The Raiders are out here trying to bag Lions‘ OC Ben Johnson, but it’s not looking good for Vegas. Johnson’s been a hot commodity for this offseason—dude’s cooking up one of the NFL’s most creative offenses, so it’s no surprise everyone wants him. But here’s the plot twist: even with all that Vegas flair and rumors of a fat contract on the table, Johnson doesn’t seem ready to roll the dice on the Raiders. Just because they’re shooting their shot doesn’t mean Johnson’s about to slide into Vegas anytime soon. But why so?

Last year, Johnson was in a similar spot when he interviewed with the Chargers for their head coach position. Ultimately, he chose to stay in Detroit and keep building on the Lions’ offensive momentum, a decision that’s only boosted his stock. Now, with multiple teams knocking on his door, Johnson’s keeping his options wide open. According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, “If you’re Ben Johnson and you have your pick of the litter, you’re going to take a long look at where you can win and where you can develop.” And for Johnson, Vegas might not check those boxes.

Let’s keep it real: the Raiders are mid-right now. Schultz didn’t hold back, saying, “The Raiders… do not have a quarterback and they do not have the roster quite frankly as Jacksonville does.” Ouch. When you’ve got other teams pulling up with solid rosters and franchise QBs, why would you choose the team with question marks everywhere?

Where Does Lions Still Lack Elite Talent?

Let Tony do the scouting, you just make the pick.

Pick your positions. Get Tony’s top 5:

QB

RB

FB

WR

TE

C

CB

DE

DT

G

ILB

OLB

P

PK

S

T

View Tony’s Picks

Now, Pacman Jones had to stir the pot, saying, “Sources say that Ben Johnson is going to be the Raiders’ coach… like real good sources.” But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Just because someone’s sliding into the DMs doesn’t mean they’re getting a reply. Even with Tom Brady lurking in the background as a minority owner, Johnson’s probably peeping the roster and saying, ‘Hard pass.’

If Vegas strikes out, it’s not surprising. Top-tier coaches aren’t signing up for a rebuild unless there’s something legit to work with. As for Johnson? He’s playing it smart, scouting the vibes, and looking for a team where he can actually win. And sorry, Raiders, but you’re just not that team right now. Or is it? There is some more news people!

Raiders’ big offer to Ben Johnson

The Raiders are really out here trying to lock down Ben Johnson, and they’re pulling all the stops. Word on the street is they’ve tossed a “massive” contract offer his way to get him out of Detroit and into their head coach seat. Now, it’s kinda wild because official offers usually come after interviews, but the Raiders? They’re not wasting any time trying to make this happen.

But hold up, let’s talk money. Mark Davis, the Raiders owner, has been low key under fire for his cash flow situation. Dude’s already spent big bucks, like that insane 10-year, $100 million deal with Jon Gruden back in the day. So, the fact that they’re trying to offer Johnson this huge deal raises some eyebrows. It’s like, how deep are they really in their pockets?

Well, turns out, that Davis has been selling off pieces of the team. He sold a 15% stake to some new investors, so the Raiders’ financial game is looking a little stronger. But still, other NFL owners are gonna be watching this like the hawks. If the Raiders drop this massive contract, you know there’s gonna be a ripple effect. Teams might start throwing ridiculous numbers around for coaches, and the whole league could go into bidding war chaos. Coaches have no salary cap, and this could mess with the financial balance everyone’s trying to maintain.

Now, here’s the cherry on top. Tom Brady, yes, the Brady, is a minority owner of the Raiders. And apparently, he and Johnson have been talking. Brady’s role with Fox Sports allows him to chat with coaches about the games, so the connection is real. If Johnson gets the chance to work alongside Brady, that’s a major flex and could definitely be a game-changer in his decision. No doubt, that’s something Johnson’s gotta be thinking about.