Raiders hold private workout with Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray, Dwayne Haskins upcoming ‘We believe they’re high-level quarterbacks’

Several times this offseason Raiders head coach Jon Gruden and general manager Micke Mayock have insisted Derek Carr is their franchise quarterback, amid speculation that Gruden might be ready for a fresh start. But that won’t stop Gruden and general manager Mike Mayock from doing due diligence and working out the top quarterbacks in the 2019 NFL Draft.

After visiting both Kyler Murray and Dwayne Haskins at their pro days, the Silver & Black have now begun holding private workouts with both potential top-ten prospects. The latter of which took place Monday morning in Dallas.

“I am going to learn about not only their physical ability, but how they communicate and what makes them tick,” Gruden said. “And see if they like our offense. See if we mesh. See if there is a connection.”

Mayock, Gruden and offensive coordinator Greg Olson had dinner with Murray Sunday night in Dallas according to NFL Network’s Gil Brandt. Monday morning, Gruden led a private workout with the 2019 Heisman Trophy winner that included significant time on the white board, and a half-hour throwing.

This past season, Murray threw for 4,361 yards and 42 touchdowns while also rushing for 1,001 yards and 12 touchdowns in his first year as the starter for the Oklahoma Sooners. Haskins on the other hand totaled 4,831 passing yards along with 50 touchdowns to just 8 interceptions in his first season starting for Ohio State.

The Raiders also worked with Drew Lock, Daniel Jones and Ryan Finley at the Senior Bowl and reportedly liked all three.

Mayock insists these workouts are just the team doing their homework on the quarterbacks, and not necessarily because they intend to draft them.

“Information is gold, and it always will be,” said Mayock said last week at the NFL leauge meeting in Arizona. “We all know that Jon Gruden is a quarterback guy. Jon’s going to evaluate every quarterback out there every single year. That’s just who he is. ...”

“We’re going to see Kyler Murray and we’re going to see Haskins (in private workouts). We believe they’re high-level quarterbacks, and that’s due diligence. You’d better know how good these guys are. You’d better know what other teams are interested in, and whether or not you can improve your own position. That’s part of what a head coach and GM do, to evaluate every position on your football team. You owe it to your team to do the best job you can and upgrade where you can. But, and I said this back at the NFL combine: I don’t think there are very many people who are better than Derek Carr.”