Raiders News: GM Mike Mayock Says Jon Gruden Told Him 'Don't Mess It Up, Dude'

Oakland Raiders general manager Mike Mayock is heading into his first draft as an NFL executive. 

The head coach that got him those three picks had a simple message for his general manager. 

"Don't mess it up, dude. I took a lot of slings to get you three first-round picks," Mayock said Thursday on NFL Network.

Mayock was a renowned draft analyst for NFL Network from 2004-2018 before making the leap from television to the front office. He's thus far worked with Gruden to trade for Antonio Brown, sign tackle Trent Brown and wideout Tyrell Williams and do scouting work ahead of the 2019 NFL draft.

The Raiders have the Nos. 4, 24 and 27 picks in the first round after trading Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper last year.

Given the focus on offense in free agency, it would stand to reason that Oakland will prioritize defense in the draft. Bleacher Report's Matt Miller projected the Raiders to take LSU pass rusher Devin White at No. 4, Iowa tight end Noah Fant at No. 24 and Temple cornerback Rock Ya-Sin at No. 27 in his latest mock draft.

The Raiders are considered among the likeliest teams to move up in the draft, perhaps packaging the No. 24 and No. 27 picks to move up for a quarterback. Gruden and Mayock have publicly backed Derek Carr, but Michael Silver of NFL Network reported Oakland could move up if Dwayne Haskins slips down the boards.

"I think there's a lot of potential for trades. I think that's one of the things I'm really excited about. Mike Mayock what he brings to the table, he's got great resources around the NFL," Gruden told J.T. the Brick on The Game Plan podcast in February. "He's been in every building, he's on a first-name basis; everybody knows Mike. And I think he's gonna be on the phones quite a bit, not only with those two picks you talked about, who knows, we may move up with the No. 4 pick, we may move back with that pick. We'll see how it all unfolds."

Mayock and Gruden grew close during their time as national television analysts, so their pairing will be in concert. Mayock won't be taking a player without Gruden's approval, so the onus will be on the coach as much as the general manager later this month.