The Las Vegas Raiders might be in the position they are in right now because of the hiring decisions the franchise made in 2018 and 2019. During the time Jon Gruden was head coach (2018-2021) and Mike Mayock was general manager (2019-2021), it turns out the organization approached at least one draft with more than one draft board.
Reports indicate that leading up to the 2021 NFL Draft, the coaching staff and scouting departments worked separately in preparing for the draft, according to Zak Keefer of The Athletic. Gruden and his crew of coaches had their own draft board that was completely different from Mayock and his group of scouts.
“By 2021, the building started to splinter. The Raiders were now in a sparkling new facility in Las Vegas, where the coaches worked on one side of the building, the scouts another,” reported Keefer. “An old Al Davis maxim designed to prevent them from ‘buddying up,’ one former staffer said. The result was two separate draft boards, one stacked by Gruden and the coaches, the second by Mayock and the scouts. Confusion reigned.”
Between the utter dysfunction in the draft process, multiple bad trades, and failed free agent signings, it’s no wonder the Raiders fell apart during the Gruden-Mayock era. Las Vegas was just 22-31 by the time Gruden resigned from the head coaching position due to the leaked email scandal involving former Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder.
Luckily, the Raiders are turning the page (once again). But this time around, things appear to be running differently. Tom Brady seemingly plays a key role in helping the franchise improve as a part-owner of the club. Additionally, hopes are high for new head coach Klint Kubiak and general manager John Spytek to rebuild the roster.
With the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft, along with exciting players in Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty, the Raiders may finally have the tools to right the ship. But only time will tell.
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