Raiders doing due diligence on QB Kyler Murray

The Oakland Raiders are beginning to show interest in Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray, but they’ll have to trade up to the No. 1 overall pick in order to secure his services.

The Oakland Raiders hold the fourth overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft and have the ammunition to move up even higher than that with the 24th and 27th overall picks in their arsenal. And while they’d likely be content staying put and selecting whichever defensive standout slides to their slot, they’re still doing their homework on the top quarterback in the class, Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray.

Murray, who’s expected to be the first overall pick to the Cardinals, met with Raiders coach Jon Gruden and GM Mike Mayock Sunday night in Dallas, according to Gil Brandt, in advance of his workout with the team Monday.

Gruden ran Murray’s workout, which consisted of roughly 30 minutes of the Heisman Trophy winner throwing passes.

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Is the Raiders’ interest in Murray legitimate? Are they going to pony up and offer the Cardinals multiple first-rounders to move up for Derek Carr’s replacement?

There’s been speculation that Oakland is the team best positioned to make a move like this, but it seems like a drastic decision by a franchise that already has a proven commodity at quarterback. Carr enjoyed career-highs in completion percentage and yards and threw the second-fewest interceptions of his career in his first year under Gruden, and with the addition of Antonio Brown and Tyrell Williams, a huge year may be in store for him.

Still, if Mayock and Gruden believe Murray is an elite prospect who can bring a playmaking dimension to the Raiders’ offense that Carr simply cannot provide, then they have to go get their guy.

The drama surrounding the Cardinals and the first overall pick just keeps getting better and better by the day.