Raiders’ GM Dream Still Alive: Raiders Make Late Push to Land Top GM Prospect

Everyone is worried about the Las Vegas Raiders and their head coach vacancy, and rightfully so — it’s the most polarizing thing going on in the NFL world right now outside of the teams left in the postseason. But, the Raiders still have to replace Tom Telesco, who was doing a good job, by the way.

Yes, people will point to Telesco’s signing of Gardner Minshew and the contract he gave him, but let’s not forget that he drafted Brock Bowers, Jackson Powers-Johnson, and D.J. Glaze, three likely starters in 2025, all in this last draft. And he found undrafted free agent players like Amari Gainer and guys labeled as busts like K’Lavon Chaisson, who has revitalized his career.

But, the Raiders wanted to start over and get a new head coach – general manager pairing. So they are looking for both. We pretty much have an idea of who the Raiders head coach will be. They have interviewed eight candidates, but there are only two or three that really have a chance at being the next head coach, with Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson leading the charge in the clubhouse.

With the general manager search, there is a favorite — the guy that Tom Brady has a connection with from his days at Michigan and his time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Yes, John Spytek, whom the Raiders have already interviewed, is the favorite — the guy who is wanted the most by the guy making the decision.

And, after some recent rumors, their hopes of landing Spytek are still alive.

Raiders can still land Spytek

John Spytek holds the role of Assistant General Manager for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a position he ascended to in 2023. His journey in the NFL began in 2004 with an internship in the operations department of the Detroit Lions.

He moved to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2005, progressing from a pro personnel intern to a college/pro scout. From 2010 to 2012, he was the Director of College Scouting for the Cleveland Browns before joining the Denver Broncos in 2013 as a Southwest area scout, and later becoming a national scout, contributing to their Super Bowl 50 victory.

Since joining the Buccaneers in 2016 as Director of Player Personnel, Spytek has played a pivotal role in the team’s achievements, including securing four consecutive NFC South titles and a Super Bowl championship in 2020.

He’s long overdue for a spot in the league as an NFL GM. That could very well be with the Raiders.

There were rumors that Spytek was heading to the Tennessee Titans, or at least that it was likely, due to him having two interviews with him before the Raiders even got their first. But after some news on Friday, that’s not evident at all.

The Titans ended up hiring Mike Borgonzi, the Kansas City Chiefs assistant general manager, as their GM. And, can you blame them? Look at some of the things he and that team have done. So that gives the Raiders a chance at still getting their guy.