Adam Schefter hints Ben Johnson to Raiders isn't a sure thing

In the search for the next coach of the Chicago Bears, which is undoubtedly a fluid situation, the speculation continues to grow and change by the hour.

Over the last two days, the team has continued to find themselves in the news for their interest in former Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy, who became available at the beginning of this week. Completing his interview with the team on Wednesday, McCarthy is the hot name around the Bears, while another top target, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, is picking up steam in connection with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Speculation and conversation continued to grow this week with the FOX broadcast, headlined by Raiders minority owner Tom Brady being scheduled to call the Lions-Washington Commanders playoff game in the divisional round. Many in the NFL world questioned if the broadcast plans should change as Brady could be influential in the team's pursuit of Johnson.

On Wednesday, ESPN's Adam Schefter threw some water on the hot stove around the pursuit of Johnson from the Raiders, questioning the current situation in Las Vegas and why Johnson would be interested. On his own podcast, Schefter discussed how Johnson would be entering a division with Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, and Bo Nix entrenched as long-term stable quarterbacks.

Without an answer at the quarterback position and too far a selection to draft one of the top targets in this year's upcoming draft, Schefter suggested that Johnson would not be in a great position with the Raiders in a division, and a conference, dominated by quarterback excellence.

"If he takes the Raiders job, he’s now going to a division where the head coaches are Andy Reid, Sean Payton and Jim Harbaugh and the quarterbacks are now Patrick Mahomes, Bo Nix and Justin Herbert," Schefter said. "And you’re going to a team that doesn’t even have a quarterback, doesn’t have a draft pick to go land a quarterback and has to find a way somehow to get a quarterback. So, good luck with that."

Schefter made it clear when it comes to Johnson and put it simply, the Las Vegas job is not an ideal one for a first time head coach.

“The Raiders have so much ground to make up, right now, especially in that division," he said. "And that, to me, is what they have to overcome here.”

The comments come at a time where the seems to be a battle between Las Vegas and Chicago as they compete for Johnson to become their next head coach. The influence of Brady and a lot of contractual money is one thing, but as Schefter notes, the circumstances in Vegas from a football aspect are not as optimal as they could be, especially for someone who would be a head coach for the first time in his career.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Adam Schefter hints Ben Johnson to Raiders isn't a sure thing