Tom Brady and the Raiders didn’t get Ben Johnson. Now what?

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in Las Vegas.

You were certainly not alone in your concern.

After passing on prominent coaching jobs in the past, this offseason was going to have a different outcome. Many NFL executives in other front offices, including some that are currently looking for assistant coaches, think Brady wanted Johnson to be his head coach. The Raiders also interviewed Lance Newmark, the Commanders' assistant general manager, who has a personal connection to Johnson from their shared time in Detroit, in an attempt to bring both men to the team.

“I don’t think the timing of that interview was a coincidence,” said one NFL general manager, who is not permitted to discuss personnel currently under contract with other teams.

This week, so what's next for Brady? The Raiders' coaching position isn't well-regarded across the league, the team doesn't have a clear path to a top-notch quarterback, and they may draft outside the top five picks. Could Brady turn to his longtime agent, Don Yee, and consider hiring former Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy, a Yee client? Hiring Pete Carroll, 73, for a rebuild would be a one-of-a-kind choice.

Multiple executives I've spoken with believe Brady will hire Tampa Bay assistant GM John Spytek, who was a college teammate and remains a close friend, as the Raiders' GM.

“Spytek is his guy,” the general manager said. “I'd be really surprised if he doesn't get hired now. The only way he wouldn't end up there is if they hired Newmark to play Johnson.”

The quarterback deficit

The free agent class of quarterbacks looks limited, with only Cam Ward from Miami and Shedeur Sanders from Colorado generating much excitement, which could lead quarterback-hunting GMs to explore alternative options.

Via trade, while Minnesota's Sam Darnold, Pittsburgh's Justin Fields and Russell Wilson are the top of the free agent class. At least a quarter of the league's franchises need to strongly consider a quarterback upgrade, possibly even more. So, what does a proactive executive have to do?

“I have an idea of what I'd be doing," said one NFL evaluator who has studied the upcoming quarterback market. "I'd be calling Green Bay trying to get Malik Willis, and I'd be contacting the Patriots about Joe Milton. I think Milton is superior to Drake Maye, in my opinion, and I don't think they want him to challenge the starter. I really like both of those kids. Green Bay is skilled at developing quarterbacks, and Willis made a complete transformation there.”

Late in the season, he's still regarded as the top free agent among those I've spoken with, and one general manager who may have mild interest in him believes Darnold has a clear target in mind.

If Matthew Stafford retires, I think Darnold will end up in L.A. with the Rams," the GM said. "By league rules, I'm not allowed to talk about players under contract with other teams, but just trust me - he really wants to join Coach Sean McVay.

The timing of Stafford being asked about his future immediately after the game is revealing, and his response - that he would "take some time to think about it" - will likely spark much speculation about the Rams' quarterback situation in 2025.

The Jets are still in need of a coach.

It's been a whirlwind few months - only maybe six months feel like an eternity - and we've been jam-packed with conversation from the get-go through the interview process.

It's reasonable to question how the Lions' poor defensive performance at home against rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, which was apparently due to Detroit's injuries or other factors, might impact the demand for Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. However, the Jets have a history with Glenn, who performed well in the past, and team owner Woody Johnson often employs coaches with a defensive background. Nevertheless, a dramatic collapse may affect teams considering hiring Glenn, as one general manager noted: “Unless you were already planning to offer him the job regardless, I do think it makes it more challenging to hire him,” they said. “That's not an easy issue to ignore.”

Updates from around the league

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Actually, he really believes this is - and the exact wording in Howie Roseman's buyout clause is - "I think [Eagles General Manager Howie Roseman] would have jumped on it," the GM said. What if the Commanders beat the Eagles this weekend? "I think Howie would still call Belichick to feel him out," the GM said. Hmmm.