Again, nobody cares if you don't like Mayock.
This is just for discussion purposes, and/or to increase your understanding of the available talent in this year's draft.
Enjoy.
NFL Network Analyst Mike Mayock
MIKE MAYOCK: From my perspective, this is the deepest and best draft class I've seen in probably ten years. That's been reinforced by most of the general managers and scouts I've talked to throughout the league. I had one GM tell me the other day that having a top 20 pick this year is very similar to having a Top 10 pick last year.
So I think there's more depth. I think there are certain positions that are stacked this year and you can get a quality player through three or four rounds.
Q. I wonder if you could identify some of the quarterbacks you see as more athletic and maybe be able to add something on their own and the more athletic quarterbacks coming into the league the last couple years. Do you see that continuing as long as they are playing spread offenses at levels below the NFL or is it unrelated to that?
MAYOCK: No, that's a very good question and it is related. We are seeing more and more in the NFL reflective of the college game. And it's not just the ability to run a zone read or be that guy but also the ability to slide and move in the pocket and create opportunities by using your legs to throw the ball down the field.
So as far as athletes are concerned, a guy like Teddy Bridgewater is an athletic kid but he slides and moves to find an opportunity to throw the football. We all know what is up with Johnny Manziel is all about.
I think as you go down the list a little bit, there are guys like Stephen Morris and Tajh Boyd that are highly athletic and Logan Thomas to me is the wild card of this year's quarterback class. He's got tremendous talent and mobile skills but he might not go until late in the draft. I think you'll see reflected throughout the quarterback class, there's a whole group of mobile quarterbacks that still have good arms and can throw from the pocket.
Q. I'm trying to get a handle on the outside linebackers in this draft, specifically the edge rushers that can play in a 3 4, and I don't know how much you've looked at teams around the league but the Eagles certainly someone of that caliber. Could they get someone in the first round at No. 22 that can step in and start right away or Barr and Mack, will they be gone by that point?
MAYOCK: I think [Khalil] Mack is a Top 10 player; I actually think he's a Top 5 player. I think [Anthony] Barr has got considerable upside and will be off the board before the Eagles.
The one guy that's kind of interesting and it might be a little bit high but Dee Ford from Auburn is kind of that edge rush guy. He doesn't have as much length as you might like, and he might be more comparable to Bruce Urban when Seattle took I think at number 15 two years ago. He's a guy with some real edge burst and he's a guy that would fit what the Eagles do.
Q. I want to get a handle on the wide receivers, and when you look at the Ravens, 16th or 17th spot when you look at the top receivers you have, Sammy Watkins and Evans, which of those guys do you think could be available to the Ravens in the middle of that first round there?
MAYOCK: Really interesting because it's the best wide receiver draft I've seen in years and obviously depending what happens in front of them. Watkins will be long gone and then you start to get into what flavor do you like. Marqise Lee is a completely different receiver than Mike Evans or Kelvin Benjamin.
So I really believe when the Ravens get on the clock at 16, that probably at least one, if not two of those three, will be available and they bring different things to the table. Lee can play inside or outside. He's a dangerous kickoff return guy. Evans and Benjamin are kind of today's flavor in the NFL, those 6 5, 230 pound wide receivers, the back shoulder throws, outside the numbers in the red zone.
I think if you're a Ravens fan, you're going to know that at least one, if not two of those three guys, will be available in that slot.
Q. I have a question specifically about Rutgers wide receiver Brandon Coleman, a guy who had a higher stock probably at this time last year. What kind of questions does he have to answer about his health at the Combine and where do you see him falling in with all these talented receivers in his class?
MAYOCK: Yeah, he's an interesting kid because 2012 was obviously a much better year for him. I think he had 42 or 43 catches, but ten of them went for touchdowns. After a couple of intriguing years, he comes into 2013, he's had off season knee surgery. The questions that you have to answer, one, he's going to go through a medical barrage.
Number two, can he separate; on tape, he looks like he has very average speed, but because of his size, you can create separation just by your sheer bulk, so I think what you want to see here is what kind of speed does he really have. He's got tremendous catching radius because of his length and he has some inconsistent hands. I know he makes great catches but he also makes some pretty easy drops. I want to see him catch everything and I want to find out how fast he really is.
