Raiders GM Mike Mayock struck gold in the fourth round in 2019, and with two picks in the fourth in 2020, did he do the same thing again?
When the then-Oakland Raiders made Mike Mayock their general manager back in December of 2018, many questioned whether he was the right man for the job. Though a former NFL player himself, Mayock had been an analyst on television prior to taking over as general manager, and had no experience in the role.
In his first assignment, Mayock headed to the 2019 College Football Playoff National Championship Game, where he scouted a bunch of future Raiders. It was clear that his goal was to inject the Raiders organization with championship players, and so far, that has worked out.
Heading into his first NFL Draft as a general manager, Mayock had the rare opportunity to bring in a ton of top-line talent. The Raiders held three first round picks in the 2019 NFL Draft, and while many expected the team to trade away one or two of them, Mayock stood his ground, and brought in three guys who will be cornerstone players for the franchise moving forward.
However, it was his work after the first round that was the most impressive, especially in the fourth round, where he added players that performed way above their draft slot.
Mayock strikes gold in the fourth round in 2019
As was the case with the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, the Raiders also held three picks in the fourth round, with their first coming with the fourth pick overall in that round. With pick No. 106 overall, Mayock landed Maxx Crosby, a devastatingly talented edge rusher from a small school called Eastern Michigan.
Later in the fourth round, Mayock continued to stack talent on the defensive side of the ball, bringing in Houston cornerback Isaiah Johnson. Finally, eight picks later, the Raiders added LSU tight end Foster Moreau, completing a three-player haul that had a major impact on the 2019 Raiders.
Of course, Johnson was hurt for most of the year, but many are excited about what he may bring to the table now that he is healthy and heading into Year No. 2. Moreau finished his rookie season on the injured list, but when he was healthy, he proved he can be a touchdown machine, and is someone Derek Carr can trust in the red zone.
Of course, the crown jewel of this fourth round was Crosby, the menacing edge rusher who racked up ten sacks in only ten starts as a rookie. During that span, Crosby had a four-sack effort against the Cincinnati Bengals, and finished the year in serious contention for the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.
Did the Raiders strike gold again in the fourth round in 2020?
During the 2020 NFL Draft, the Raiders held two fourth round picks, and with both selections, they brought in players that many considered to be a steal. With pick No. 109 overall, a selection they got from the Detroit Lions, the Raiders added another Clemson Tiger, bringing in John Simpson, and All-American guard.
The drafting of Simpson looked to be the end of Gabe Jackson and his nearly $10 million contract with the Raiders, but with Jackson’s contract becoming guaranteed on Monday, this is a long-term play. Many feel Simpson was the best guard in this draft class, so to get him this late was an absolute steal.
Later in the fourth, Mayock added Amik Robertson, considered by many to be the steal of the 2020 NFL Draft. This is a guy who could come in and start right away at slot corner for the Raiders, pushing Lamarcus Joyner back to safety, and making the Raiders secondary that much better.
The mark of a truly successful general manager is not what they do in the first round, but how well they do throughout the whole NFL Draft. The 2019 draft class was a special one for the Silver and Black, and based on what we have seen so far from the 2020 class, Mayock may have once again struck gold.