The Patriots need a new offensive coordinator.

Bill O’Brien is leaving to take the same position at Ohio State, according to reports. O’Brien’s return to New England was a disaster that coincided with the end of the Bill Belichick era. As Jerod Mayo succeeds Belichick, and looks to fix an offense that averaged just 13.9 points per game last season, he has several factors to consider when searching for O’Brien’s replacement.

How important is prior coordinator experience? Should this next coordinator also coach quarterbacks, as O’Brien did? Will Mayo look beyond the Belichick coaching tree?

Using these questions as our guide, here are 10 candidates to watch as the Patriots search for their next offensive coordinator.

Ex-Raiders coach Josh McDaniels

The obvious choice.

McDaniels has served in this role twice before and been local for weeks since he left Las Vegas. He has a track record of developing quarterbacks and could essentially operate as the head coach of the offense, as he did under Belichick. The question is: does Mayo want McDaniels to return?

And if so, will the Patriots’ offer be more enticing than anything Belichick might offer in Atlanta?

Rams TEs coach Nick Caley

An ex-Patriots tight ends coach, Caley found greener pastures this season working under Rams coach Sean McVay during a surprise playoff run. He interviewed for the Pats’ offensive coordinator job last offseason and was a well-respected member of the staff during his time as an assistant. Caley’s ability to mesh the old New England playbook with McVay’s teachings and concepts might appeal to Mayo.

New England Patriots tight ends and fullbacks coach Nick Caley faces reporters following an Aug. 4, 2021 practice in Foxboro. He reportedly has interviewed for the Patriots’ offensive coordinator position. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Rams QBs coach Zac Robinson

Robinson, a former Patriots draft pick and productive college passer, would bring the most valuable experience of any non-coordinator: developing quarterbacks. Robinson has spent the past five seasons coaching in Los Angeles, where he worked as quarterbacks coach and pass game coordinator the last two years. He’s also coached wide receivers.

Seahawks OC Shane Waldron

A former Patriots intern and offensive assistant, Waldron has split his recent coaching career between working for McVay and taking McVay’s offense to Seattle. Waldon, 44, was hired as the Seahawks’ offensive coordinator in 2021. He is currently interviewing for jobs elsewhere, having coached an above-average scoring offense in two of the past three years.

Ex-Falcons coach Arthur Smith

Three consecutive 7-10 seasons got Smith canned in Atlanta, but a strong run as the Titans’ offensive coordinator landed him that job in the first place. Smith coached a top-10 scoring offense in 2019 and 2020, despite having Ryan Tannehill at quarterback. Like McDaniels, his experience as a head coach could appeal to Mayo, a first-time headman.

Chargers OC Kellen Moore

Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore walks the sidelines during an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the 49ers on Jan. 16. The 49ers won 23-17.

Once a hot-shot coordinator and head-coaching candidate, Moore’s stock cooled over a down Chargers season last year. Still, Moore’s offenses in Dallas were annually among the NFL’s best, and in 2021, his Cowboys hung 35 points on Mayo’s Patriots defense during Gillette Stadium shoot-out. Given his years as a coordinator and quarterbacks coach, Moore should be worth a look.

Dolphins QBs coach Darrell Bevell

Another former offensive coordinator, Bevell just finished his second season bringing the best out of Tua Tagovailoa as a position coach. Bevell previously led offenses in Minnesota, Seattle, Detroit and Jacksonville. He could bring some of Mike McDaniel’s cutting-edge creativity to New England, where the Patriots have yet to beat Tagovailoa head-to-head

Ravens QBs coach Tee Martin

A dark horse!

Martin is nearing the end of his first season as Baltimore’s quarterbacks coach, a campaign that should end with an MVP award for starter Lamar Jackson. Martin has almost two decades of experience working as a passing game coordinator, quarterbacks coach and wide receivers coach at both the pro and college level. Like Mayo, he was once a standout player at the University of Tennessee who’s since developed into a well-regarded player’s coach.

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Saints offensive line coach Doug Marrone

Marrone is a former head coach and offensive coordinator whose speciality lies with the offensive line. He may be in line for a promotion in New Orleans, where offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael was recently fired. Marrone engendered great respect from Belichick during his days going head-to-head with the Patriots as the head coach of the Jaguars and Bills, and might earn a call in the coming weeks.

Bills offensive line coach Aaron Kromer

Another ex-coordinator, Kromer has slowly built Buffalo’s O-line into one of the league’s best. Few offensive lines could use more help than the Patriots’, which has suffered from coaching turnover and a lack of talent for years. Kromer could also bring key perspective as a division rival.