Q. And then if I can ask about one other specific, Notre Dame's [Bennett] Jackson, what do you see out of him and where do you have him slotted in?
MAYOCK: I think Bennett Jackson is a corner with some length. He's got to get stronger. He's got some pretty good movement skills but he's not an elite speed guy, so he has to use his length to compete on the outside and I think he's probably going to be mid to late draftable, somewhere in that fifth round or so.
Q. I wanted to ask you about two senior corners, Antone [Exum] and [Kyle] Fuller, coming off the knee injury, what is the outcome for them and what does Antone specifically with that injury have to show at the Combine?
MAYOCK: Yeah, the injury thing is tough on [Antone Exum] because he's a good football player and I kind of wanted to know, was he a corner, because of his size, can he play safety and how well.
So A is medical and B is he in shape and what kind of running ability does he have right now and what is he going to run that 40. The most important thing for me in the defensive back is how well does he move. I want to determine in my mind whether he's a corner or a safety.
The Fuller kid I really like. I have got him as my third ranked corner. I think he's a first round talent. He's long, he tackles, he has ball skills. I think the key for him is what he runs that 40 in. If he comes in as a sub four, five, I think he's a first round lock.
Q. I wanted to ask what your thoughts are of Mike Pettine leaving the Bills and with Jim Schwartz coming in, how their overall needs or what they are looking for might base based on their defensive coordinator changing?
MAYOCK: I think it's one of those situations where philosophically they are similar defensive coaches, they might get it done differently from an X & O perspective but philosophically they are both tough, attacking defensive coordinators.
And I think it's going to be in this situation, more up to Jimmy to learn what they have done the last couple years as opposed to bringing in a completely different system and trying to get all the players to adjust to it. I think they will see a lot of what they had last year with a little bit of influence from Jim Schwartz.
Q. Can you elaborate more on [Khalil] Mack?
MAYOCK: Yeah, I put the tape on not really knowing what to expect. I knew he had a lot of positive reviews from around the country.
But first tape I put in was Ohio State, and he blew them up. He made plays all over the field, on the edge, dropping into coverage, explosion, hustle.
Then I think the next tape I put in was Kent State and he made a one handed interception. He runs like a safety. He explodes off the edge. From my perspective in today's NFL, guys that have natural edge rush ability are like gold; you've got to get them when they are available.
I think he's one of the elite edge guys in the draft, but he hustles, he's tough, he can play the run game, and unlike a lot of these guys, he can also drop in coverage. So I have yet to find a hole in his game.
Q. Wondering whether you anticipate that continuing this year and what do you perhaps attribute that to? Is it as simple as the league becoming more of a passing league or are there other things at work there in your opinion?
MAYOCK: I think the biggest issue is that it has become a pass first league. If you look back at the draft 40 years ago, running backs were the most valuable commodity there was. And today, with all the spread offenses and teams throwing the football 60, 70, 80 percent of the time, there's been a completely different emphasis in how you draft offensively.
You know, it starts at quarterback, it goes to wide receiver. It goes to a left tackle and even lately it's gone to what kind of tight ends can you draft that can stress teams vertically on defense.
So I do think it's going to be valued. I do think the good news in this draft and in the last few is that if you can get in the second, third, fourth round, and find different flavors of running backs, you'll see some teams that will draft two or three running backs in one or two drafts, just so you can have a big back and a third down change of pace guy and I think that's where the league has gone and I think that's where it's going to continue to go.
Q. You kind of addressed this in your opening comments but I'd like a little more detail. When you talk about depth, other than wide receiver, what stands out for you in this draft? What's that based on?
MAYOCK: Yeah, well I think it’s a couple things. One is the playmakers at the top end of this draft, it's not just a couple guys. You know, there's three offensive tackles that could go in the Top 10. There's three quarterbacks that could go in the Top 10, and then you've got guys like I mentioned [Khalil] Mack, who is a difference maker, [Anthony] Barr from UCLA, [Sammy] Watkins from Clemson is a tremendous wide receiver.
