Pete Carroll is known in the college and NFL ranks as one of the best recruiters in the business and on Wednesday he moved a step closer to re-signing arguably the most important coach on the Raiders’ current staff.
Patrick Graham is one of the most respected defensive coordinators in the league and there were indications he wasn’t going to be back with the Raiders in 2025.
Graham rejected a contract extension before the 2024 season, and many believed he was a candidate to move on even if Antonio Pierce had been retained.
But according to league insider Josina Anderson, Graham is working on a deal with the Raiders to return as their defensive coordinator.
For Carroll, it will be a massive step in a good direction if he is able to bring back Graham.
It has been rumored that Graham’s presence might be key to bringing back several free agents on defense and according to Sports Illustrated insider Hondo Carpenter, Graham’s return would be 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.”
If Graham returns on a new contract, there’s a good chance Crosby will be back next year with both coaches.
x: @raidersbeat
Good stuff. Graham is good. Raiders need to add to the D in the draft.
I don’t like to comment until the T’s are crossed on these deals, but if this one is true, it’s big news. It also means that Pete was sincere when he said this is not a “rebuild” but a maybe “retrofit”. If we can keep the defense intact, from a leadership and scheme perspective, hopefully keep some of the key components happy, it’s good news. that’s not to say the defense is set. we need depth and two new corners in addition to keeping Hobbs & Bennett, a couple of linebackers, keeping Moehrig. Assume Wilkins returns to form, and Wilson shows more growth, then it’s just a couple of good draft picks or low end FA signings.
Good news? Dotting I’s and crossing T’s. lol
A guy that couldn’t out coach ANY winning OC until AP became the interim head coach. But you can’t see that can you? Graham is incapable of in game coaching. And he keeps the same corners on the field the entire game, even though they’re getting roasted and our targeted the entire game. The middle of the field was a liability all season and every team took advantage of it. Graham crumbles like a graham cracker.
Defense got hurt by injuries. Jakorian Bennett was looking like a lockdown CB before his injury. Wilkins barely played. Koonce missing was killer to us.
Graham was good enough in game to beat Baltimore in Baltimore wasn’t he?
We need to find consistency. First, we need everyone healthy.
Second we need an offense that doesn’t turn the ball over and keeps drives going long enough so our defense isn’t always on the field.
To do that will require fixing the O line.
Between the draft and free agency our needs are….OL, RB, DE, LB, WR.
In the meantime, someone from the Raiders please give Chip Kelly a call for the OC position.