The Raiders are early in the process of replacing Reggie McKenzie. The general manager was let go Sunday night, and the Raiders announced Monday that they would begin a search for a new personnel executive.
Coach Jon Gruden has final say on personnel decisions, which is why the Raiders aren’t searching for a true GM. That might complicate things some, because teams generally let executives out of deals for a promotion, not necessarily for a lateral move.
Owner Mark Davis will be heavily involved in this search, and hinted that it could take some time. Key word: Might.
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“One of the issues we have right now is when you’re dealing with player personnel and the general managers, they’re on a different schedule than the football team is,” Davis said, via Pro Football Talk. “The general manager sees an end basically in April or May after they’ve drafted the players and after they’ve gotten through the first series of free agency.
"So, right now, there are a lot of people that are on other teams that may be suitable for the Raiders, but we can’t talk to them, and we won’t be able to talk to them until May or so. So right now we’re limited to talking to people who are not on other teams or in the college ranks or something of that nature. That’s the interesting part of this.”
A thorough search could take months if they’re targeting someone already employed by another team. There are options outside the game right now as well.
NFL
Gruden mentioned that director of college scouting Shaun Herock will play a big role moving forward as an interim GM but could be involved as a primary figure during a draft where the Raiders have three draft picks.
If the offseason goes well, he could be a candidate to be Gruden’s top personnel man permanently.