Coaching candidate list for Denver Broncos is puzzling

The Denver Broncos continue to conduct a thorough search for a new head coach, one that will look to help the team end its long playoff drought.

But how thorough is it? Denver Broncos general manager George Paton came up with an initial list of 10 candidates for the vacancy, likely planning to interview more candidates than any of the other seven teams looking for a head coach.

But his list seems to leave open just as many questions as it does answers.

The Broncos completed their interview with Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore on Tuesday, the fourth interview that has been done now as Moore joins Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn and Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and quarterbacks coach Luke Getsy as those having already spoken with the team.

Presumably, Paton will still interview the following men for the job:

Dan Quinn, Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator

Eric Bienemy, Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator

Brian Callahan, Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator

Jonathan Gannon, Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator

Jerod Mayo, New England Patriots linebackers coach

Kevin O’Connell, Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator

Many of those guys still have their team playing in the playoffs, so Paton may have to wait a bit for a good time to talk. But what about the guys who are not on this list?

Sayre Bedinger came up with three solid names that the team should still be interested in talking to, the most prominent of which being Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. How is he on the list?

When the job came open, he was one of the first guys I thought of. The work he has done with Josh Allen alone is appealing enough, but he has helped lead the Bills to have one of the league’s most potent offensive attacks.

Not long before that, I mentioned a few outside-the-box names and though all of those guys would come from the college ranks, Paton should be leaving no stone unturned.

Too many good candidates are not on Paton’s list

And then there is Brian Flores, a name that should interest any team looking for a new coach after the work he did with the Miami Dolphins. It was absolutely stunning to see them fire Flores, who had back-to-back winning seasons in Miami.

Paton doesn’t seem interested in meeting with him or Doug Pederson, who not long ago won a Super Bowl with the Eagles. Instead, his list includes names we expected to see but many that kind of leave you scratching your head.

The team isn’t interested in Daboll, but has interviewed Glenn, who was the coordinator for a Lions defense that was mediocre at best as well as position coaches such as Mayo and Getsy?

Will the team’s next coach really come from this list or will Paton do more work beyond these 10 candidates? If you feel this list leaves a little something to be desired, you’re probably not alone.

The Broncos have one of the most attractive openings in the league and it seems that Paton should be looking for an experienced, proven coach rather than trying to catch lightning in a bottle with the next young gun.