With the coaching staff for the Las Vegas Raiders officially announced, the strategy for the offseason has some new added wrinkles.
When Pete Carroll and John Spytek were brought in as the new head coach and general manager of the Raiders, speculation on who they would bring to the roster began immediately. Obvious links to the Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers were formed. With new coaches now part of the equation, the Raiders now have several new avenues they can pursue to attract talent to Las Vegas.
Here are four names that were identified as having connections with the new Raiders staff who could reunite on the Silver and Black.
Keenan Allen, WR, Chicago Bears
While this move seems unlikely on the surface, the Raiders now find themselves surprisingly closer to Allen than they once thought.
The 12-year veteran has previously made it clear that he will only explore three options this offseason: returning to the Bears, a return to Los Angeles, or retirement. That leaves only three teams in the running, with the Raiders not being one of them. The team would also have to hope that Allen wants a measure of revenge against his longtime team in the Los Angeles Chargers, who traded him last offseason after an 11-year run with the team.
The Raiders adding wide receivers coach Chris Beatty could lead to the veteran wide receiver changing his tune, however.
Beatty has served as Allen’s position coach over the last four seasons across both the Chargers and Bears. In that time, Beatty coached Allen to two Pro Bowl seasons in 2021 and 2023. While last season in Chicago proved to be a challenge, it is hard to pinpoint if that was Allen in decline or the environment in Chicago not being as friendly as initially perceived.
The Raiders, who could use a veteran presence to take the pressure off of their top receiving options in Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers, could take advantage of that familiarity to bring in one of the best technicians at the position in recent memory.
Bobby Wagner, LB, Washington Commanders
While quarterback Russell Wilson was the most obvious connection to Carroll from the Seahawks, the former leader of the defense at that time was another name worth mentioning.
Drafted by Seattle in 2012, Wagner has spent 11 of his 13 NFL seasons in the Pacific Northwest under Carroll. With six first-team All-Pro nominations and eight Pro Bowl appearances in that time, Wagner has built up a Hall of Fame resume simply off of his time with the Seahawks alone. He has shown time and time again that he is one of the best field generals of all time.
While luring him away from former Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn in Washington could prove challenging, Carroll has already done so with one assistant.
Linebackers coach Jack Glenn was in his first season with the Seahawks during Wagner’s rookie year, and was also an assistant special teams coach for the Commanders this season. That is twelve seasons working with Wagner, so the Raiders’ staff is tailor-made to provide the veteran with a familiar scheme. While defensive coordinator Patrick Graham will be calling the plays, Wagner could serve as a bridge between him and Carroll on that side of the ball.
If the Raiders are unable to retain one or both of Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo this offseason, they have a borderline-perfect replacement potentially waiting for them in Wagner.
Byron Murphy Jr., CB, Minnesota Vikings
Murphy picked a fantastic time to have a breakout season, making his first Pro Bowl in 2024.
Tied with Marlon Humphrey of the Baltimore Ravens for most interceptions by a cornerback with six, Murphy emerged as a bona fide playmaker with the Vikings this past season. His breakout was a major catalyst for turning Minnesota’s defense into one of the most fearsome units in the league. The Raiders undoubtedly saw this performance, and will likely hope to bring that playmaking ability for their own purposes this season.
Oddly enough, they may have found a coach who can help provide that for them.
New defensive backs coach Marcus Robertson started with the Arizona Cardinals in 2019, the year the team drafted Murphy in the second round. The two spent four seasons together in the desert, with Murphy showing significant promise in 2021 with four interceptions. With the Vikings now facing key decisions with several members of their roster, the Raiders have an opportunity to use that connection to bring Murphy over.
With slot cornerback Nate Hobbs hitting free agency after an injury-riddled season, Murphy represents the best chance the Raiders have towards upgrading the position this upcoming season.
Paulson Adebo, CB, New Orleans Saints
Murphy is not the only free agent defensive back Robertson has a connection to, however.
Adebo was shaping up to be one of the top cornerbacks available this offseason. With three interceptions and 52 tackles in seven games, the Stanford product looked poised for a breakout season leading to a massive payday. Unfortunately, a serious injury derailed his hopes of a big contract, and he now has the makings of one of this offseason’s best potential bargains.
Both Robertson and passing game coordinator Joe Woods know full well the potential that Adebo had prior to the injury.
Woods has served as defensive coordinator of the Saints over the last three seasons, while Robertson has been secondary coach for two. The two have seen firsthand that Adebo has the makings of a difference-maker in this league, and they will know how to properly integrate him into their schemes. Similar to Wagner, Adebo joining the Raiders would give Graham a player who is knowledgeable about how his new colleagues run their defenses, making the transition process easier.
The Saints’ terrifying cap situation means more players can be had for the right price, but Adebo stands out as the best bet to make a positive long-term impact.
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