NFL Draft: How accurate are Mike Mayock’s quarterback rankings?
By Britt Zank
Mike Mayock is one of the most respected NFL Draft analysts around, but just how accurate are his predictions? Here’s a look back at his quarterback rankings.
When you say NFL draft, one of the first names that comes to mind is Mike Mayock. Mayock has been the lead draft analysis for the NFL Network since 2005.
Like most draft analysts, everyone looks forward to his rankings and mock drafts. Mayock is no exception as his rankings are some of the most trusted every year. When you watch the draft on NFL Network, the rankings of “best available” that shows on the screen are based on Mayock’s rankings.
But does history back up this yearly trust in his rankings? The Redskins obviously thought enough of him to show some interest in him to fill their vacant general manager position. I decided to put him to the test and see how he’s done ranking the most important position in the sport: quarterback.
2008
Mayock’s Rankings:
1. Matt Ryan
2. Joe Flacco
3. Chad Henne
4. Brian Brohn
5. John David Booty
The earliest rankings I could find for him came from 2008. His rankings that year only had one quarterback in the first round, Matt Ryan. His next four quarterbacks were Joe Flacco, Chad Henne, Brian Brohm and John David Booty. He nailed Ryan right on the money when he not only predicted him as a top pick, but he even mocked him to the Atlanta Falcons. He was correct in his ranking as Flacco was the second quarterback taken, but he went higher than Mayock predicted. Mayock had him going in the second and he went in the middle of the first.
Brohme and Henne went back to back near the end of the second round while Booty wasn’t taken until fifth. Mayock had his draft order right on the money in 2008. In terms of production, he nailed his evaluation on the money as well. Ryan has become a top QB in the league winning the MVP this past season while Flacco won a Super Bowl. The other three have never made it above backup status in the league. A pretty poor quarterback class after the first two.