Silver Minings: Raiders’ could hire new head coach by end of week

After the Detroit Lions were eliminated from the playoffs on Saturday night, the Las Vegas Raiders’ head coach search is expected to ramp up. The Raiders can now interview the Lions’ coordinators, Ben Johnson—widely considered the leading candidate for the job—and Aaron Glenn in person and can strike a deal with either of them.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter said on SportsCenter Sunday that “most if not all” jobs could be filled by the end of the week. Obviously, that would include Las Vegas’ vacancy.

“That was one of the byproducts of that upset last night in Detroit, because the NFL coaching hiring cycle now has been ramped up dramatically,” Schefter said (h/t Bleacher Report). “And we can see most if not all of these openings filled by the end of this week.”

Johnson is likely the first domino to fall as a few other clubs—the Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars—have also interviewed him virtually prior to Detroit getting eliminated this past weekend. So, once the Lions’ offensive play-caller makes his decision, the two other organizations will extend offers to their second options.

On that topic, Schefter and his colleague at ESPN, Jeremy Fowler, reported Sunday that the Raiders are interviewing Washington Commanders assistant general manager Lance Newmark for the vacant general manager position in Las Vegas. Newmark previously was with the Lions and reportedly has “a strong relationship” with Johnson and Glenn.

While the Commanders are still alive in the playoffs, general manager hires aren’t subject to the same restrictions as head coaches. For example, last Friday, the Tennessee Titans hired current Kansas City Chiefs assistant general manager Mike Borgonzi. So, in theory, Newmark could also get hired next week, meaning the Raiders head coach and general manager searches could both be coming to an end soon.

In Other Raiders’ Links:

• Get to know Lance Newmark: “He has 29 years of NFL experience. He was in the Detroit Lions’ front office for 26 years. Newmark left the Lions for Washington after finishing there as the senior director of player personnel. He helped oversee both the college and pro scouting departments. He started his NFL career with the San Diego Chargers,” via Silver and Black Pride’s Bill Williamson.
• Raiders pursuing Johnson hard: “The Raiders are going to make a big push in the coming days to land Ben Johnson,” CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reported on Sunday.
• Las Vegas trades for Jalen Milroe in bold draft prediction: “After making their first pick at No. 6, they could trade back into the first round for Jalen Milroe,” Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton wrote. “...Milroe must be more patient when going through his reads from the pocket, but teams like the Raiders should be interested in his physical tools.”
• Starting quarterback on the roster: “The ragtag Raiders may look quite different depending on who the team hires as the new head coach and general manger,” S&BP’s Ray Aspuria wrote. “And if Las Vegas lands a sound offensive mind as head coach — say for example Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson — the quarterback spot becomes far more encouraging.”