The AFC West continues to get more interesting with the news that Mike Mayock will be the next general manager of the Oakland Raiders.
One year ago, Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock were talking heads with prime television gigs providing analysis about all 32 NFL teams as an outsider. Now they will reportedly be working together as head coach and general manager for one of those very teams—the Oakland Raiders—per the latest rumor from Adam Schefter.
Schefter has word that Mayock will be the new general manager of the Raiders, replacing Reggie McKenzie who was ousted earlier this season. If so, it’s the latest, well, something—a joke in a comedy routine? A layer to a complex mystery? A chapter in an intriguing book? At this point, we’re not sure what to make of the Oakland Raiders.
Mayock has received a bit of attention in the past as a potential front office candidate for the Washington Redskins, but nothing came of it. However this rumor seems to be true and will give Oakland an interesting experiment to watch unfold in the years to come.
Raiders brass wanted someone in the GM role who'll push back on Jon Gruden. If I know @MikeMayock, I know he'll have no problem being that guy.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) December 31, 2018
Mayock is one of the most knowledgeable draft analysts in the game and has a sizable following for his insights during the NFL offseason. Stepping away from a headset into leading an entire staff of front office personnel will be another thing, however. Mayock played sparingly in the NFL as a former tenth round pick and has been in broadcasting and media analysis since the early ’80s.
Without a formal background in scouting or financial/cap analysis, it will be interesting to see how well Mayock is able to hire experts to cover what he doesn’t know. If he hasn’t worked in front offices, will he have the contacts to hire away personnel who would serve the Raiders well? And who will want to come and work in a front office that treated a respected member of the league so poorly (McKenzie)?
Even more important is the presence of Jon Gruden. Nine years and $90 million remain on the books for Gruden, who put up a scant four wins in his first full season while simultaneously working behind the scenes to force his best players out the door. Yes, the Raiders have draft picks now but they’ll largely be used to replace the talent that has left for Chicago and Dallas, among others.
Will Mayock have the pull to stand up to Gruden? Gruden clearly walked all over everyone in his first season in Oakland with little reason to believe that’s a good thing (maybe the Steelers win serves as the best piece of evidence in Gruden’s favor).
Even more, the Raiders are wrapped in the drama of not even knowing where they will play next year. As the team transitions (again, something planned very, very poorly) for a move to Las Vegas of all places, the Raiders are leaving Oakland a year early with choices being London or San Antonio or maybe the dirt field that Coach Taylor made in Friday Night Lights. Who knows?
Credit the Raiders with one thing: they are interesting. Mark Davis is an odd owner. Jon Gruden is a somewhat likeable bully. Mike Mayock is a great draft analyst now tasked with running a completely homeless team. And a cadre of draft picks must now all turn into impact players because the difference between this roster and the one atop the division right now is exactly 32 points, as illustrated by Andy Reid’s team on Sunday.
Next. Raiders win was blueprint for Chiefs success. dark
The best thing the Raiders have going for them is knowing that John Elway isn’t also leading their team, and most people would rather drink the completely wacky cocktail served up by the Raiders right now (with all its mystery ingredients) than stomach a franchise going in an obviously wrong direction.