So we're ten, 11, 12, players deep right there and we have not seen talked about the safety from Louisville [Calvin Pryor] or the tight end from North Carolina [Eric Ebron]. And I could go on and on. There's more quality at the top end of this draft than I've seen in a long time and from a position standpoint; you know, we talked about wide receiver. I think offensive tackle is particularly deep. You can go three rounds, four rounds deep this year, and get a starting offensive tackle.
So from those couple of positions and the quality up top, and I think there's some pretty good corners, by the way, three to four rounds deep. So I'm really excited about this draft.
Q. Can the Cardinals get an offensive tackle in the first?
MAYOCK: My first Top 5 tackle, because I think he can play tackle, but the beauty in this kid is he can play all five positions in the NFL and some teams look at him as a Pro Bowl there for playing at tackle doesn't make much sense.
So I think the first part of that question is, I think Zack Martin is going somewhere in that range, plus or minus 20. If he's available, do the Cardinals buy into him as a tackle.
If not, I think the next guy is [Cyrus] Kouandjio from Alabama, and again, I think he's going to be a guy that can go somewhere 20 to 30, and if you're not going to jump on a tackle in the first round, you can get into the second round, even later into the second round.
Morgan Moses, Brandon Thomas from Clemson who is a tackle or a guard, but I think he's a tackle, he would probably go late second round. There's a guy named Joel Bitonio from Nevada that most of the fans out there never heard of; he's going to be a second or third round tackle that starts immediately; Jack Mewhort from Ohio State, second or third round starting tackle.
So my point is, I think at 20, sometimes you've got to identify the best player that's there, as opposed to just what your need is, and I think whether they get the tackle at 20 or in the second or third round, they can get a good one.
Q. In talking about cornerbacks and maybe even safeties, which ones do you think are best at the nickel cornerback position?
MAYOCK: My favorite nickel in the draft is Jason Verrett from TCU, and the only reason I wouldn't say he's a top 20 pick is because of his size.
He's 5 9, he's probably 185, but he's ideal for the slot because he's quick footed, he's tough, and remember, the slot guys, what gets overlooked is you have to tackle and this kid is a tough kid even though he's undersized. I really like Verrett.
And I think the other guy that's kind of interesting and I've got him listed as a safety is Lamarcus Joyner from Florida State. He played corner. I think he's a little bit like Tyrann Mathieu in that he was a corner in college, but I think he's going to have to kick inside and either be a safety or a nickel or both and he's an explosive kid like Tyrann Mathieu.
Those are the two guys right off the top that I like at nickel.
Q. If you could just give us your breakdown on Johnny Manziel, what you see on tape, good and bad and then maybe how you compare to contemporary quarterbacks?
MAYOCK: I am stunned it took that long to get to Johnny Manziel.
You know, he's a different evaluation, and I'll give you my take on him right now. The first tape I put in was Alabama and I put the tape down about two hours later and I said, wow, that was awesome, that was really fun to watch. The kid makes throws, he allows his other players to make plays. He gives Mike Evans a chance to make plays, he extends plays. He was like a combination of Fran Tarkenton and Doug Flutie. I really enjoyed it and there were two or three more tapes like that.
And as I worked my way through, because I wanted a minimum of five for each of the quality quarterbacks before the Combine, and I eventually got to the LSU and Missouri, neither of which were really good tapes.
And both of which the common denominator for me was I felt like he got frustrated in the pocket and I felt like LSU and Missouri did a great job with controlling their rush and keeping him in the pocket, and the more he was in the pocket, the more frustrated he got. He started to lose his accuracy. He started trying to escape the pocket way before he needed to, and I feel like he doesn't like being confined. He likes those open spaces.
And we've got to evaluate him a little differently because of that. And again, I felt like he would back out of the pocket when and he'd try all of a sudden the accuracy is down, the decision making is down. NFL teams are going to clue into that very quickly.
Having said all of that, I do believe he's got the arm strength, athletic ability, the passion for the game, at the end of the day, he's different than any quarterback I've done before. He's different than [Robert Griffin III], different than Cam Newton, different than Andrew Luck, and he's different than Russell Wilson.
