In the weeks leading up to the Raiders decision on a new head coach, all signs were pointing toward Patrick Graham taking a job somewhere else in 2025.
Graham reportedly turned down a contract extension from the Raiders before the 2024 season, and he was expected to be one of the most coveted defensive coaches in this year’s hiring cycle.
One of the teams interested in Graham as a head coaching and defensive coordinator candidate was the Jacksonville Jaguars, who ultimately settled on former Buccaneers OC Liam Coen to be their head coach.
According to league insider Josina Anderson, the Jaguars then turned to Graham to fill their vacant defensive coordinator position, but Graham had already reached a verbal agreement to return to the Raiders.
“Thursday morning I heard from additional league sources telling me that Graham actually continued to be in demand through the negotiations of his deal to return to Las Vegas —as Jacksonville still attempted to insert last minute persuasions to make him a Jaguar,” Anderson reported on Friday.
“Problem is the last-minute effort was evidently too late—coming several days after Graham’s last interviews with the Jaguars and the announcement of Liam Coen as head coach. My understanding is that Graham was not going back on his word to Las Vegas despite some late night attempts, per sources.”
It has been rumored that Graham’s presence could be key to bringing back several free agents on defense and according to Sports Illustrated insider Hondo Carpenter, Graham’s return is a positive development for Maxx Crosby’s contract situation.
“I asked someone in the organization with direct knowledge of Maxx’s contract and about [his] deal, and the person looked me right in the eyes and said, ‘Maxx is priority one.’” Carpenter said on the Las Vegas Raiders Insider podcast.
“If I was to say today, do I think Maxx will re-sign? Yes,” Hondo continued. “If they keep Patrick Graham and Rob Leonard, I don’t expect any chance he goes anywhere else. If they keep one of them, I still think there’s a great chance, and if they don’t keep either one, I would guess [the odds are] 50-50. You don’t make those decisions, if you’re the Raiders, just on one guy… but that’s where that sits.”
On a separate podcast, Hondo said Graham’s return is good news for the Raiders on their chances of getting back Robert Spillane and Adam Butler.
“I fully expect Maxx Crosby to re-sign and be back. If I’m a Raider fan I’m not even remotely worried about that,” Hondo said on the Las Vegas Raiders Insider podcast. “I would expect that Robert Spillane will be back. I think there’s a very good chance that Adam Butler will return and maybe even Tre’von Moehrig. I think as I move down the list, there’s a little bit bigger chance [they don’t stay].”
“I don’t think with Spillane, or Butler or Maxx the secret to getting them is paying them the most money,” Hondo added later in the podcast.
x: @raidersbeat
They should explore what they could get for Crosby in a trade. They could possibly be in position to draft Adul Carter. They would be ridding themselves of a high salary, plus a high maintenance player. The pass rush did fairly well when Crosby was out, which was often last season.
A very smart assessment. I felt the same thing about Mack. The difference here is Gruden versus Mark Davis. Mark Davis loves Crosby. And I mean I love Crosby too. But not for 45 million a season.
Is he really high maintenance? He’s been one of the hardest working, highest effort players on the league since he came in. He used his leverage to try and get AP retained. He is not a GM. It was Mark Davis’ fault for not calling his bluff. He wants to win. Even his most recent comments. He wants to win. The Raiders have been a bad franchise. How long does is he supposed to just sit silently while the organization around him falls and fails and fails?
That said, I don’t disagree with trading him. That’s not necessarily bad process, as long as the Raiders don’t use the picks on a RB and psychotic, overdrafted CB who played his way to the bench before deciding to pull a gun on a poor valet.
What an epiphany! Later in the podcast, Gomer says, if they pay them the right money, they’ll be back. Crack reporting their Hyundai.
Hondo is the master of wanting you to know how many connections he has inside the building without doing any reporting which might provide the benefit of those connections to the reader of listener. It’s a very peculiar style.
Seems like a nice man, though. That matters. He’s just not a guy I rely on for Raiders reporting.
I have no hope for this upcoming season.
We’re going to have Bevell as an OC, the last time he was an OC his offense was dead last in the league, then we got multiple losses that’s going to happen through free agency, then on top of that Joe Biden is our head coach and Tom Brady is running things.
Going to be another horrible season. Get ready.
Okay Debbie Downer. I’m sure Chip Kelly will let you cry on his shoulder. Would you like a little cheese with your whine?
Chip Kelly just won a national championship. Which is one more championship than you’ll see Pete Carroll ever win again.
Tom Brady lost the Raiders Ben Johnson because he wanted his college buddy to be the GM. Remember that and remember the Raiders got Joe Biden as head coach because of that when we go 3-14 next year.
Throwing politics into this repeatedly shows just how ignorant you truly are.