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Seattle Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak.
The longer the Las Vegas Raiders wait to hire a head coach, the more they risk missing out on their guy. Jeff Hafley, Kevin Stefanski and Robert Saleh were three coaches linked to the Raiders job, but all three of them have already agreed to go to other teams.
However, that might not matter to the team. As the search goes on, there are a few options the Raiders seem to be zeroing in on.
While the team has looked at many coaches with defensive backgrounds, it sounds like they are favoring a coach from an offensive background, according to NFL insider Jordan Schutlz, who also revealed the two names the Raiders seem to be locking in on.
“The Raiders are believed to be focusing on an offensive-minded to pair with the likely no. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza alongside weapons like Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty,” Schultz reported on Wednesday. “I’ve heard a lot of Klint Kubiak and Davis Webb mentioned here. Jesse Minter, a defensive-minded coach, has come up as well. But within league circles, the belief is that this will ultimately be an offensive hire. The question is simply who that will be. … It’s probably worth mentioning that Tom Brady has been calling a number of Seahawks games of late and has another one Sunday in the NFC Championship game.
“Why is that important? Because Brady has had a first-hand look at Klint Kubiak’s offense and he’s been putting on a masterclass on how to run an offense predicated on explosiveness, balance and brilliance.”
Should Raiders Choose Kubiak or Webb?
Heading into the coaching cycle, Kubiak was seen as the best first-time option with an offensive background. He’s called plays for a very good Seahawks offense that has a chance to win the Super Bowl. If the Raiders want an offensive playcaller without any baggage, he’d be their best option.
Webb is a riskier candidate, but still very exciting. He’s never called plays before and hasn’t been an offensive coordinator. That said, many believe that he has what it takes to be a head coach. If the Raiders hired him, it would likely be a bit early, but it could be the kind of swing the team needs to make.
In the end, Kubiak likely edges out Webb if it really does come down to those two, but the Raiders should be excited to add either.
Minter Likely Going to Ravens
Schultz also mentioned Minter, who is one of the best candidates on the market without any previous head coaching experience. However, according to NFL insider Jason La Canfora, he is likely to get hired as the next Baltimore Ravens head coach.
He previously coached there, and they have a very appealing opening. It makes a lot of sense for both sides for him to go back to Baltimore.
Minter would get to coach a defense that is stacked with high-end talent, and he wouldn’t have to find a quarterback, as Lamar Jackson is one of the best in the world. There are some appealing things about the Raiders’ opening, but the Ravens arguably have the best one in the NFL right now.
Austin Boyd has covered the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Lakers for Heavy.com since 2019. A Los Angeles native now based in Las Vegas, his featured work at Heavy includes interviews with NFL stars Darren Waller and Joe Montana, and a behind-the-scenes look at “The Shop.” More about Austin Boyd
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