Agent's Take: Is Jon Gruden up to the task of rebuilding the Oakland Raiders?



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The 2016 Raiders were one of the feel-good stories of the NFL. General Manager Reggie McKenzie was named NFL Executive of the Year after an arduous rebuilding process culminated with the end of a 14-year playoff drought and the two-seeded AFC issue. The 12 regular season wins were the franchise's most since 2000. Playoff success eluded the Raiders with a quarterback Derek Carr, who finished tied for third in the MVP voting, lost the late in the season to a broken leg.

The Raiders entered 2017 as a popular pick to dethrone the Super Bowl Patriots champion. After a disappointing 6-10 season, Jon Gruden was coaxed out of the "Monday Night Football" http://www.cbssports.com/ "broadcast booth after a nine-year hiatus to return to coaching with a 10-year, $ 100 Mark Davis – The Mark of the Rings – The Mark of the Rings – The Maker of the 1998-2001 Raiders.

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The 2016 season seems like a lifetime in Oakland. Gruden's second stint with the Raiders is off to a rocky start with a 1-5 record. Older players have been targeted in their efforts Jimmy Kempski, whose data is back to 2012, is one of the oldest in the world.

It seems like anything connected to McKenzie is being shown. Most notably, 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack, who's been in a fight over what's been on the job, was traded to the Bears on Labor Day weekend. The Bears gave up their next two first round picks and Mack got the blockbuster contract making him the NFL's highest paid non-quarterback that the Raiders would not. 15 players from McKenzie's 2014-2017 draft classes have been released, traded or left via free agency since Gruden was hired in January.

The Raiders appear to be in complete teardown mode Amari Cooper, 2015 's fourth overall pick, to the Cowboys for a 2019 first round pick. Gruden reportedly told ESPN's Chris Mortensen that nobody else would be traded after Cooper, contradicting McKenzie, who said no one is untouchable. 2017 first-round pick Gareon Conley, who was recently benchmarked at cornerback, by CBS Sports Insider Jason LaCanfora. 2016 first-round pick Karl Joseph is also rumored to be on the trading block. The safety has gotten into Gruden's doghouse.

What About Derek Carr?

Gruden's dismantling of the Raiders has prompted speculation that Carr will be gone in 2019. Carr has not thrived under Gruden's tutelage. Although Carr is second in the NFL with a 71.7 completion percentage, his eight interceptions are tied for third most in the league. Carr is also refuting reports his relationship with teammates is deteriorating and confidence in him internally is waning.

Gruden has a reputation for being extremely demanding of his quarterbacks and souring on them quickly. The only one who lived up Gruden's high expectations was Rich Gannon. During their three years together in Oakland (1999-2001), the Raiders won the AFC West twice and Gannon earned the Honors Bowl each season.

Carr austerity value for the marketplace. It was not too long ago that NFL MVP was Aaron Rodgers. Obviously, Carr has not done much to validate the comparison since its own MVP candidacy.

The much-maligned Jay Cutler was introduced in 2009 by Kyle Orton, 2009 first and third round picks, and a 2010 first round pick. Sam Bradford's trade in 2016 might be a better barometer of what Oakland could get for Carr. The Eagles received a 2017 first round pick (14th overall) and a conditional 2018 fourth round pick from the Vikings after Teddy Bridgewater went down with a career threatening knee injury. The fourth round pick could have been raised to a third or second round under certain conditions, which were not met.

The remaining four years of the five-year, $ 125,025 million contract expansion Carr signed in June 2017 to become the league's first $ 25 million per year. Carr is under contract through the 2022 season for just over $ 78.5 million. The next Raiders would pick up $ 15 million from 2019 Carr Next Offseason. There would be $ 7.5 million in dead money, a cap charge for a player, which is related to the signing bonus of Carr's 2019 through 2021 contract years.

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Gruden's record track with the Buccaneers

The trades have been in a position to control the 2019 and 2020 NFL drafts with a bevy of picks and cape to jumpstart a rebuild before the scheduled move to Las Vegas in 2020. The Raiders have a first round picks over the next two years. If the 2018 season ended today, the Raiders would have the fourth, 10th and 17th picks in the 2019 draft.

Oakland has $ 125.22 million of 2019 cap commitments with 32 players under contract after the Cooper trade. Under offseason accounting rules, the top 51 salaries (i.e. cap numbers) matter. The 2019 salary will be in the $ 190 million neighborhood with a similar increase in recent years. $ 6.5 million, the Raiders should have right around $ 60 million of room in 2019.

Gruden 's track record with the Buccaneers after the end of the season. The draft classes under Gruden's direction produced on Tampa Bay pro bowler, offensive guard Davin Joseph. The 2006 23rd overall pick was named to the Pro Bowl in 2008 and 2011 during his eight seasons with the Buccaneers. 2008 20th overall pick Aqib Talib did not develop into a perennial Pro Bowl cornerback until Tampa Bay traded him. 2008 third-round pick Jeremy Zuttah participated in the 2016 season Pro Bowl as a replacement for center Maurkice Pouncey while playing for the Ravens.

2004 first-round pick Michael Clayton made the All-Rookie team after catching 80 passes for 1,193 yards with seven touchdowns. 2005 fifth overall pick Cadillac Williams won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors when he rushed for 1,178 yards. Neither had sustained NFL success. Williams' career was derailed by a torn patellar tendon in his right knee during his third season. Clayton never reached 500 receiving yards again during his eight-year NFL career.

Defensive end Gaines Adams, the highest pick during Gruden 's reign, never became an impact player. The Buccaneers traded at the Bears during the middle of the 2009 season for a 2010 second-round pick. He passed away in 2010 because of cardiac arrest.

Gruden did not care any better. His affinity for older free agents dates back to his days with the Buccaneers. Derrick Deese, running back Charlie Garner Bill Schroeder and offensive tackle Todd Steussie. Garner was the youngest of the bunch at 32. A 38 year old Tim Brown was added after the Raiders cut the Hall of Fame wide receiver.

Thirty-two year old wide receiver Joey Galloway was also acquired in a trade with the Cowboys. He may have been Gruden's best veteran acquisition as de facto general manager. Galloway had three straight 1000 receiving yards during the 2005-07 seasons in which he was 34, 35 and 36 years old.

The most productive free agent is Antonio Bryant. The talented but troubled Bryant was eighth in the NFL with 1,248 in 2008, Gruden's final season in Tampa Bay, after signing for his league minimum $ 605,000 salary and modest incentives. His success led to the Buccaneers designating him as a franchise player in 2009.

Final thoughts

The jury is out on Gruden's ability to oversee a reconstruction based on his body work with the Buccaneers. Gruden's contract gives him the luxury to exercise more patience than is normally afforded in a rebuild. He should take the words, "those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it" to heart.

Tampa Bay's 2004 through 2008 drafts in comparison to McKenzie's 2014 draft class. Mack, Carr and offensive guard Gabe Jackson were selected respectively in the first three rounds and thought to be foundational pieces. NFL's most dominant defensive players, like Mack has.

Gruden should borrow a page from McKenzie's use of free agency. Older veterans on third and fourth contracts should be signed more judiciously instead of liberally. Enzie McK McK McK McK,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,……. Kelechi Osemele has become the NFL's highest paid guard, which included 2015 free agent sign Rodney Hudson. His contract was briefly made by the league's highest paid center. He's earned two Pro Bowl berths since signing. The Raiders also gotten good value out of defensive end / outside linebacker Bruce Irvin, a 2012 first-round picksigned in 2016.

"We think that we have built this thing to last." "

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