Gruden: I get calls from players 'who are dying to come and play' for Raiders

The Raiders may be sitting in the AFC's basement, having won just one game in Jon Gruden's first eight weeks back in Oakland, but the head coach insists his team is still a prime destination.

In an interview with FOX Sports' Howie Long, which is set to air during the Raiders' Thursday night game against the San Francisco 49ers, Gruden said he's received a lot of interest from players looking to join his team.

"I got a cell phone just like you and everybody else, and I get a lot of phone calls from people who are dying to come and play here," said Gruden. "To have salary cap space, and to have a chance to talk to the people that you really want to wear the silver and black ... that's exciting."

While Gruden didn't mention any players specifically, he potentially could receive a less positive call from the league office, which may view his comments as tampering.

Per NFL policy: "Any public or private statement of interest, qualified or unqualified, in another club's player to that player's agent or representative, or to a member of the news media, is a violation of the Anti-Tampering Policy."

Potential tampering issues aside, Gruden will need every cent of the Raiders' projected $123 million in cap space to rebuild the roster after the likes of Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper were sent packing under his regime.