The Raiders job was Mike Mayock’s first as an NFL general manager, and since taking over, he has proven to be an elite hire.
The Oakland Raiders took a chance on Mike Mayock in terms of bringing him in as their general manager on December 31, 2018. Mayock, while a brilliant football mind, and a former NFL player, had never taken on that role before, and this was a franchise looking to get back to being a winner after one playoff appearance since 2016.
On Mayock’s first assignment, seven days after accepting the job, he headed to Levi’s Stadium to check out the 2019 College Football Playoff National Championship Game. That game featured the Alabama Crimson Tide and Clemson Tigers, two teams that Mayock has made the focal point of his first two NFL Drafts.
During those two NFL Drafts, Mayock had the luxury of having five first round picks, but it was really his work after the first round that has drawn rave reviews. In addition, he has bolstered both sides of the ball via free agency, and brought about a no-nonsense culture that should have the Raiders being playoff contenders on a yearly basis.
It has been almost two years since Mayock signed on the dotted line, and it is clear that it was an elite hire for the organization.
General Manager Mike Mayock was an elite hire by the Raiders franchise
Dominating the NFL Draft
As previously mentioned, Mayock inherited a franchise that had traded away some of their biggest stars to stack first round picks. Khalil Mack was traded away prior to the 2018 NFL season, bringing back two first rounds, and wide receiver Amari Cooper was traded during that same campaign.
Cooper brought back a first round pick, so when the time came for Mayock to approach his first NFL Draft, he had three first round picks. An analyst for the NFL Network’s draft coverage, Mayock has a distinct advantage when it comes to the draft, and it has shown through his first two years picking for the Silver and Black.
2019 first round pick Josh Jacobs should have won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, and his other two first rounders that year, Clelin Ferrell and Johnathan Abram are going to be cornerstones on the defense for years to come. Second rounder Trayvon Mullen rounded into a true CB1 last year, and fourth round pick Maxx Crosby challenged for the NFL’s Defensive ROokie of the Year honors.
In addition to those guys, the 2019 class netted the team Hunter Renfrow, who was automatic on third down as a rookie, and Foster Moreau, who proved to be quite the red zone threat.
The 2020 class has yet to play in a regular season game, but there is a lot of hype surrounding them. First rounder Henry Ruggs III is supposed to come in and lead a revamped wide receiver unit, and fellow first round pick Damon Arnette should help solidify the cornerback position.
As he did the previous year, Mayock landed some key prospects after the first round, as Lynn Bowden Jr., Bryan Edwards, Tanner Muse, and Amik Robertson are all supposed to make an impact as rookies. John Simpson, an offensive guard from Clemson, will sit behind the veterans in Year 1, but he is a building block for this offensive line moving forward.
General Manager Mike Mayock was an elite hire by the Raiders franchise
Upgrading both sides of the ball
The 2018 Raiders team won only four games, but there was hope surrounding the franchise, as Jon Gruden made his return as head coach prior to the season. With Gruden back at the helm, the franchise appeared to be in good hands, but the team had a horrible 2018 draft class, bringing in a group that has seen players released or traded already.
Mayock quickly went to work upgrading the roster, and while his biggest signing of 2019, wide receiver Antonio Brown, did not pan out, so many other guys did. Outside of his tremendous 2019 draft class, the Raiders also added an elite right tackle in Trent Brown, who would go on to become a Pro Bowler in Year 1 with the Raiders.
While there was some swings and misses that first year, the Raiders were a much better product on the field, and even looked to be headed towards the playoffs after a 6-4 start. They would go on to lose five of their last six, as they dealt with injuries to some key pieces, but the stage has been set for them to take the next step forward in 2020.
This offseason, Mayock has brought back the entire starting 2019 offensive line, revamped the linebacker group by adding the talented Cory Littleton and Nick Kwiatkoski, and even brought in some veteran leadership in tight end Jason Witten. In addition, he added solid veterans to the secondary in Prince Amukamara and Demarious Randall, as he continues to change the talent level in the organization.
General Manager Mike Mayock was an elite hire by the Raiders franchise
Changing the Culture
Another way Mayock has improved the Raiders franchise has been by changing the culture, and the attitude within the team. Jon Gruden famously said that players were “dying to play for the Raiders,” and based on the additions the team has made in free agency, he certainly appears to be right.
Mayock is also taking a no-nonsense approach to players not giving everything they have to their craft, and the franchise. Guys that come in out of shape are being shipped out, and those who maybe could have made this roster due to a lack of depth in the past, are being released due to increased competition at all position groups.
This is no longer a franchise where if one guy goes down then there are serious issues, as he has made it a point to improve every position group, even areas where there are established leaders. Players are going to be pushed everyday, and that should lead to the franchise not only having a winning mentality, but putting a winning product on the field.
The expectation is that the Raiders will challenge for a playoff spot this season, and that this young, talented roster is set up to be a contender in the conference for years to come. Mayock was viewed as a questionable hire when the team brought him in, but as we look at what he has done through his first two offseasons, there could not have been a better hire to team with Gruden to rebuild this franchise.