2019 Senior Bowl: Raiders, 49ers' Staffs Named as Coaches for Game

The coaching staffs of the Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers have been selected to coach this year's Senior Bowl, it was announced Monday.

The two teams finished with identical 4-12 records and will each play a prominent part in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft. The 49ers hold the No. 2 overall pick, while the Raiders' selection is fourth overall and is complemented by the Chicago Bears' and Dallas Cowboys' first-rounders. 

Oakland, in particular, will be a fascinating team to watch as the Jon Gruden era enters its second season. The intrigue was amplified Monday when NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported the channel's draft analyst Mike Mayock will be the Raiders' new general manager. 

Oakland fired Reggie McKenzie during the season, a hardly surprising move given the 10-year, $100 million contract Gruden signed to become the team's head coach and main decision-maker.

Mayock doesn't have any experience in an NFL front office, so it seems likely that Gruden will still be calling the shots. But if nothing else, Mayock has experience evaluating the draft. 

Regardless, the Raiders cannot afford to miss on their picks in this draft. The team traded away two of its best players this season in Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper, and there are holes all over the roster. The pass rush finished last in the league in sacks. The offensive line was 26th in sacks allowed.

There were also no impact playmakers for quarterback Derek Carr on offense, and the Raiders have enough needs to simply take the best player available with each pick.

Identifying that player will come down to Mayock and Gruden's scouting staff, making their presence at the Senior Bowl all the more important. 

As for San Francisco, the injuries to key players such as quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo team have made the team seem less of a circus than Oakland this past season, but it arguably has as many needs. Upgrading at edge-rusher and in the secondary will be a priority, while finding playmakers at wide receiver should also be high on the team's wishlist. 

The Niners have plenty of holes to fill, and coaching the Senior Bowl will give Kyle Shanahan and his staff the chance to work with some of the top senior talents available.