3 perfect replacements for Mike Macdonald the Ravens should hire right now

Just a few days after the Baltimore Ravens' season ended, they found out the team was losing an integral piece to their 2023 run.

Defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald is being hired on as the new head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, as Adam Schefter reported Wednesday.

The deal has yet to be finalized, but Macdonald will indeed be leaving Baltimore.

Now, onto the more important question.

Who will the Ravens hire to replace Mike Macdonald?

1. Leslie Frazier

One of the first candidates that would be perfect for Baltimore is a guy who is familiar with the Ravens, having coached their secondary back in 2016. Leslie Frazier is a longstanding defensive mind in the NFL and opted to take last year off after parting ways with the Buffalo Bills.

Frazier was the defensive coordinator in Buffalo from 2017 to 2022 and led them to become a top-10 defense in four of those seasons, including finishing as the top defense in 2021. Frazier's history within the league means he needs no introduction. This man is one of the better defensive minds in the NFL, and has been for a couple of decades now.

This would be an easy hire; one that wouldn't need a whole lot of thought, to be frank. Frazier has been around the organization in years past and is familiar with the culture under John Harbaugh. Frazier is also a well-respected coach and would come as a plug-and-play type. He'd also likely help revamp the depth at cornerback, coming from a defensive back's background.

2. Brandon Staley

After being fired from the Los Angeles Chargers, former head coach Brandon Staley will now likely re-enter the coaching ranks in a familiar spot. Before he was the head coach for Los Angeles, Staley was the defensive coordinator for the other L.A. team. He led the Rams to become the NFL's no. 1 overall defense in 2020, both in yards and in points against.

On that defense, Staley had plenty of talent to manage and work with. He is used to coaching big name guys, whether it be with the Rams or Chargers. Now looking as though he'll be a coordinator once again, many are thinking it could be the right move for Staley. He wasn't cut out as a head coach, at least not yet.

As a coordinator, though, it gives Staley an opportunity to focus solely on the defensive side of the ball where he will once again have the opportunity to manage and coach some talented players featuring the likes of Roquan Smith and Kyle Hamilton.

Staley has interviewed with both the Miami Dolphins and Green Bay Packers for their vacant defensive coordinator jobs, but I am certain he'd jump at the chance to slide right into the role in Baltimore. This automatically becomes the most attractive opening at the position in all of football.

3. Anthony Weaver

Finally, the Ravens could have their replacement already inside the building. Defensive line coach and associate head coach Anthony Weaver has gotten some attention amongst the coordinator interview cycle this year, too, and would be a perfect candidate to replace Macdonald.

One of the main reasons why Weaver makes sense is the fact that there wouldn't be much overlap. He already knows the guys and the type of scheme they want to run. Continuity certainly counts in today's NFL, and I am sure the locker room would give a rousing vote of confidence to a hire like this.

Weaver has previously coached defensive lines in Houston, Cleveland and Buffalo and he gets the current opportunity to say he coached the league's no. 1 defensive line; a defense that led the NFL in sacks with 60 last season.

Weaver also has a trending trait among coordinators and coaches in today's league. He's a former player, and so happens to be a former draft pick of Baltimore back in 2002. Former players have gained more and more steam over the last few years as successful, up-and-coming coaches and Weaver is no exception.