Klint Kubiak is expected to be the Raiders next head coach, but the deal cannot be finalized until after the Super Bowl, and that means answers might not be coming on Kubiak’s staff for potentially another week.
Kubiak will be running the offense, so his choice of defensive coordinator is considered by some to be the most important hire on his staff.
There have been several names tossed around as potential DC candidates in Las Vegas, but Vinny Bonsignore brought up a specific name to watch on Monday.
“If I were a Raider Nation, I would get familiarized with the guy by the name of Aden Durde. He’s the Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator. But don’t be surprised if he’s a prominent figure in all this,” Bonsignore said on Raider Nation Radio’s Morning Tailgate.
“Well, but Vinny, he’s a defensive coordinator. That would be a lateral move. Yes and no.
He doesn’t call the defensive plays for the Seattle Seahawks. That’s Mike Macdonald. Remember, the head coach is a defensive minded head coach who calls the defense,” Bonsignore continued.
“So there’s ways to get around that if he wants to up his resume a little bit and be the actual defensive play caller. Then that wouldn’t necessarily be a lateral move. There’s, I think, some other things that you might have to do in terms of the title. But keep your eye on that.”
Durde could choose to stay in Seattle if offered the job in Las Vegas, but it’s unlikely the Raiders would let the Seahawks outbid them for the defensive coordinator they want.
Chip Kelly was the offensive coordinator Tom Brady wanted a year ago and managed to finagle a reported three-year, $18 million deal with the Raiders. If Durde is the top defensive coordinator candidate this year, he could be in line for a similar deal.
On a related note, it has been rumored that Kubiak will be getting a deal in the ballpark of $15 million per year from the Raiders.
x: @raidersbeat
Mr. Brady may be more of a boat anchor than a helper.
He’s much more an albatross than a goat.