There are multiple reports that the Oakland Raiders are hiring Florida State defensive line coach Sal Sunseri as an assistant coach.

His exact role has not been disclosed. While anything is possible, the expectation is Sunseri is being hired as a position coach. He has one season of experience as a defensive coordinator at a high level -- he was the University of Tennessee’s defensive coordinator in 2012. He was with the Carolina Panthers as a defensive line coach from 2002-08. New Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio was on that staff in 2002.

A report out of Washington said the Raiders are looking at the college level for defensive coordinator candidates. If that holds true, then expect Del Rio to call the plays. He said that would be the case if he hired an inexperienced defensive coordinator.

The Raiders have been connected to former Falcons head coach Mike Smith and former Jets and Browns head coach Eric Mangini. However, there have been reports Smith might not want to take the job, and Mangini became the 49ers’ defensive coordinator Thursday.

Other potential candidates with NFL experience who have been connected to the Raiders are Mel Tucker, who worked for Del Rio in Jacksonville, and Wade Phillips. For now, the situation seems fluid.

Meanwhile, ESPN NFL Insider Adam Caplan reported that the Raiders have hired former Buffalo Bills quarterbacks coach Todd Downing as the quarterbacks coach. Downing was on the staff of Mike Tice in Minnesota several years ago.

Meanwhile, Former Oakland interim coach Tony Sparano has joined the San Francisco 49ers as tight ends coach. He is an offensive line specialist. Sparano joins former Oakland defensive coordinator Jason Tarver, who is a senior assistant and linebackers coach, for San Francisco. Oakland brought in former 49ers special teams coach Brad Seely for the special-teams job.

Ryan Silverfield, an assistant offensive line coach under new Raiders offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave in Minnesota, has been named as a possibility for a role on the staff.