In case you haven’t heard from everyone in the media lately, this rookie class could possibly become the best of the past decade. The thing is that as a Oakland Raiders fan it’s weird hearing so much praise for a G.M. who is only a year removed from a job as a draft analyst. This man by the name of Mike Mayock is tearing it up and is changing the way the NFL looks at future general managers.
How This Year is Only the Beginning For The Raiders
Now the funny thing is, just remove the draft class and his free agent pick ups have been so superb that they could be just as much a foundation for the team as the rookie class is going to be. Take Trent Brown for example, Mayock knew when he brought him in he was going to have to pay top salary for this behemoth. They made him the top paid tackle, which many questioned, why pay a right tackle top left tackle money? To them, you can now say why, because he mauls through defenders with his 6’8″, 380 lb frame. Their isn’t a single right tackle you would want over him protecting your quarterback. He has the production as well, only allowing one sack and not allowing pretty much anyone to even touch quarterback Derek Carr.
But Wait, Back To The Rookies…
So if you’re just going off of what everyone else is focusing on, the draft class, you would see why the future for the Raiders looks so bright. Maxx Crosby, a star in the making after his last performance, where he not only sacked Ryan Finley four times, but also hit him a combined eight total times.
Another rookie just recently starting to step up since the trade of Gareon Conley, is Trayvon Mullen. The former Clemson cornerback not only sealed the Raiders victory with the game ending interception, but also Ryan Finley had a 24.4 passer rating going against him per Pro Football Focus. This was his break out game and is becoming the cornerback the Raiders have been searching for since Nnamdi Asomugha.
Mayock, the possible executive of the year, who with the help of head coach Jon Gruden has changed the landscape for the Raiders future with the possibility of playoffs in their first year together. If anything, as a Raiders fan you can look forward to the fact that the team still has five picks in the first 90 picks and over 71 millon in cap room next year per Spotrac. So the future is bright even without a Super Bowl this year, we could be looking at multiple Super Bowls in Las Vegas if Mayock and Gruden keep drafting and changing the culture the way they have in only their first year together.