Who will be the Dallas Cowboys’ next head coach?

Now that the Dallas Cowboys’ coaching search is heating up, let’s take a walk through our NFL staff and who they think will ultimately get the job.

Who will be the next head coach of the Dallas Cowboys?

Jori Epstein: The Cowboys seemed almost headed for a Kellen Moore reunion until this week, when talks with their latest offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer began. As early as Wednesday afternoon, a source characterized these talks as “heated”.

What is at stake here between the two candidates? Each has familiarity with the Cowboys’ dynamic and extensive play-calling experience, Schottenheimer’s experience longer, while Moore has the advantage of calling plays each of the last six seasons compared to a four-year hiatus for Schottenheimer.

Schottenheimer fits the dynamic coach archetype more than Moore, although several sources, including an AFC general manager who interviewed Moore for a recent opening, said they believe Moore’s personality would not be a concern for the Dallas opening.

There’s reason to question why the Cowboys would seriously pursue a candidate in Schottenheimer who hasn’t generated any coaching conversations elsewhere. A source who worked with Schottenheimer at a previous stop chalked it up to Moore offering more intrigue than Schottenheimer, a coaching “lifer” and son of longtime head coach Marty Schottenheimer. Whichever way the Cowboys go, each has a deep familiarity with quarterback Dak Prescott, who will be key.

My prediction: If the Eagles lose this week, Moore swoops in to take it. If the Eagles win and Moore is unavailable for three more weeks, Schottenheimer is your guy.

Charles Robinson: I still believe Kellen Moore is the primary pursuit, though the way Jerry Jones is handling so close to the vest — and primarily on his own — makes it more unpredictable than I expected at this point in the process. Both Jerry and Stephen Jones have long believed that Kellen has the ability to be a quality head coach, despite lacking the podium charisma that attracts the attention of Cowboys ownership.

Three points: I don’t think Jerry was ever completely over Moore leaving (essentially being pushed out of) the Cowboys franchise the way he did; I think he appreciates the relationship Moore has with Dak Prescott; and I think it’s been hard for him to see the success Moore has had coordinating the Eagles’ offense with a centerpiece running back and a QB who is less of a passer than Prescott.

The one complication in this hiring — and it’s real — is that Philadelphia’s playoff run forces Jerry to wait for a move with Moore. And the longer he waits, the more likely someone else will catch Jerry’s eye.

Charles McDonald: Whoever it is, it will be someone who already has some stature and is well known to Jerry Jones — hence the Brian Schottenheimer interview, despite just being on Mike McCarthy’s fired staff. That narrows it down to a couple of people in this year’s pool with the most likely names looking like Colorado head coach Deion Sanders and Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.

Given Moore’s experience in the NFL, he seems like a likely choice. However, Sanders has built a credible football program in Colorado, including many former NFL tight ends, including offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, who used to coach the Giants and Browns.

Either way, hopefully whoever gets this job can make it to the postseason so the Cowboys can actually be a factor in relevant discussions around this time of year. Patrick Mahomes is right here to talk about!

Nate Tice: Kellen Moore would be a hire that the Cowboys made in a roundabout way. But this is a franchise that has apparently decided to go to war with Occam’s razor. Moore already has years of experience as a coordinator despite being only 36 and is smart, likable, has a great relationship with Dak Prescott and, most importantly (especially, especially, especially in Dallas): He is a known quantity to the Jones family.

Although there is a lot of smoke right now for Brian Schottenheimer, who is a candidate for the Cowboys job for many of the same reasons Moore is a candidate for the Cowboys head coaching job: experience in the NFL and familiarity with Prescott and the Cowboys franchise. A Schottenheimer hire would repeat Jason Garrett’s ascension from coordinator to head coach over a decade ago.

That said, I still think Moore will be the hire in the end. Even if the path to finally promoting him to the main spot has not been ideal. The Eagles’ deep playoff run has just put a delay on matters.

Frank Schwab: Because as much as we’re all hoping Jerry Jones makes some spicy hire that gets us talking all offseason, Kellen Moore seems like the most obvious hire. Jones is comfortable with him, which means something, and while he doesn’t have the head coaching experience that would likely be ideal for the Cowboys’ circus, he’s been around the franchise as the offensive coordinator and knows there are many parts to the job , which has nothing to do with football. He also knows this franchise is looking for a quick rebound; it is not a rebuild by any means.

While something like a Deion Sanders hire is fun to talk about (and talk about and talk about), Moore should be the favorite.