There are two sides of the coin to bringing back Mike Mayock, and we look at the pros and cons of the Raiders keeping him in 2022 and beyond.
When the Las Vegas Raiders hired Mike Mayock back in 2018, it was with the intention of using his high football IQ, specifically in the scouting and drafting departments. Though he had never been a general manager prior to being hired by Mark Davis, Mayock had made a name for himself on the NFL Network as a draft analyst.
With the 2021 regular season over, there’s a ton of rumors, conjecture, and speculation about his future with the Silver and Black.
The year prior to Mayock’s coming aboard, the Raiders were being run by Jon Gruden. He was in effect in charge of the organization. Reggie McKenzie, Mayock’s predecessor, had been relieved of his duties. The power structure was clear, though the team never outright said that Gruden’s power was all-encompassing. Regardless, with McKenzie gone, the Raiders needed a general manager.
More importantly, they needed someone to help Gruden with scouting and help put together a plan of attack when it came to the draft.
Fast forward to 2021, and the Raiders organization is once again in a strange position. Yes, they have made the playoffs, but Gruden’s exit following an e-mail scandal left a power vacuum. The team, or rather, Mr. Davis, needs to decide what is to happen with the Raiders’ chain of command moving forward. Should Mayock be given an opportunity to work without Gruden’s shadow? Or, should they cut Mayock loose and start clean again?
Pros and Cons of keeping Raiders General Manager Mike Mayock
What’s working in Mayock’s favor?
More than anything, bringing back Mayock ensures that the Raiders have stability. Continuing the work that was started by Gruden and Mayock allows the executive to build on 2021’s success. Who knows this roster better than Mayock? He’s seen the deficiencies first hand and once free agency begins, he can begin his work to rectify those areas.
For example, he can scout and address the glaring weakness that the Raiders now posses at wide receiver. The current administration was responsible for selecting Henry Ruggs III. Despite criticism that the wrong wide receiver was chosen, Ruggs proved to be right choice in the long run. Of course, no one could’ve foreseen the tragedy that ended his career.
Mayock can select another wide receiver in the first round in April or he could go after a prized free agent once the playoffs end.
Continuity might not appear to be a big deal to some fans but for this organization, it’s imperative that the current administration is kept together. A playoff berth surely grants Mayock at least one more year to see if the team can improve on their 10-7 record this season. Let’s not forget the excellent job that Mayock has done with the draft outside of the first round.
This year’s defense turned around their fortunes thanks in part to the rookies that were added. Other key contributors such as Hunter Renfrow and Maxx Crosby, were drafted by Mayock.
It’s hard to determine who was more responsible for assembling this year’s defense, Gruden or Mayock. Who made the final decisions on the draft and free agency will almost certainly remain a mystery. Be that as it may, the Raiders have returned to the postseason under Mayock’s eye, and one more year has definitely been earned.
Pros and Cons of keeping Raiders General Manager Mike Mayock
Would the Raiders be committing a mistake by bringing back Mayock?
Back in December, the Raiders were completely obliterated by the Kansas City Chiefs. It was one of the most humiliating beatdowns ever delivered by the Chiefs, and it happened on national television, no less. Following the 48-9 loss, rumors began circulating that the team’s brass would be undergoing changes.
Davis himself, though, remained astute, not revealing too many details about the future.
"“I’m not going to speak for the future,” Davis told reporters. “But right now, he is the general manager of the Raiders. And there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be in the future.”"
Considering the turnaround that the Raiders experienced following that defeat, talks about Mayock leaving cooled down. However, conjecture once again made its way to the national spotlight. Jason La Canfora, a favorite among Raider Nation, reported that Mayock’s future was very much in question within the organization.
"“While Raiders interim head coach Rich Bisaccia remains in position to possibly keep his job, league sources said Raiders owner Mark Davis is very likely to be making a change at general manager… Two first round picks, Henry Ruggs III and Damon Arnette, were let go during the season for violations of the personal conduct policy. Sources said Mayock was nearly let go a year ago when Jon Gruden was still overseeing the organization.”"
In spite of the Raiders’ turnaround, the team’s draft misses as well as moves that backfired, such as the Antonio Brown acquisition, fall on Mayock’s shoulders. The biggest con to having Mayock return is that the general manager has missed on several first-round picks. The draft isn’t a perfect science, but under Mayock, the team has whiffed consistently on selections.
The aforementioned Arnette, but also Clelin Ferrell, Johnathan Abram, and Alex Leatherwood, have all failed to meet expectations.
At the end of the day, how much would the Raiders really miss Mayock? A qualified general manager could easily come in and continue building on the Raiders’ success. Hire a “Rockstar” head coach, draft a right tackle, sign more defensive reinforcements, and find a wide receiver.
Win or lose on Saturday: the 2021 Las Vegas Raiders were a success
The 2021 Las Vegas Raiders season was a success for several reasons, no matter what they went through on and off the field. Here are a few.
A competent NFL general manager can do all of these, except maybe the coach part, as that’ll likely be Davis’s choice. Maybe a clean slate within the front office is needed. The mistakes of the previous administration are big, too big to ignore.