Could the Las Vegas Raiders be front-runners to land hot coaching candidate Ben Johnson, the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator? Let’s connect some dots.
On Wednesday, The Athletic’s Tashan Reed and Vic Tafur reported the team could be targeting Washington Commanders assistant GM Lance Newmark for its vacant GM spot. Newmark worked 26 seasons for the Lions, most recently as senior director of player personnel. The Commanders hired him last February.
Per The Athletic, “Johnson wants to be a head coach, but is waiting for the right opportunity. That’s why it has come as a surprise to some that he’s seriously considering the Raiders.”
Per the NFL Network Ian Rapoport, “Las Vegas is said to be enamored with Johnson.”
If this is true, the Raiders may be in no rush to name a head coach and general manager until the seasons of the Lions and Commanders are over.
Per The Athletic, Johnson was interested in the head-coaching opening of the Patriots because of starting QB Drake Maye. However, earlier this week, the Patriots filled their HC spot with Mike Vrabel. Multiple outlets reported Johnson has had virtual interviews with the Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars.
The major issue for Las Vegas, of course, is at quarterback. The top QBs in the draft — Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Miami’s Cam Ward — could be gone by the time Las Vegas picks.
However, the Raiders have eight picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, including the sixth overall pick. Plus, they have nearly $100M in cap space, per Spotrac.
Would the potential to build a team with Newmark be enough to lure Johnson to Vegas? Per Reed and Tafur, the Raiders are all-in on the Lions coordinator.
“It all starts, or ends, with Johnson,” they wrote about Las Vegas’ interest.