Why return of defensive coordinator makes sense for Raiders

Patrick Graham, at some point, likely will land an NFL head-coaching job.

For now, his return to the Las Vegas Raiders as defensive coordinator is a welcome sight for a team that hasn't been to the playoffs since the 2021 season.

His return was far from certain. He interviewed for a head-coaching job and his contract with the Raiders was expiring.

But the franchise, now under the direction of first-year coach Pete Carroll, officially announced Jan. 31 that he will be back for his fourth season with the Silver and Black.

Graham's defensive unit dramatically improved in his second season. The Raiders ranked ninth in points allowed (19.3 points per game) in 2023. The Raiders fell to 26th this past season (25.5) while dealing with key injuries.

The Raiders were willing to look past that statistical slippage, knowing the importance of having Graham back while also hopefully hanging on to some of their free agents, including safety Tre'von Moehrig.

Here are three reasons why keeping Graham, a finalist for the Jacksonville Jaguars job that went to Liam Coen, is a big win for the Raiders.

Continuity and stability

Star pass-rusher Maxx Crosby was among those who harped on the need for stability within the franchise. Sure, he was at the time talking about the head-coaching job - Carroll will be the fifth over five seasons when he takes the field in 2025 - but familiarity on the defensive side should mean little change in the scheme.

It's never a bad thing to keep your stars happy, and there are none bigger on the Raiders than the four-time Pro Bowler.

Proven defensive improvement

The Raiders ranked 26th in points allowed in Graham's first season as defensive coordinator, then made their dramatic jump in 2023. The decline in 2024 certainly looks injury related. The list of players lost for significant chunks of the season included Crosby, who only played 12 games in 2024 while dealing with ankle issues, and defensive tackle Christian Wilkins (foot).

Before the season even began, the Raiders lost edge-rusher Malcolm Koonce (knee).

At its best under Graham, the defensive unit has shown it can force turnovers and three-and-outs when really needed.

A leg up in free agency

Moehrig is expected to be the top safety on the free agent market this offseason. The Raiders also have safety Marcus Epps as an unrestricted free agent. Those are two names they must strive to bring back along with defensive tackle Adam Butler, who flourished this past season while finishing with 65 tackles, five sacks and 10 quarterback hits.

Other key free agents are cornerback Nate Hobbs and linebacker Robert Spillane.

The Raiders have always thought highly of Graham and that popularity could prove critical in recruiting those players to return.

Graham's league-wide respect is such that Las Vegas had to block an unnamed team when it requested to interview him for a defensive coordinator position in 2024, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport.

He's back, and that's good for the Raiders in their bid to return to the postseason.