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The new X factor, though, is the presence of minority owner Tom Brady, and the influence he might wield with owner Mark Davis in the decision-making process when it comes to a new GM and coach combo in Sin City.<\/p>\n So let the games, and the names, begin…<\/p>\n Speculation is rampant when it comes to who will replace Pierce as coach. The likes of Detroit Lions<\/a> offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn have already been linked to the opening.<\/p>\n Same with Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/a> offensive coordinator Liam Coen, Kansas City Chiefs<\/a> defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, Baltimore Ravens<\/a> offensive coordinator Todd Monken and former New York Jets<\/a> coach Robert Saleh.<\/p>\n And that’s not counting old-school names such as Pete Carroll and Jon Gruden, who coached the Raiders from 2018-2021. Gruden resigned following the leaking of emails<\/a> he wrote over a 10-year period that included racist, misogynistic and anti-gay language.<\/p>\n The names of potential GM candidates have been slow to filter out.<\/p>\n The lists are sure to grow, but no matter who is tabbed by Davis (and Brady?) to be the team’s fifth GM (Mike Mayock, Dave Ziegler, Champ Kelly, Telesco) and fifth coach (Gruden, Rich Bisaccia, Josh McDaniels, Pierce) since the franchise moved from Oakland to Las Vegas in 2020, will inherit a gaggle of pros and cons.<\/p>\n On the pro side: The Raiders hold the sixth overall draft pick and an extra third-rounder, thanks to the Davante Adams<\/a> trade to the Jets, giving the new GM eight selections to continue to build the roster.<\/p>\n Last spring, Telesco nailed the top three picks — Brock Bowers<\/a>, who became just the fourth rookie tight end to be named first-team All-Pro, and a pair of starters on the offensive line in left guard\/center Jackson Powers-Johnson<\/a> and right tackle DJ Glaze<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Raiders have $107.3 million in salary cap space, the second most in the NFL, per OverTheCap.com. Something else to lure a GM and coach, as well as free agents: Nevada has no state income tax.<\/p>\n Having just moved to Nevada five years ago, the Raiders also boast what Bill Belichick called the “Taj Mahal” of NFL facilities when he brought his New England Patriots<\/a> to the desert for joint practices a few years back. Allegiant Stadium is a world-class stadium with all the amenities and accoutrements one would expect from Vegas.<\/p>\n Roster-wise, the Raiders have two solid foundation players in Bowers, who set the NFL record for most receptions in a season by a rookie with his 112-catch campaign, and four-time Pro Bowl defensive end Maxx Crosby<\/a>.<\/p>\n Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins<\/a> will also be returning from a Jones fracture to his left foot, and receiver Jakobi Meyers<\/a> just authored the first 1,000-yard receiving season of his six-year career.<\/p>\n So it’s not like the roster is completely devoid of talent.<\/p>\n And yet, a new coach is probably looking at a total rebuild in an AFC West division boasting coach-quarterback combos such as Andy Reid-Patrick Mahomes<\/a> with the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs, Jim Harbaugh-Justin Herbert<\/a> with the Los Angeles Chargers<\/a>and Sean Payton-Bo Nix<\/a> with the Denver Broncos<\/a>.<\/p>\n Sure, second-year signal-caller Aidan O’Connell<\/a> showed himself to be a serviceable spot starter, but an upgrade at quarterback is needed. Again.<\/p>\n Consider: Derek Carr<\/a> was the Raiders’ unquestioned starter from 2014 until he was benched with two games to play in the 2022 season. Since then, Jarrett Stidham<\/a>, Jimmy Garoppolo<\/a>, O’Connell, Brian Hoyer<\/a>, Gardner Minshew<\/a> and Desmond Ridder<\/a> have all started at quarterback.<\/p>\n The roster was thin to begin with. According to the Raiders, 31.8% of their Week 1 starters spent time on injured reserve, tied for the highest mark in the league. So 37.6% of the team’s snaps were played by first- or second-year players, the third-highest mark in the NFL. And at an average age of 25 years, 344 days, it was the second-youngest roster in the league.<\/p>\n Still, the Raiders went just 4-13 and, with so many pending free agents, there are more questions than answers. Especially on the defensive side.<\/p>\n These players are all slated to hit free agency: Edge rushers Malcolm Koonce<\/a>(who was lost for the season three days before the opener with a torn ACL suffered in practice) and K’Lavon Chaisson<\/a>, defensive tackles Adam Butler<\/a> and John Jenkins<\/a>, linebackers Robert Spillane<\/a> and Divine Deablo<\/a>, slot cornerback Nate Hobbs<\/a> and safeties Marcus Epps<\/a> and Tre’von Moehrig<\/a>.<\/p>\n Plus, the contract of defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, who had the unit as the No. 10-ranked total defense entering the finale, also expired.<\/p>\n No, the cupboard is not bare in Las Vegas. And yet, the challenge of a rebuild is as real as it can be.br\/]<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Copyright \u00a9 2025 ESPN Internet Ventures. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n
HENDERSON, Nev. — With last week’s firings of Tom Telesco and Antonio Pierce, the Las Vegas Raiders<\/a> have concurrent openings at general manager and head coach for the second time in as many years, the third time since 2022.<\/p>\n