Baltimore Ravens have 15 candidates to choose from for the vacant head coach position. More are expected in the coming days. Baltimore Beatdown staff’s early favorite is Seahawks offensive director Klint Kubica. Here’s why:

Klint’s appeal is evident to me. It is important to hire a head coach with a strong offensive background so that they cannot be poached. He has worked under Kyle Shanahan, Kevin Stefanski, and Mike Macdonald. It’s a pretty impressive trio of connections in coaching, and that doesn’t even include Kubiak.

Kubiak’s stint in New Orleans 2024 featured early fireworks, before the offense began to regress closer to its talent level. In Seattle, he clearly improved the offense to a level that was comparable to a Super Bowl contender. Sam Darnold was at the center of his offense, but it had a relatively inexperienced offensive line and no obvious No. Jaxon Smith Njigba is the No. 2 receiver. Darnold’s production remained in the top 10, the O-line improved dramatically, and JSN became one of the NFL’s best receivers. This middle part would seem to be particularly beneficial for Baltimore. – Nikhil Mehta

My favorite of the Ravens’ current list of candidates is Kubiak. Hiring from Shanahan’s coaching tree is a safe bet, and Kubiak may be just what Lamar Jackson requires. Kubiak’s emphasis on a ground-and-pound/play action philosophy is what makes him a good fit for the Ravens. Is he a future Sean McVay? It’s a big question. But it’s impressive to see what he has done with an offensive lineup that isn’t very strong. – Stephen Bopst

Klint Kubiak intrigues the most of all the candidates, even though I don’t know him well as a leader or person. A strong offensive play-caller can be a blessing. As an example, look no further than Sean McVay, Kyle Shanahan, or Ben Johnson, with the Chicago Bears. A guru in offensive strategy to maximize and grow Lamar Jackson’s potential could be the key to finally getting past the hump. I prefer an experienced, proven defensive coordinator as a complement to a head coach who is offensively minded. Dustin Cox

Flores is my favorite name in this group. He and Kubiak have been my two top candidates for this cycle, but I prefer what Flores has to offer. After so many seasons of missing the playoffs, his fiery attitude is just what this team needs. I would also argue that defensive help is needed more than offensive. – Zach Canter

Klint Kubica would be my choice of the interviews that have been requested, scheduled and completed. I’m looking for a leader that can help shape the offense to fit Lamar Jackson, and won’t leave if it is successful. Kubiak’s quarterbacks have had incredibly successful seasons at Minnesota, San Francisco and now Seattle. Kubiak is a perfect blend of an up-and coming quarterback and a well-established veteran, with success in multiple organizations. Kubiak led the Seahawks, in just one season, to the top NFC seed. He also oversaw the offense which saw Jaxson Smith-Njigba establish himself as, if not, the best wide receiver in the NFL. If the Ravens decide to hire an offensively-minded coach, then I’d like to see a defensive coordinator with experience. Jim Schwartz would be my dream for this position. Mark Myers