Talk of Raiders hiring Ben Johnson intensifies

Detroit: So, there’s a lot of buzz about Ben Johnson possibly leaving his gig as the offensive coordinator for the Lions. With the playoffs coming up, you’d think he’d be focused on that, right? But nope, the chatter about his future is heating up.

It all kicked off last Thursday when the Raiders let go of their G.M., Tom Telesco. Coincidence? Maybe not. It seems like the Raiders are making moves to get Johnson on board.

Now, Johnson isn’t the type to ask for anyone to be fired, but if a team really wants him, they need to pay attention. And it looks like the Raiders are doing just that.

After his interview with them, Johnson reportedly felt pretty good about the team and even had some chats with minority owner Tom Brady, who’s been pretty involved in the coaching search.

Word on the street is that the Raiders have thrown a “massive” contract offer his way. While it’s a bit early for official offers, the buzz is definitely out there.

But here’s the kicker: owner Mark Davis isn’t exactly rolling in cash. With all the recent buyouts, they might have to dig deep to make a competitive offer for Johnson.

And it’s not just about the money for him. If he joins the Raiders, he gets to work with Brady. They’ve been chatting a lot, even if it’s just within the rules of Brady’s job at Fox.

Johnson can’t officially be hired until the Lions’ season wraps up. Funny enough, Brady might be calling Johnson’s last game with the Lions before whisking him off to Vegas on his private jet.

Right now, it seems like the Raiders are the only real option for Johnson. He’s also talked to the Bears, Jaguars, and Patriots, but none of those teams offer the alignment he’s looking for. Unless the Cowboys make a late push, it’s looking like the Raiders are the front-runners.

More and more folks in the league think he’ll end up with the Raiders. It’s definitely an exciting time!