Raiders News: Maxx Crosby Praises Jon Gruden And Mike Mayock For Roster Construction

The Las Vegas Raiders managed to make a number of splashes both through free agency and the 2020 NFL Draft this offseason.

Although the Raiders had their own set of challenges to deal with amid the relocation and the restrictions placed in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, this did not hinder their efforts to revamp the roster on both sides of the ball.

They managed to fill a number of notable voids with the addition of linebackers Cory Littleton and Nick Kwiatkoski in free agency. They followed it up by bringing in wide receiver Henry Ruggs III and cornerback Damon Arnette in the first round of the draft.

The moves made by head coach Jon Gruden and general manager Mike Mayock have helped the Raiders generate some hype heading into to the 2020 NFL season. According to Vic Tafur of The Athletic, defensive end Maxx Crosby shared some high praise for Gruden and Mayock’s approach and is anxious to make it come to fruition this season:

“I love our pickups,” defensive end Maxx Crosby said in a telephone interview this week. “Free-agent-wise and draft-wise, we did a great job. Mayock and Gruden are the best of the best when it comes to drafting.

“I just want to get on the field with these new guys and start getting to work. We are going to wake some people up this year.”

There is certainly plenty of truth to Crosby’s comments given his status as a product of the due diligence done by Gruden and Mayock. The former fourth-rounder emerged as one of the biggest steals of the 2019 NFL Draft by registering 47 tackles, 10.0 sacks, and four forced fumbles to finish second in voting for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.

The Raiders made headlines to usher in some competition under center by signing Marcus Mariota as the backup to Derek Carr. Meanwhile, the secondary received a much-needed boost with the arrival of Prince Amukamara and Damarious Randall.

Las Vegas was able to take the league by storm with their hot start to the 2019 campaign before they eventually continued to fizzle out down the stretch. Gruden and Mayock are hoping that their healthy mix of young and veteran talent should help provide the team with the kind of consistency it needs to maintain their success this time around.