ABCBachelor Nation, we may have a problem.
Listen, there's no denying that Rachel Lindsay is arguably one of the best Bachelorettes the franchise has ever had. She's confident. She's poised. She's emotional. She's smart. But many viewers feel like her crop of suitors this season on The Bachelorette just aren't up to snuff. (Don't even get us started on Whaboom. Or Blake. Or Lee.)
Which, of course, is a problem for Rachel. For sure. But it's also a major issue for us, the humble residents of Bachelor Nation, as each lead has been picked from the previous season since, with Nick Viall being picked after his fan-favorite appeared on Bachelor in Paradise. (The last time the lead wasn't was Brad Womack in season 15, but only because he was the Bachelor who infamously chose neither women in season 11).
Sure, there are a few standouts from the current season, and that's a somewhat generous use of the term, but are there any that truly excite you as the next Bachelor? Let's take a closer look at the viable options…minus Lee Garrett, because DUH.
Up until the very end, the personal trainer/business owner from Madison, Wisconsin was a fan favorite, with #TeamPeter trending on Twitter during the finale. But if he has (very reasonable) issues with proposing to a person after only a few weeks of dating, could he actually be a good Bachelor?
Rachel Lindsay outright said that maybe this reality show dating format isn't the right format for Peter to find love, and she'd probably know better than most people, but still, it's hard to imagine Peter just going back to his job and disappearing from our lives forever. (We can't see him on Bachelor in Paradise either.)
It took a minute for Eric to make a big impression in season 13, but he eventually showed that he's a sweetheart with a positive attitude and a good story to tell. His lack of relationship experience could be a problem, but it also could make his journey even more interesting.
While he didn't get a ton of screentime during Rachel's season, both Rachel and Bryan are rooting for him to get the job due to his smarts, his comedy skills, his quirkiness, and, of course, his face. We ain't mad at it.
Dean won the hearts of viewers everywhere as we got to know his family and learned the heartbreaking story of how that family fell apart after his mother's death. It also helps that he's funny, and sweet, and nice to look at. However, he's young at only 26, and he's also about to be on Bachelor in Paradise, which could make or break a person's future in the franchise. So we'll just have to see about Dean.
Kenny! We want the best for you and your adorable daughter! Which is why we think he shouldn't be the next Bachelor. We're not sure Kenny, a professional wrestler, could handle the pressure that comes with the job, especially if he's missing his kid.
Also not working in his favor? No one who has gone on a two-on-one date, which usually pits the contestants who clash the most against each other, has gone on to be the next Bachelor.
....Sorry, we fell asleep while trying to come up with something, anything to say about Anthony. He seems perfectly pleasant. Great for real-life, not-so-great when you need to carry a franchise like a backpack.
Frankly, he would probably gossip about the ladies behind their backs more than the ladies would. Good candidate for Bachelor in Paradise, not the Bach. Not even close.
Will definitely flew under the radar this season, but when he did pop up, it was clear that he has charisma, charm and confidence (and a love of Game of Thrones). It's just...with so little screen time throughout the season, it's hard to imagine he's in the running.
Josiah has a great story...and he loves to talk about it. (Very Kelsey Poe?) The attorney came off rather confident, some would say arrogant, throughout the season, even making accusations about other contestants in his ITMs, including that Iggy shoots "steroids in his nuts." We do think his competitive nature would lend quite nicely to The Bachelor Winter Games come February.
WHO?
Just kidding. We know that Matt is the guy who wore a penguin suit on night one. And that is literally all we know.
We feel like an owl, but who? (Also, you know it's not good when your puppet Adam Jr. has more personality than you.)
Name one thing about Jack Stone other than the fact his name is Jack Stone. Come on, we don't have all day...
Unless The Bachelor is moving to Cinemax, we're pretty sure the tickle monster (who prefers to go by this profession rather than DOCTOR) won't be violating women's personal space and abdomens in primetime anytime soon.
You can't convince us Brady isn't secretly the male version of Tyra Banks' character in a secret Life-Size spinoff movie. You just can't.
JUSTICE FOR DIGGY. JUSTICE FOR DIGGY'S BOWTIES. The only way for ABC to right the wrong of denying us more time with Diggy is to make him the next Bachelor, it's only fair.
But we'll also take him on Bachelor in Paradise, we guess.
Who do you think should be the next Bachelor? Any favorites among Rachel's men? Let's talk it out on Twitter, @tbrick2 and @eonlineTV.
The Bachelorette airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on ABC.