Schwartz remains under contract in Cleveland for two years, but he resigned as defensive coordinator rather than stay within a front office that passed him over for the head-coaching job in favor of Todd Monken. With Monken in place and his staff largely built, Cleveland’s leverage and optics in any deal are carefully weighed.
The market dynamics were different if other openings had remained available. The San Francisco 49ers had a DC opening before hiring Raheem Morris, and the Philadelphia Eagles had to convince Vic Fangio to return for a second straight offseason. Even so, Schwartz’s success in Cleveland and his history as a Super Bowl–winning DC keep him highly valued.
Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom reported that the Raiders and rookie head coach Klint Kubiak are seriously interested in adding Schwartz to run Las Vegas’ defense. The report also notes strong backing from Raiders minority owner Tom Brady, illustrating broad support for pursuing Schwartz.
The trade proposal would be a relatively clean fit: Cleveland would receive a fourth-round pick (No. 117) from Las Vegas in exchange for Schwartz, while the Raiders would obtain the proven defensive mind to lead their rebuild. Las Vegas currently holds three fourth-round selections (Nos. 102, 117, and 134), and moving 117 to Cleveland would preserve their overall draft spread while enabling Schwartz to join the Raiders.
From Cleveland’s perspective, the move makes strategic sense given Monken’s arrival and the desire to recoup value for a coach who might otherwise depart. For Las Vegas, Schwartz represents a high-end addition to stabilize a defense during a rebuild, with support from the franchise’s leadership and ownership.
Overall, the scenario is framed as a win-win-win: Schwartz lands in a destination he’s reportedly keen on, Las Vegas gains a top defensive mind, and Cleveland receives draft capital that can be reinvested as they shape their 2026 roster. The report positions this trade as a plausible path to a mutually beneficial resolution.
