The Oakland Raiders have had better days, to put it mildly.

Jon Gruden was brought back to coach after being handed a 10-year, $100 million contract from owner Mark Davis. One of Gruden's first orders of business was to deal with the Khalil Mack saga, as the 2016 Defensive Player of the Year awaited a contract extension.

Gruden responded by sending Mack to the Chicago Bears for four draft picks. Before the trade deadline, he dealt 24-year-old star receiver Amari Cooper to the Dallas Cowboys for a first-round pick.

Oakland sits at a putrid 1-6 as they prepare for the second half of the 2018 season. And while questions about Gruden's ability to manage this team come into play, the $100 million man told Fox Sports (h/t ESPN.com) that players are "dying" to join his organization.

"I got a cellphone just like you and everybody else," Gruden said. "I get a lot of phone calls from people that are dying to come play here. I'm just telling you. They're dying to play for the Raiders."

RELATED: OAKLAND RAIDERS REBUILD: DEFENDING JON GRUDEN’S RECENT HIGH PROFILE TRADES

Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

There are also rumors that the Raiders may look to move out quarterback Derek Carr, as Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic recently reported that he has a "fractured" relationship with his teammates.

But Gruden sounds humble and positive about the Raiders, even though they currently stand as the worst team in the AFC. On the bright side, they'll own three first-round picks at the 2018 draft, thanks to the Bears and Cowboys. Gruden also owns Chicago's first-rounder for 2020.

Oakland visits the lowly San Francisco 49ers on Thursday Night Football, so Gruden's Raiders have the chance to pick up their second win of the season. But really, 2018 is a lost year for the organization as they transition towards a major rebuild.

However, Gruden is happy with the team's salary cap situation and enjoys finding the players that want to play for him.

"And 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, the guys you really want to wear the silver and black and represent this team, that's exciting," Gruden added.

NEXT: THE GOOD, BAD AND UGLY ABOUT GRUDEN AND THE OAKLAND RAIDERS