Might the Las Vegas Raiders be front-runners to land scorching teaching candidate Ben Johnson, the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator? Let’s join some dots.
On Wednesday, The Athletic’s Tashan Reed and Vic Tafur reported the crew might be focusing on Washington Commanders assistant GM Lance Newmark for its vacant GM spot. Newmark labored 26 seasons for the Lions, most not too long ago as senior director of participant personnel. The Commanders employed him final February.
Per The Athletic, “Johnson desires to be a head coach, however is ready for the correct alternative. That’s why it has come as a shock to some that he’s critically contemplating the Raiders.”
Per the NFL Network Ian Rapoport, “Las Vegas is claimed to be enamored with Johnson.”
If that is true, the Raiders could also be in no rush to call a head coach and common supervisor till the seasons of the Lions and Commanders are over.
Per The Athletic, Johnson was within the head-coaching opening of the Patriots due to beginning 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 construct a crew with Newmark be sufficient to lure Johnson to Vegas? Per Reed and Tafur, the Raiders are all-in on the Lions coordinator.
“All of it begins, or ends, with Johnson,” wrote Reed and Tafur about Las Vegas’ curiosity.
