Major changes could come to Raiders if Antonio Pierce isn't named head coach

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Pierce has emerged as "the leading candidate" for the Raiders' head-coaching job.

Crosby is the Raiders' best defensive player and one of the league's top edge-defenders. Per Pro Football Focus, he had 94 total pressures in 2023, the fourth most in the league. He also ranked first among edge-rushers in ESPN's run-stop win-rate rankings.

Pierce won over the team and fans as he successfully flipped a season that was headed south under former head coach Josh McDaniels.
During Weeks 1-8 with McDaniels, the Raiders were 3-5, being outscored by 61 points. With Pierce as interim head coach from Weeks 9-18, Las Vegas went 5-4 and outscored opponents by 62 points. 

The Raiders scored a franchise-record 63 points in Week 15 against the Chargers and won in Arrowhead against the Chiefs for just the second time since 2013 the following week.

Davis' choice appears obvious. Pierce would be a slam-dunk hire, but he isn't alone in the Raiders' search. According to Pelissero and Rapoport, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh is also being considered. Going that route would repeat the franchise's mistake during its last coaching search.

In 2021, interim head coach Rich Bisaccia went 7-5 following Jon Gruden's in-season firing but wasn't retained despite leading the Raiders to the postseason for only the second time since the 2003 season.
Instead, Las Vegas hired McDaniels, who went 9-16 in less than two seasons. Harbaugh has a much better track record of success, so chances are he'll win wherever he goes. But Pierce has earned the right to be the organization's next head coach.

It's the right choice; Crosby's line in the sand should make it the easy one, too.