Las Vegas

Raiders

This bit of information comes less than an hour after it was reported the Raiders and Pete Carroll had agreed to terms for Carroll to become the next head coach. According to Howe, Wilson and Carroll have “mended fences” since the Seahawks traded Wilson to Denver ahead of the 2022 season, which could leave the door open for the two to reunite in Vegas. Wilson, who will be a free agent this offseason, threw for 2482-16-5 in his 11 regular season starts with the Steelers, and went one-and-done in the playoffs after losing to the Ravens in the wild card round. He’s a familiar face who Carroll could benefit from having in the building to help bring along a younger quarterback, but he wouldn’t serve as anything more than a one or two-year solution. We’re still early in this process, but Wilson’s name sounds like one to watch as free agency draws closer.

Carroll is the third head coach to be hired by the Raiders since 2022. He’s not getting the 10-year, $100 million deal the Raiders gave Jon Gruden back in 2018, but according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the 73-year-old coach has agreed to a three-year deal with the Raiders that includes a fourth-year team option. After spending 2024 in the Seahawks’ front office as an advisor, Carroll is ready to take on one of his toughest challenges in decades — turning around a Raiders team that has just two double-digit win seasons over the last 22 years, and only two playoff berths over that span. He’ll have his work cut out for him playing in the AFC West, where three of the four teams cranked out double-digit wins to make the postseason, while the Raiders finished a dismal 4-13. Currently holding the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Raiders are in dire need of a franchise quarterback — whether that’s by draft, trade, or free agency. Carroll takes over a team that ranked 29th in scoring last season, and allowed the sixth-most points on defense. The Raiders are a long way from being competitive, but Carroll is undoubtedly up for the task.

Underdog Fantasy’s James Palmer said on Thursday that the “buzz is real” between Carroll and the Raiders after Vegas lost out to the Bears on Ben Johnson. Carroll, 73, spent last season in the Seahawks’ front office after mutually agreeing to step down as the team’s head coach following the 2023 season. During his 14-year run as the Seahawks’ head coach Carroll posted a 137-89 record while appearing in two Super Bowls and winning one. Should the Raiders hire him, he would create an immediate culture shift for a team in desperate need of an upgrade in an ever-competitive AFC West.

With the Raiders GM vacancy now filled by former Buccaneers’ assistant GM John Spytek, the team can shift all of its focus to hiring a head coach. Carroll, 73, has been on a handful of teams’ coaching radars this offseason, and it was reported earlier this week by The Athletic’s Tashan Reed that he is “believed to be” the “backup” option to fill their head coaching vacancy. With former Lions OC turned Bears HC Ben Johnson the presumed top choice at the time, Carroll could now slide into the pole position for the Raiders job. Palmer cites Carroll’s familiarity with Tom Brady as something that could give him an inside edge on the job, while also highlighting Carroll’s track record as a proven winner. With one Super Bowl title under his belt and two Super Bowl appearances during his 14-year tenure with the Seahawks, it’s easy to see why he would be an attractive hire for a franchise in desperate need of wins and stability at head coach.

As Rapoport points out, Spytek was in the Bucs’ front office when they brought it Tom Brady and won a Super Bowl. Brady is now a part-owner of the Raiders and is heavily involved in their search for a new head coach and general manager. Spytek also had interviews with the Titans this offseason. His first order of business will be landing the aforementioned head coach. Ben Johnson was the team’s top target but took the Bears’ gig instead. With fellow Buccaneer Liam Coen deciding to stay in Tampa Bay and Lions DC Aaron Glenn likely headed for New York, the coaching pool is thinning out rather quickly, leaving the Raiders scrambling once again.

Graham is one of at least three finalists to receive a second interview with the Jaguars. Former Jets head coach Robert Saleh and current Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen will also have second interviews with the team. Graham, who interviewed for the Seahawks’ and Chargers’ head coaching openings last offseason, is reportedly already a finalist for the Bengals’ defensive coordinator position. Even if he doesn’t land in Jacksonville, it sounds like his services will be in high demand for the 2025 season.

The Raiders have bet big on their chances of getting Ben Johnson, with an interview with former Lions executive Lance Newmark the latest sign that they are hoping to create a coalition around what Johnson wants. It appears the Ben Johnson silly season will come to a close soon with the Bears and Jaguars also circling. However, Reed writes that the big question that remains is “whether Johnson would take the job,” as the Raiders lack talent compared to the other two squads, especially at quarterback. Carroll would be a strong rebound hire despite his advanced age. He had a strong 14-year run with the Seahawks and would likely bring some semblance of stability to an organization that has had trouble instilling that.

As Russini points out, the Raiders, Bears, and Jaguars have all shown “strong interest” in Johnson, whose offense came up short in an upset loss to the Commanders in the Divisional Round. Johnson is expected to take his time when it comes to deciding if and where he would serve as a head coach and is not a lock to meet with all teams interested in his services. In three seasons as Lions’ OC, Johnson’s offense has ranked in the top five in both yards and points per game. Considered to be one of the top offensive minds in the game, there will be high hopes for whatever team he lands with, which could also prove to have several viable fantasy assets for the 2025 season and beyond.

Newmark was hired as the Commanders’ assistant GM last season after spending the previous 26 seasons with the Lions in a number of capacities. The long-time NFL vet now has the Commanders within one game of the Super Bowl in his first season with the team, but also has close relationships with Lions coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn. Both Johnson and Glenn are on the Raiders’ coaching search radar, but it’s Johnson who has been picking up significant steam in recent weeks. Newmark is scheduled to meet with the Raiders on Sunday, while Johnson is now free to meet with any team in person after the Lions were eliminated from postseason contention on Saturday night.

Schefter also said that he thinks both Johnson and Jerry Jones have “other ideas” for this offseason’s hiring cycle. Schefter then refocused the conversation on the Raiders and Bears, saying “I know everybody’s got Ben Johnson anointed to the Raiders... I’m not in that camp right now. Why is everybody ignoring Chicago?” Schefter carefully added that Johnson could still end up as the Raiders’ new head coach but highlighted the AFC West’s highly competitive nature and the Raiders’ undesirable quarterback situation. The NFC North is certainly not a soft division but the Bears do have the requisite skill position players to hit the ground running in 2025.