Broncos

Defense

Martindale was briefly considered a head-coaching candidate in Oakland, but when team spokesman John Herrera publicly denied it Martindale moved on. The Raiders’ coaching staff is easily the thinnest in the league.

The Broncos won’t be letting Dennis Allen pillage his former staff. Smith was a candidate to replace Allen as Broncos defensive coordinator before Jack Del Rio was hired. ESPN.com reports ex-Chargers DC Greg Manusky and 49ers DBs coach Ed Donatell are potential candidates to run Allen’s defense in Oakland.

He’s lucky he lasted this long. Promoted to GM in a 2009 package deal that also made Josh McDaniels the Broncos’ head coach, Xanders never had much power during the McDaniels regime and was all but zeroed out of the picture when John Elway took over football operations last offseason. Xanders spent 1994 through 2007 working with the Atlanta Falcons as a coach and player personnel evaluator. He has some background with new Bears GM Phil Emery, and could potentially resurface in Chicago in a lower-level capacity.

Smith has coordinator experience, although it was forgettable with the Texans. Del Rio would seem to be a more desirable target to replace Dennis Allen.

He’s a nice replacement for Dennis Allen, who was considered a big loss when he left for the Raiders’ head-coaching job. Unlike in Jacksonville, Del Rio will have pass rushers to work with in Denver in Von Miller, Elvis Dumervil, and Robert Ayers. Del Rio has overseen both 4-3 and 3-4 schemes and could run a hybrid defense with the Broncos. It’s a natural fit, as 48-year-old Del Rio was John Fox’s defensive coordinator with the Panthers in 2002.

Del Rio remains on good terms with coach John Fox, having led his defense back in 2002 for the Panthers. The two men were seen conversing at the Senior Bowl on Tuesday, and Del Rio is expected to receive “serious consideration” in Denver.

Del Rio is in his first season as defensive coordinator in Denver after being the head coach in Jacksonville from 2003-11. McCoy has been coordinating the offense since 2009 and turned a Tim Tebow-run offense into the No. 1 rushing team in 2011. If the Broncos beat the Chiefs on Sunday, they will lock up a first-round bye for the playoffs. Both coordinators could then be summoned for head coaching interviews during that bye week. This is pure speculation by the Post, but, at the very least, McCoy is expected to be sought after on the coaching market for the second offseason in a row.

Late Sunday, Twitter exploded with rumors Del Rio arrived at LAX in connection with USC’s head coaching vacancy. (Del Rio played college ball at USC, and athletic director Pat Haden has fired Lane Kiffin.) Del Rio told reporters on Monday he spent the evening at coach John Fox’s steakhouse in Denver. Del Rio may very well emerge as a serious candidate for USC after the season, but the Denver Post reported he won’t leave the Broncos midyear.

Woods has been a DBs coach since 2004, and with Denver since 2015. Joseph is still choosing his staff, but Woods appears to be the favorite to take over as his defensive coordinator. Joseph also said he’s “considering” keeping Wade Phillips, though reports suggest Phillips could be tabbed as the Rams’ new DC if Sean McVay gets the job. Whoever lands the DC job in Denver could end up the play-caller, as Joseph has said he’d like to focus on his overall duties.