With a new head coach on the way, the Las Vegas Raiders are expected to make sweeping changes to their coaching staff for next season.
Whether it be Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson or another candidate, the Raiders will likely be making changes to their coordinators as well.
Interim offensive coordinator Scott Turner has been considered a candidate to join Bill Belichick on his staff at the University of North Carolina, but nothing has been confirmed yet. Regardless, it is expected that Turner will not return.
It appears they will be making an adjustment on the defensive side of the ball, as well. According to Cincinnati Bengals insider James Rapien, Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham is a finalist for the team’s vacant defensive coordinator position.
While Graham is expected to lose the role to Notre Dame defensive coordinator and former Bengals linebackers coach Al Golden, the fact the Raiders have not fought to keep him is a telling sign.
Graham’s contract expired after this season and, despite the improvement shown by his unit throughout the year, no word on a possible extension has been given. A return is still not out of the question, but it appears unlikely for the time being.
Fortunately for the Raiders, they may not have to look too far for their next defensive coordinator. On his podcast, Sports Illustrated’s Hondo Carpenter has said the team has denied requests for teams to interview defensive line coach Rob Leonard for their defensive coordinator spots.
“I’ve been able to confirm something that’s not been publicly relayed. I have been told there is more than one team that put a slip in to interview Rob Leonard and that the Raiders have denied it. They have denied him the opportunity to interview at other places,” Carpenter said.
There are plenty of reasons to suggest why the Raiders are interested in keeping Leonard. His work was instrumental in the improved play of young pass rushers like Tyree Wilson and K’Lavon Chaisson, who enjoyed career seasons in 2024.
Also important to note is the Raiders have several pending free agents on defense. Chaisson and defensive lineman Adam Butler have worked with Leonard, and notable players like safety Tre’Von Moehrig and linebacker Robert Spillane are also up for grabs this spring. Keeping Leonard around would give the Raiders a chance to retain at least some of them, instead of them all going with Graham wherever he winds up.
Finally, it is fair to wonder what role Maxx Crosby has in this decision. The star edge rusher’s long-term future with the Raiders is up in the air, and the team might be extending an olive branch by promoting his position coach.
Should Graham be headed elsewhere next season, his replacement might not be too far away.