But I believe in the kid. I think he's going to be a Top 10 if not a Top 5 pick. But you're going to have to live with some of those negative plays in addition to the positive ones.
Q. Who are you most looking forward to seeing at the Combine, whether it's highly rated players or some unheralded guys you've seen on tape, who are you looking to see, okay, these guys have the most to gain in your eyes, in the NFL's eyes, overall.
MAYOCK: I like that question, it's a good one. I really like the tailback from Washington, [Bishop] Sankey, and I want to see him catch the football. I don't get to see enough catches in routes on his college tape. I feel like he can be a lot like the kid out of North Carolina, Giovani Bernard, if he can catch the football like that. So I'm looking forward to seeing that from him.
I'm looking forward to seeing how fast Marqise Lee runs. I want to see the tight end from Oregon [Colt Lyerla], how he reacts to people. I watched film what little tape I could get on him from 2012, he's a gifted, gifted kid, but he's got a bunch of off the field issues.
[Darqueze] Dennard and [Kyle] Fuller, the two corners, I think they are awesome. But my concern with both of them is long speed, and if they both run well, I think they are going to climb even higher, especially the fuller kid, who most people have in the second or third round and then I want to see the freaks, [Jadeveon] Clowney,[Khalil] Mack, there's a kid from Georgia Southern, Jerick McKinnon, who is going to work with the running backs. He also can play corner, and I'm anxious to watch his footwork, and Tom from North Carolina.
There's a bunch of guys at each position I'm excited to see and 6 little archer is another one of those guys I can't wait to see.
Q. You just covered a lot, my question was every year we are sort of introduced to someone who suddenly catches fire at the Combine and there's watercooler talk for the next few months. I wonder if there are any players like that you anticipate seeing, obviously you need to see how they perform at the Combine, but guys you think will become sort of emblematic of this draft class.
MAYOCK: It's interesting, because my whole thing is the fast guys run fast and slow guys run slow and it's only a story of if the opposite happens. If somebody runs 4:25 or 4:28, that's awesome, that's fun, but I get more excited about some of the big guys, the 280 , 300 pound guys that are really athletic freaks, and I think the kid from Minnesota, Ra’Shede Hageman, he's really going to be interesting.
He's 6 6, he's over 300 pounds, he was a high school basketball player. He's got freakish athletic ability and if he puts up the kind of numbers I think he can, in addition to [Jadeveon] Clowney, we're going to be talking about him. I think he's really going to be an interesting guy to watch. I think the tight ends this year…to me is a Top 10 pick and in today's NFL he might even go in the Top 10 just because of what he brings to the table.
Austin Seferian Jenkins from Washington, oh my goodness, does he have a great throwing radius but is he going to run in the 4 7 range or not.
Troy Niklas from Notre Dame, same kind of thing is how fast is he really. I could go right down the list, but I think some of those big defensive ends and linebacker guys are the ones that when it's all over, along with the very athletic tackles, believe it or not, they are the ones we are going to talk about.
Q. Want to see how you are breaking down those Top 3 tackles. The Falcons had some issues with blocking last year.
MAYOCK: You know what, I personally think they need to get an edge guy at six if they can and then go get the tackle later. But, if you want to know about those tackles, I think the safety pick in the offensive line is Jake Matthews from A&M. He's already a professional. He's got a skill set, you plug him in day one and he'll play at a high level.
I think Greg Robinson from Auburn might have the highest upside of any of the offensive linemen in this draft but he's not quite as polished as Matthews or Taylor Lewan. Taylor Lewan gets a little top heavy at times but he's got a nasty finish. I think he's very similar to [Eric] Fisher and [Luke] Joeckel from last year when who were the first couple picks.
So I think all of those guys are worthy of Top 10 picks and I think Robinson is the one with the highest upside but also the one you'll be the most concerned about because he's a little bit more raw.
Q. Going up to get Clowney Mack and Barr would be there?
MAYOCK: Yeah, especially depending how quickly those quarterbacks go. If I'm an Atlanta fan, I'm rooting for three quarterbacks to go as fast as possible so I'm left with nothing but great position players.
