Jon Gruden wanted Oakland Raiders to draft Johnny Manziel

The Oakland Raiders will have a whirlwind of a head coaching search this offseason, as they know that they need to hit on a top coach after striking out with Dennis Allen. In order to attract a top coach, it’s probably best for the Raiders to fire GM Reggie McKenzie so that they can add a marquee HC-GM pairing that will have a good working relationship to help avoid any awkward scenarios. Jon Gruden has always been named as a potential head coaching candidate for the Raiders, and some believe that a reunion could finally happen next year with Allen out of the way.

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Per three sources close to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Gruden implored the Raiders throughout the first round to draft Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel, and this report is just filled with intrigue. Manziel is a lightning rod for just about everything, and he’s already just getting back into the news after Brian Hoyer struggled last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

I, for one, believe the Raiders came out better by not heeding Gruden’s advice, because their first and second-round picks were both incredible. Not only did they add an elite difference-maker on defense in Khalil Mack instead of reaching for Manziel, but they also landed a better QB prospect at a better value in the second round in Derek Carr. Manziel could prove to be better and could vindicate Gruden, but it will be interesting to see how this report affects Gruden’s chances of a reunion. Do the Raiders head in a different direction out of fear that the Gruden doesn’t support Carr enough? I’m not sure that would be enough to discourage them from hiring Gruden, because his love for Manziel as a prospect doesn’t necessarily mean that he doesn’t like Carr.