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Report: Raiders' Gruden, Mayock send draft scouts home, unsure who to trust

Don Juan Moore / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Oakland Raiders general manager Mike Mayock and head coach Jon Gruden reportedly sent home their scouts Friday, and they're not expected to return before the draft begins Thursday, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Gruden and Mayock reportedly weren't sure which scouts to trust and wanted to clear the room, Rapoport added.

High turnover in the team's scouting department was expected following the draft, reports Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer. The leaked news of the personnel changes reportedly led Oakland's front office to pre-emptively send scouts home.

Mayock, a former NFL Network analyst, joined the Raiders at the end of the 2018 regular season. The Raiders didn't make any major changes to their scouting staff after Mayock came on board but, earlier this offseason, he acknowledged the possibility of revamping the department.

"They all know that they're being evaluated right now," Mayock said in January, according to NBC Sports' Scott Bair. "Look, the Oakland Raiders have been to one playoff game in 16 years. I think my original message to the scouts when I came in was to remember where we're starting. Let's not sugarcoat it. ...

"These guys know they're on notice. There's a new GM in the building. I've built an awful lot of relationships over the years, and it's OK. I don't mind them being on edge a little bit."

The Raiders own the No. 4, No. 24, and No. 27 picks in the draft.

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