The Las Vegas Raiders appear to be nearing the end of one decision—and standing at the edge of a far more consequential one.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Las Vegas is expected to finalize a deal with Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak to become the franchise’s next head coach.
If and when that becomes official, the spotlight will immediately shift from who the Raiders hired to how Kubiak builds his staff.
And no hire will matter more than defensive coordinator.
Patrick Graham is gone, joining Mike McCarthy and the Pittsburgh Steelers, meaning the Raiders will once again entrust their defense to a new voice.
For a first-time head coach inheriting a roster in transition, that choice could define the early years of his tenure.
Kubiak’s background is offensive. His margin for error on defense is slim.
Three names stand out as logical—and revealing—options.
Aden Durde, Seattle Seahawks Defensive Coordinator
If familiarity matters, Durde tops the list.
Durde and Kubiak worked side by side in Seattle during a season that ended with a Super Bowl appearance.
While head coach Mike Macdonald is widely viewed as the architect of the Seahawks’ elite defense, Durde played a critical role in executing that vision.
The results were undeniable. Seattle finished sixth in total defense, first in scoring defense, and second in defensive DVOA. That level of consistency doesn’t happen without buy-in and leadership.
Durde also interviewed for head-coaching positions this cycle, suggesting his stock is rising.
With most vacancies now filled, a move to Las Vegas as defensive coordinator—paired with a familiar offensive counterpart—could make sense.
For Kubiak, Durde would offer continuity, modern structure, and a proven blueprint drawn from one of the league’s best units.
Jim Schwartz, Cleveland Browns Defensive Coordinator
If experience is the priority, Schwartz looms large.
The veteran defensive mind was reportedly blindsided when the Browns passed him over for Todd Monken, despite Cleveland fielding one of the NFL’s strongest defenses under Schwartz’s watch.
In 2025, the Browns ranked fifth in defensive DVOA, continuing a pattern of physical, disruptive play.
Schwartz has no direct coaching ties to Kubiak, but that may not matter. His wide-nine front and aggressive man-coverage philosophy have traveled well across multiple stops.
More importantly, Schwartz brings credibility—something a young head coach can lean on when establishing authority.
If Schwartz truly wants out of Cleveland, Las Vegas could offer him autonomy and a roster that desperately needs identity.
For the Raiders, this would signal a commitment to toughness and immediate respectability on defense.
Jerry Gray, Atlanta Falcons Assistant Head Coach/Defense
Gray represents a different kind of hire—one rooted in trust and development.
Kubiak and Gray worked together in Minnesota in 2019, forming a professional relationship built on complementary roles.
Gray, a long-respected defensive backs coach, has quietly helped reshape Atlanta’s secondary, turning a long-problematic pass defense into a functional, competitive unit.
Under Gray’s guidance, players like Dee Alford and Xavier Watts made tangible leaps. His strength lies in teaching, communication, and adaptability—traits that often stabilize defenses during rebuilds.
For Kubiak, Gray would offer experience without ego. For the Raiders, he would represent a steady hand capable of growing young talent while insulating a new head coach from early chaos.
That’s the underlying tension in all of this.
The Raiders don’t just need a defensive coordinator. They need a counterweight. Someone who can command respect in a locker room that has cycled through systems, philosophies, and leaders for years.
Kubiak’s offensive acumen got him this opportunity. His defensive hire will determine whether he keeps it.
Whether he leans toward familiarity, experience, or trust will reveal how he plans to survive Year One in Las Vegas—and whether this rebuild finally has a foundation instead of another reset button.
Because for the Raiders, the defense won’t just support the new era.
It will define it.
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