Oakland Raiders Rumors: Mike Mayock a “strong candidate” for GM role?
The Oakland Raiders’ search for a new general manager has been quiet. However, we now know that NFL Network’s Mike Mayock has emerged as a “strong candidate” for the job.
In an unsurprising midseason move, the Oakland Raiders recently fired general manager Reggie McKenzie. Since then, it’s been rather quiet in regards to who would be selected as his replacement. Well, we now have a name worth monitoring: Mike Mayock.
That is, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, who recently tweeted that Mayock has actually already interviewed for the role and is considered a “strong candidate”:
A strong candidate has emerged in the #Raiders’ GM search: Mike Mayock. Sources tell me and @RapSheet the @nflnetwork draft analyst has interviewed with Oakland. He’s one of a few, as the Raiders have kept their interviews quiet. But he’s firmly in the mix.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) December 30, 2018
NBC Sports’ Scott Bair elaborated on the matter:
Just talked to Mike Mayock, who is here in Kansas City. Said he has interviewed with the Raiders for their vacant GM/personnel executive post. He wouldn't elaborate any more than that. Mayock said lots of folks have interviewed.
— Scott Bair (@ScottBairNFL) December 30, 2018
You’ve probably seen him before, even if you didn’t realize it. An analyst for NFL Network, he’s particularly active during the NFL Draft season. A 10th-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers back in 1981 who spent two seasons with the New York Giants, Mayock is a bright football mind who has proven himself to be an exceptional talent evaluator.
Especially considering McKenzie’s struggles with drafting, it makes perfect sense for Gruden to have his eye on someone like Mayock. The former safety is well-connected, and is well-versed in the scouting and talent evaluation departments. If you’ve ever seen any of his work during the NFL Draft, you know that he does his homework.
For now, though, there’s not much else to know about the scenario. He’s in town for the Raiders’ Week 17 showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs, although he allegedly indicated that he was scheduled to be there regardless. As a humble, hard-working football guru, it’s understandable that he’s doing his best to keep this all close to the vest.
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We’ll see what comes of this, if anything. All we can do right now is keep Mayock in mind as we wait to hear more about what the future holds for the Raiders’ front office.