The Raiders tried to lure Detroit defensive coordinator Teryl Austin to Oakland.
It didn't work. The respected defensive mind ended up becoming Cincinnati's defensive coordinator, NFL Network reported on Monday afternoon. He was deep in talks with the Bengals, but the Raiders went after him anyway.
The crazy part: New Raiders head coach Jon Gruden didn't have that job title available. Paul Guenther is set to be his DC.
Gruden tried to bring Austin on as an assistant head coach who would work with defensive backs, NFLN reports, the exact position Jon Pagano held under Jack Del Rio's regime.
Austin ultimately didn't don silver and black. It speaks, however, to a larger point.
The Raiders didn't pay Jon Gruden $100 million and then skimp on everything else. They're allowing him to assemble a top-flight staff.
Greg Olson is set to be offensive coordinator. Guenther is in line to run the defensive side. Both guys got four-year contracts, double the industry standard. Rich Bisaccia is set to run the special teams and it's possible, though unconfirmed, that he got a similar deal.
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That type of guaranteed money goes a long way in Gruden getting assistants he wants.
Austin is a respected defensive mind and was a head-coaching candidate back in 2014. Getting him would've been a coup.
Armed with the power and funds to make staff hires he sees fit should help assemble a quality staff.
The Raiders haven't made announcements regarding assistants, though Olson and Guenther should become official soon. They haven't said much of anything at all, outside a Tuesday press conference to formally knight Gruden head coach.
Adding Gruden is the big-ticket item, but allowing him to assemble a quality staff is vital to the on-field product. That's especially true on defense, with an offensive mastermind at head coach.
