5 Detroit Lions assistants Ben Johnson or Aaron Glenn could steal from Dan Campbell

2. Scottie Montgomery, Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs Coach

It was weird to see, but Montgomery interviewed for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offensive coordinator job practically before the ink was dry on his contract to replace Duce Staley as the Lions' running backs coach a year ago. He of course stayed on the staff in Detroit, and the development of Jahmyr Gibbs over the course of his rookie year is a huge positive mark on Montgomery's resume.

That Buccaneers' coordinator interview broadly showed how well-regarded Montgomery is around the league.

And he has a wide-ranging coaching resume, to put it lightly.

• Duke, Wide receivers coach (2006-2009)
• Pittsburgh Steelers, Wide receivers coach (2010-2012)
• Duke, Associate head coach/offensive coordinator/passing game/wide receivers coach (2013)
• Duke, Associate head coach/offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach (2014-2015)
• East Carolina, Head coach (2016-2018)
• Maryland, Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach (2019-2020)
• Indianapolis Colts, Running backs coach (2021-2022)
• Detroit Lions, Associate head coach/running backs coach (2023-)

Montgomery would be a top candidate, a notch below Engstrand, to be the new Lions' offensive coordinator if Johnson takes a head coaching job. Beyond that, another new head coach may want him as their offensive coordinator.

Glenn, in particular and moreso than Johnson probably would, might want someone with Montgomery's wide swath of experience on the offensive side of the ball as his offensive coordinator if he gets a head coaching job.

If we were ranking these coaches based on "most likely to leave with Johnson or Glenn if asked", Montgomery might be No. 1. And that is not meant as a criticism.