas City Chiefs, the offensive mastermind went to Washington to try and make a name for himself. The Commanders finished 4-13 and had the 24th best offense.
While second-year quarterback Sam Howell showed flashes, his poor play down the stretch led to the Commanders changing quarterbacks late in the season.
Despite the concerns from 2023, Bieniemy is still a top name that many teams with offensive coordinator openings should consider. That includes the Patriots.
While in Kansas City helping Patrick Mahomes win two Super Bowls and multiple MVP trophies to boot, Bieniemy's offense was the top-ranked unit in three of five years. The lone two that the Chiefs did not have the top-ranked offense, they finished sixth and third - not exactly a major dropoff.
While coaching future Hall-of-Famers like Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Tyreek Hill certainly helped boost the numbers, there was reason to be impressed at times with Bieniemy when he went to Washington.
As the Commanders look for a new head coach, the likelihood that Bieniemy stays with the team is slim. That means every team should be looking to poach a man for his talent.
The Patriots, with a defensive-minded coach, and will be spending a top overall pick on a quarterback. should be no exception.
