Jon Gruden: Players are 'dying to play' for the Raiders

The Oakland Raiders are in a record and are viewing the future after trading Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper.

Jon Gruden is apparently going to be around the world.

"I got a cellphone just like you and everyone else," Gruden told FOX Sports' Howie Long in an interview, which will air before Thursday's TNF TNF showdown area. I'm just telling you that they're dying to play for the Raiders.

"And to have salary-cap and a chance to talk to the people that you really want to wear the Silver and Black, the guys you really want to wear the Silver and Black and represent this team, that's exciting."

Whether they were players currently under contract or not, Gruden did not reveal names. And it's probably good thing when it comes to training scenarios when considering the league's tampering rules.

Gruden, who is in the first year of a 10-year contract, showed willingness to dismantle the roster he inherited on his return to the sidelines. But he has a point in having plenty of ammunition in 2019 to make improvements.

The trades of Mack and Cooper gives the Raiders' decision-makers three extra first-round picks, and the Raiders will have three picks in the first round in next year's draft.

Oakland is also projected to have $ 75.2 million in space available in 2019, according to the Cape Town, signaling the team will have opportunities to be active during free agency.

The key now for Gruden to prove he is worth the massive $ 100 million contract he has signed up to the first-round picks with a trio of blue-chip prospects and some of the players he says are dying to play for the Raiders.