The Las Vegas Raiders are positioning themselves to potentially hire Ben Johnson, the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions, as their new head coach. As multiple teams seek coaching changes this offseason, Johnson stands out as a leading candidate due to his impressive work with Lions quarterback Jared Goff, contributing to the team's offensive success.
With the Raiders missing out on the No. 1 overall draft pick after a late-season winning streak, acquiring Johnson could serve as a significant consolation. Johnson has been with the Lions since 2019 and became their offensive coordinator in 2022, during which time the team achieved notable success, finishing with the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
The Lions' offense ranked second in the league for yardage and led in points per game, demonstrating Johnson's capabilities as a coach. However, the Raiders face challenges in terms of player talent, with limited options outside of tight end Brock Bowers and wide receiver Jakobi Meyers.
Las Vegas possesses the financial flexibility to pursue talent in free agency but must also consider their own free agents and potentially make strategic trades. Additionally, with the Raiders now picking sixth in the draft, securing a quarterback becomes a more complex issue. Nonetheless, if they successfully hire Johnson, it would signal a positive direction for Mark Davis' franchise in what they hope will be a fruitful offseason.
