The Oakland Raiders will beef up and restructure their front office, three months after the Oct. 8 passing of former owner Al Davis, according to team and league sources. If the team misses the playoffs, that process will begin in earnest as soon as Monday.
Two names with ties to the organization -- Reggie McKenzie and Elliot Wolf, both of the Green Bay Packers -- are repeatedly mentioned by sources with knowledge of the process as favorites to end up with the Raiders. Former longtime NFL personnel executive Ken Herock, who had three stints with the Raiders, is advising owner Mark Davis on the process and has been a regular presence at the team's facility, according to sources.
Herock declined to comment on his consulting role with the team. A Raiders official also declined to comment.
Herock is close with Ron Wolf, a longtime NFL personnel executive who worked with Herock at several stops, including with the Raiders. Wolf promoted McKenzie in Green Bay, and Elliot Wolf is Ron's son.
The Raiders will speak to other candidates. Eric DeCosta (director of player personnel with the Baltimore Ravens), Tom Gamble (director of player personnel with the San Francisco 49ers) and Les Snead (director of player personnel with the Atlanta Falcons) also are on Oakland's wish list, sources said.
The fact that coach Hue Jackson has significant power in the organization and reports directly to Davis could make some candidates uncomfortable, and there is an expectation among many general managers that although McKenzie and Wolf could have other options, the Raiders remain a viable possibility.
