The Las Vegas Raiders are reportedly interested in Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels for their head coaching opening.

The Raiders job would be appealing to McDaniels. They have an established quarterback in Derek Carr, good young talent and they’ll have some roster flexibility in the coming years.

If the Raiders pair up McDaniels with a general manager that he knows or has worked with, the job might be too good to pass up.

If McDaniels does leave for Vegas, who would the Patriots hire to replace him? Well, it probably wouldn’t be anyone on staff. None of the current assistants have coordinating experience. Wide receivers coach Mick Lombardi could be a possible internal candidate. Tight ends coach Nick Caley could also get some consideration.

The more likely scenario is, the Patriots look outside the organization. If that’s the case, here are eight candidates who could replace McDaniels.

Bill O’Brien, OC, Alabama: O’Brien is a Massachusetts guy and former Patriots assistant from 2007 to 2011. During that time he served as offensive coordinator. Since then, he has been a head coach at Penn State and with the Houston Texans. O’Brien had success as a head coach and his experience speaks for itself.

O’Brien spent this past season as the offensive coordinator at Alabama. He recently interviewed with the Jacksonville Jaguars for their head coaching vacancy. O’Brien would certainly be a top candidate to replace McDaniels and he has expressed an interest in returning to New England if the possibility presented itself.

Adam Gase, Coaching Free Agent: Gase did not coach this past season. The former Dolphins and Jets head coach was out of the league after getting fired by the Jets. He is regarded as one of the best quarterback coaches in the NFL despite his struggles as a head coach.

Bill Belichick holds Gase in high regard and has a lot of respect for him. Gase’s reputation is primarily based on the job he did with Peyton Manning when he got to Denver in 2012. Gase helped revive Manning’s career and was instrumental in him having a career year his first year in Denver.

Gase would certainly be good for Mac Jones but one has to wonder if he will want to do his own thing or blend what he does with what the Patriots do. Either way, Gase will be a strong external option.

George Godsey, Coaching Free Agent: Godsey was an offensive assistant and tight ends coach with the Patriots from 2011-2013. He was the co-offensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins this past season. He did a good job considering the injuries and the inconsistency of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

Prior to Miami, Godsey coached in Detroit and Houston. He was the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator for Bill O’Brien with the Texans from 2014 to 2016. He has a lengthy resume and he knows the Patriots offense. He would be considered the top outside candidate if O’Brien doesn’t come back.

Chad O’Shea, WR/Pass Game Coordinator, Browns: O’Shea was a long time Patriots assistant before leaving after the 2018 season to become Brian Flores offensive coordinator in Miami.

O’Shea actually did a good job but he was fired by Flores after his first season. He currently serves as the Cleveland Browns wide receivers coach and pass game coordinator.

O’Shea is highly regarded in the Patriots organization. He’s seen as a strong teacher who has a lot of experience.

Joe Judge, Coaching Free Agent: The deposed Giants coach could potentially return to the staff in an offensive role and be involved in the play calling process even if he doesn’t have the title.

Judge has offensive experience as a receivers coach but his work as a special teams coach and now a former head coach gives him the requisite experience necessary to coordinate.

Judge is close with Josh McDaniels so there’s always the possibility he joins him in Vegas if he were to get the Raiders job. Judge had agreed to go to Indianapolis with him in 2018 when McDaniels had accepted the Colts job. He famously changed his mind however and returned to the Patriots. Judge came back k with him.

John DeFilippo, Coaching Free Agent: DeFilippo has a lengthy resume and while he has no connection to Belichick, he could be a viable outside candidate.

DeFilippo is also a quarterbacks coach which would also make him appealing to Belichick. His work with young quarterbacks is well regarded around the league. He did a great job of developing Carson Wentz in Philadelphia before a knee injury stunted his development.

Patriot fans may remember him being on the Eagles staff that beat the Patriots in Super Bowl 52. With Mac Jones still in the developmental phase of his career, a coach like DeFilippo could be a solid addition. Especially if the Patriots change philosophically and start using more RPO’s and spread concepts.

Kevin O’Connell, Offensive Coordinator/QB’s, Rams: The former Patriots quarterback is still coaching in the playoffs with the Rams and he has interviewed for the Denver Broncos opening.

O’Connell is well renowned for his work with quarterbacks as both a private quarterbacks coach and as a position coach. He could help Jones develop and bring some new concepts into the Patriots offense.

O’Connell has the offensive coordinator title in Los Angeles but Sean McVay calls the plays. O’Connell is ready to call an offense and might want that opportunity after this season. The opportunity to call plays in New England and develop Mac Jones would appeal to O’Connell.

Charlie Weis, Coaching Free Agent: It is a long shot but the 65 year old Weis could come back in an offensive analyst type role where he can help groom one of the young assistants on the staff like Lombardi.

Weis knows the system as he first implemented when he arrived with Belichick in 2000. The two go way back when they coached with the Giants in the 80’s and Patriots in the 90’s. They have a strong relationship.

Weis has been out of the game for a while. The last time he coached was 2014 at Kansas. That could be an issue.