Mike Mayock looks like he might finally fix the Raiders

In year one of the transition to Las Vegas, Raiders general manager Mike Mayock looks like he has the silver and black moving in the right direction.

Las Vegas Raiders General Manager Mike Mayock inherited a bit of a circus in year one with the organization. Coming from a TV background on NFL Network, Mayock had his work cut out for him in 2019. With a strong AFC West combined with the Antonio Brown fiasco, the Raiders were basically doomed in their last year in Oakland.

Somehow, led by Mayock in the front office and Jon Gruden on the sidelines, the Raiders went 7-9, and will look to improve going into 2020. Before you know it, Mayock might actually lead the new-age Raiders into being relevant again.

It all started with the draft. With two first-round picks after trading former star Khalil Mack and, Vegas focused on beefing up its receiving corps and the secondary. With new wide receiver Henry Ruggs III from Alabama and defensive back Damon Arnette out of Ohio State, both are expected to produce immediately on their side of the ball.

Vegas also made an underrated pickup in signing Damarious Randall. The former Packers and Browns safety will make a dynamic pairing with second-year safety Johnathan Abram. Mayock saw the makings of a great safety tandem a long time ago.

While the new guys will be key, the returning players will be just as critical. 2019 first-round picks in Abram, Clelin Ferrell and Josh Jacobs will all have to take the next step in their development. Jacobs already looks like a great pick after rushing for 1000+ yards as a rookie. Ferrell only had 4.5 sacks in year one, but the ceiling is still high going forward.

Mayock’s TV background in covering college football is showing through as an executive. As long as he continues to make the right moves in terms of bringing in future stars in the first round and finding late-round diamonds in the rough like Maxx Crosby and Hunter Renfrow, Vegas has definitely found its GM of the long-term future.