There wasn’t a lot of significant information relayed at the Raiders pre-draft press conference briefing Friday, but it was notable that coach Jack Del Rio was front and center along with general manager Reggie McKenzie.



In previous sessions, McKenzie went at it alone, with coach Dennis Allen staying in the background until after selections were made on draft day.

When Del Rio received the first question about his level of involvement in the draft process, McKenzie immediately interjected with a laugh, “Can you get him out of my office?”

Del Rio said he was appreciative of McKenzie being “inclusive” in the evaluation process when it came to getting input from coaches as well as scouts.

The first round of the NFL draft is April 30, with rounds 2 and 3 on Friday and 4 through 7 on Saturday.

The Raiders are in Year 3 with McKenzie’s scouting staff (he conducted the 2012 draft

with holdovers from the Al Davis regime) and coming off a 2014 draft which produced immediate dividends.

The first four picks _ strong sideline backer Khalil Mack, quarterback Derek Carr, left guard Gabe Jackson and defensive tackle Justin Ellis _ all became starters and potential foundational players.

McKenzie attributed it to in part the familiarity of the scouting department with each other.

“This is the third year we’ve been together doing this, so it will get better each year with that,” McKenzie said. “Just a better feel for each other, and that grows the more you’re around each other. Then it’s second nature with how we feel about players. It will get nothing but stronger that way.”

Whether Del Rio’s presence will change the way the Raider pick players will be borne out over time. Allen was McKenzie’s choice as coach but never had the public support of owner Mark Davis.

McKenzie said there has been no change in the chain of command with Del Rio, but it’s clear the new coach presents a more powerful presence in the both inside and outside the building.

Where the two were in complete agreement Friday was that they weren’t getting into specifics about how the 2015 draft may shake out. Questions about the strengths of position groups or individual players were quickly and predictably deflected.

“You’re not going to get a whole lot of information from me as far as who do I like or where do we think a lot of the players are,” McKenzie said.

Asked about the possibility of USC defensive tackle Leonard Williams following to No. 4, Del Rio wouldn’t bite.

“It’s difficult to have this kind of press conference, because you guys all want the information and it’s not our job to prepare other people around the league for the draft,” Del Rio said. “We’re making judgments and opinions and want very much to keep that in-house.”

— Del Rio said one of his fond memories from the draft was as a Baltimore Ravens linebackers coach from 1999-2001, competing with then defensive-line coach Rex Ryan at predicting the board.

“I was Mel Kiper Jr. and he was (former Pro Football Weekly draft guru) Joel Buchsbaum and we would sit there and do our own draft predictions,” Del Rio said. “Rex, you know you came in second that day.”

— McKenzie said the Raiders had received calls from other teams regarding the fourth pick and that “our line is always open.”