There have been a lot of signs pointing to Ben Johnson as the next head coach of the Raiders, and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport implied on Wednesday that the hiring of Johnson in Las Vegas is about as close to being done as it can be at this stage in the hiring process.
Based on Rapoport’s comments, it sounds like the whole league is under the impression that Johnson is spoken for as he coaches out the final games of the season with the Lions.
“The people who are associated with the Raiders job, I’m talking other candidates, I’m talking agents, people are the NFL, there does seem to be an acknowledgement that Ben Johnson is the leading candidate [in Las Vegas] and there a lot of people who, frankly, think he is getting it,” Rapoport reported on Wednesday. “They are not done. They certainly have not done the requirements that would allow them to hire a coach and he’s not even able to be officially hired until after the season. But it does seem like that is the direction that it is headed.”
The downside to hiring Johnson, if there is one, is that he can’t officially be hired until after the Lions lose in the playoffs.
The good news, though, is that it sounds like Johnson already knows who his key assistants are going to be – or at least has a good idea of who they are going to be.
A Pro Football Post report on Wednesday said Johnson “not only impressed the Raiders with his football acumen, but he also came incredibly prepared with a clear direction he believes he would be able to go with his coaching staff.”
The Lions earned the no. 1 seed in the NFC and if they win just two playoff games, the Raiders will have to wait until after the Super Bowl on February 9 to officially name Johnson their next head coach.
In a little more uncertain news, it sounds like Johnson might also have a good idea of the quarterback he wants to bring to Las Vegas. A report on Wednesday hinted that Johnson might be scheming a way to bring second-year quarterback Hendon Hooker with him to Las Vegas.
“Ben Johnson is clearly the [Raiders] no. 1 target [so] what would you trade for a Hendon Hooker?” Sports Illustrated’s Hondo Carpenter asked on the Las Vegas Raiders Insider podcast. “He’s got a couple years experience in the Ben Johnson system, so he comes in… and competes and you could still go draft a guy. You still have Aidan [O’Connell] there, so he instantly competes.”
“[Hooker] already knows the Ben Johnson system and what if you get him for a second [round pick], or whatever you get him for. I think that’s fascinating. I don’t think it’s getting enough attention so I’m throwing it out there… I think that’s a very viable option for the Raiders. I’m not in any way reporting it’s done. Detroit would have to want to do the deal, but I think if the Raiders were to get Ben Johnson and he’s clearly the front runner… I think [Hooker] is a real possibility and I did not come up with that on my own.”
x: @raidersbeat
Hooker and BJ in Las Vegas? No wonder they say what happens in Vegas stays in vegas!