The Oakland Raiders shocked the football world when they hired NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock as their next General Manager. Mayock is widely praised for his draft knowledge and his ability to analyze potential talent. However, he has no formal experience working in an NFL front office.
Mayock will likely work closely with Head Coach Jon Gruden to help rebuild the Raiders. With three first round picks in the 2018 NFL Draft, Mayock and Gruden have their work cut out for them.
While Gruden's first year back as Oakland's head coach wasn't pretty, he was able to acquire draft capital and clearly has a plan for how he wants to construct his team. Furthermore, he has experience in the NFL, winning a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Mayock's draft analysis is some of the most highly praised amongst big media members. Heading into his first year as a GM, that knowledge will be key as to how the Raiders are constructed. However, with no previous experience working directly in building a football team, is the television-star turned front office executive the right man for the job, or just another splashy signing for the Oakland Raiders?
Bay Area Broadcasters
While the biggest hit against Mayock is his lack of experience, a fellow former NFL television personality is proving you can succeed without having deep roots as a front office executive.
John Lynch worked as a broadcaster for FOX from 2018-2016. In 2017, he has hired as the GM of the San Francisco 49ers. The Niners struggled in 2018, however, Lynch has made multiple draft decisions and acquisitions that has improved San Francisco's roster tremendously.
For starters, he has able to hire a young, offensive-minded head coach in Kyle Shanahan. With Shanahan, Lynch was able to trade for, and re-sign quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. In eight games as the starter, Garoppolo has a 6-2 record with a 2,278 passing yards and a 12-8 TD/INT ratio.
Lynch has made other flashy free agency signings including cornerback Richard Sherman, running back Jerrick McKinnon, fullback Kyle Juszcyzk, wide receiver Marquise Goodwin and offensive lineman Weston Richburg. While some have fared better than others, Lynch has made San Francisco an intriguing destination for free agents and has greatly improved the team's core.
Lynch has also done a solid job at adding talent through the draft. In 2017 he landed standouts in Solomon Thomas, George Kittle and Matt Brieda. He followed that success in 2018, drafting starters in Mike McGlinchey, Dante Pettis and Fred Warner. He has certainly had some misses, Rueben Foster being the most notable, however, Lynch has been mostly successful drafting as a GM.
As Jerry McDonald of the Oakland Tribune points out, both Lynch and Mayock's hirings are similar. He argues that the only difference between the two is Mayock's ability to evaluate talent.
Overall, it's unfair to completely compare Lynch and Mayock as they're in entirely different situations. However, the 49ers' GM has proven how Mayock can succeed without any front office experience.
Draft King
Mayock's claim to fame is his role as a draft analyst for the past 10 years. In Oakland, he will bring that expertise to the war room come draft day. Mayock has made a career out of evaluating who the best players are and their best fits. In Oakland, he can focus all of that experience into one team.
Following the announcement of Mayock's hiring, many other NFL media personnel credited Mayock's work ethic.
Mayock clearly has the respect of his peers who feel that his experience as an analyst will translate to success as a GM.
It's very likely that Gruden is going to have a majority of the say when it comes to Oakland's personnel decisions. With a massive 10-year, $100 million contract, owner Mark Davis has entrusted Gruden in helping reshape the team.
However, by hiring Mayock, Gruden has arguably one of the best in the industry when it comes to drafting in his corner. He will be able to assist Gruden in player evaluation and should be able to help Gruden have an overall better draft.
The draft has proven time and time again to be a crap shoot. However, if you can nail the first round and find some late-round gems, you can turn your team into a winner very quickly. Mayock's draft expertise should help Oakland immensely as they evaluate players and try to rebuild their roster from the ground op.
Raider Regeneration
Both Denver Broncos website
Mile High Report and Dallas Cowboys website
Blogging the Boys have done research into what their respective teams would look like had they followed Mayock's mock drafts.
Following their lead, if the Raiders had Mayock draft for them since 2013, they would've landed these players in the first round.
| YEAR |
ACTUAL |
MAYOCK |
| 2013 |
CB D.J. Hayden |
DT Sharrif Floyd |
| 2014 |
LB Kahlil Mack |
WR Sammy Watkins |
| 2015 |
WR Amari Cooper |
WR Amari Cooper |
| 2016 |
S Karl Joseph |
LB Myles Jack |
| 2017 |
CB Gareon Conley |
OT Cam Robinson |
| 2018 |
T Kolton Miller |
OT Kolton Miller |
Both Hayden and Floyd are considered relative busts for where they were drafted, although Hayden remains in the league.
In Mayock's 2014 draft, Mack was not available at the Raiders pick.
Mayock has gone on record saying he would've taken the linebacker at number one overall. Landing Watkins, especially with the addition of Cooper the next season would make for an exciting and explosive receiving core. It's important to note that in this mock draft, Mayock had the Raiders trading back into the first round for Derek Carr. An offense core of Carr, Watkins and Cooper would've been nothing to laugh at.
Jack has started 42 of 48 potential games since entering the league. He has amassed 219 combined tackles, five sacks, one interception, one forced fumble and three fumble recoveries, including one touchdown. Joseph has started 32 of a potential 48 games and has made 186 combined tackles with three sacks and three interceptions.
He has been the focal point of recent trade rumors.
Conley had a solid 2018, making 37 combined tackles with three interceptions. He is likely going to start and be the team's number one cornerback next season. Robinson tore his ACL two games into the season. In 2017, he started 15 games and allowed just two sacks.
McGlinchey vs. Miller is too early to call, as they're both just one season into their career. It is important to note that Mayock had McGlinchey over Miller in his 2018 positional rankings.
Overall, it's fair to say that Mayock would have the team on the right track had he been drafting. He would've given the Raiders a strong offensive core with two lineman to block Carr. While Jack is no Mack, he would give the team a solid defensive piece to build around.
Overall
Mayock, Gruden and the Raiders have a franchise-making offseason ahead of them. Not only do they have three first round picks, but they have over $70 million in cap space. The Raiders organization needs to take a big step forward in 2019.
Adding Mayock could do that. He has the draft expertise to truly help the Raiders improve their budding core. While he may be an out-of-the-box hire, he is a strong talent evaluator with a track record of mock draft success.
Furthermore, with Gruden likely to take a hands-on approach in rebuilding the roster, hiring a candidate with no experience could be beneficial. There is unlikely to be clashes with Mayock serving as an advisor to Gruden's button pusher. Mayock will be able to work in a secondary role as he gets up to speed. If Gruden could nail free agency, Mayock's draft expertise could turn Oakland into a winner.
Mike Mayock might not have been people's first choice when Reggie McKenzie was fired, but in the grand scheme of things it makes total sense. As the team begins to build the team back, the draft is going to be a crucial key. Adding one of the best draft minds on the planet could only benefit them in that area.
While it's yet to be seen how Mayock handles aspects outside of the draft, his hiring seems like a worthwhile one for a team looking for an Oakland Raiders team looking for a new identity prior to their well-reported Las Vegas move.
