Raiders Rumors: Josh McDaniels Expected to Return Next Season Despite 3-7 Start

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels reportedly isn't on the hot seat despite the team's 3-7 start to the 2022 season.

NFL sources told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler on Wednesday they expect McDaniels "will get another year" and is likely a "package deal" with general manager Dave Ziegler, so it would represent a costly double buyout if the front office decides to move in a different direction.

The Raiders reached the playoffs last season with a 10-7 record. The arrival of McDaniels paired with the blockbuster offseason addition of Davante Adams was supposed to help Vegas take another step forward.

Instead, the team's offense ranks 16th in yards per game (342.3), a sizable drop-off from last year, when it finished 11th in that category (363.8).

All but one of the Raiders' losses has come by a single score, so they've probably played better than their record would indicate, but their playoff hopes are hanging by a thread with seven games left in the regular season.

Despite the frustrating results, Fowler reported McDaniels hasn't lost the locker room despite some whispers about whether the “Patriot Way” he brought over from New England is wearing on players.

Meanwhile, Fowler's colleague Dan Graziano noted the key question heading toward the offseason will be whether McDaniels is given the opportunity to move on from Carr to pick his own quarterback for 2023.

Carr hasn't played poorly this season—62.4 percent completion rate for 2,435 yards with 15 touchdowns and five interceptions in 10 games—but he hasn't taken that leap into the upper echelon of NFL quarterbacks alongside the likes of Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen.

Much like the Miami Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa has taken a significant step forward with the arrival of Tyreek Hill, a similar jump in production was expected from Carr with Adams on the outside, but the passing game has been stagnant at times.

It's not a guarantee McDaniels and Ziegler would find a clear upgrade available via trade, free agency or the draft, so there would be some risk with changing signal-callers. A failed QB switch could seal the fate of the current Raiders' regime.

For now, Vegas will attempt to turn the current campaign around and make a surge toward a second straight postseason appearance. The team's margin for error is thin, however, since a record of at least 9-8 will likely be necessary to reach the playoffs.

Next up for the Raiders is a road clash against the 6-4 Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.