Q. Kony Ealy from Missouri, what is your projection for what the best fit for him will be at the next level?
MAYOCK: As far as Ealy is concerned, ended up liking him more than I expected to, and I think he's a 4 3 defensive end. I don't really think he's an outside linebacker.
I think to compare him to, say, [Aldon] Smith who came out a couple years ago. He's not quite as athletic as Aldon Smith, but he's a little more physical, a little better against the run.
So I think he's probably a base 4 3 end and I think he'll go somewhere in that 20, 23 range in the first round.
Q. Would 14 be too high? The Bears need to do something on the defensive threat and with their fast rush.
MAYOCK: No, I don't think it's too high because when you're looking at the pure 4 3 ends in this draft, they are few and far between. Clowney is going to be gone, and Ealy is there at 14, and if he's there he's a good pick and the second and third round, the logical guys are from Oregon State and maybe even Trent Murphy from Stanford.
Q. Just wanted to get your impressions of two Wisconsin kids, the wide receiver Jared Abbrederis and Chris Borland?
MAYOCK: Borland is one of my two or three favorite players this draft and the way I came on him was funny, I was getting ready to do a Notre Dame game, I think I was doing homework on BYU and the tape I happened to put in was Wisconsin and I was like, this 44 is everywhere.
So I was kind of hooked on him early and every tape I've seen since then reinforces that he could have the ability to be the Kiko Alonso of this year's group. I think he's probably going to go in the second round.
I think he's going to start for whatever team takes him and as long as he stays healthy, he's just going to keep making plays. The kid makes plays. He's around the football all the time and I love watching him play football.
Abbrederis, if you put the Ohio State game in he makes the many people think [Bradley] Roby is a first round corner, and I think what I see with Abbrederis is a wide receiver that understands routes more than most wide receivers in college do. He gets in and out the breaks and he's got good speed. I think he's got to get stronger so he doesn't get beat up at the line of scrimmage. I think he's probably a third or fourth round pick.
Q. On Sammy Watkins
MAYOCK: Watkins is a special player, and I usually don't get too excited about wide receivers in the Top 10, but this kid is different.
He's physically explosive. He's got great hands. He's got good size. He's got very good speed and what I really, really liked about this kid is he's got toughness. He'll physically beat press coverage. He high points the ball. He's got a little attitude about him. He blocks people. You can see him getting pissed off during games and going after corners and safeties and linebackers.
So he's got an attitude like he wants to be the best player there is, and when you combine that with his physical ability, I think it's awesome. Now, as far as vertical threats, there are not in my Top 5, I think [Odell] Beckham from LSU is a tremendous wide receiver, has a chance to go late one to mid two. [Davante] Adams from Fresno, another kind of late one to late two type pick. I really like him as an outside receiver who is going to develop over time.
I think Paul Richardson from Colorado, he's undersized, probably won't go until the third round, a little bit like Mike Wallace, didn't have quite as much production but he slides. So there are some names to get you through three rounds anyway and [Allen] Robinson you can put in there from Penn State, also.
Q. You touched on Aaron Donald, and I just wondered, what do you think might push him out of the first round if he doesn't go in the first round and if you might be able to amplify your comments on Tom Savage and also wide receiver Allen Robinson and Devin Street.
MAYOCK: As far as Aaron Donald, he's a guy I loved at Senior Bowl and love him on tape and he's explosive and he's quick.
Now, the problem with the shorter defensive tackles is that when they don't win with their first move, they don't win with their quickness, they can get stuck on blocks because they don't have the length to get off the block. And that's the concern with Donald.
Now, I think this kid's tough enough, quick enough and disruptive enough that he still deserves to be a first round defensive tackle, so I'm a believer in the kid, but there are some people that think he's a second round defensive tackle, because of the lack of length.
Tom Savage, he's kicked around everywhere, he's been to a bunch of different colleges. But I finally got to see him this year stabilized in an offensive system for a year. He's a big, strong kid. I saw him throw the football in 8th grade. Him and my son played on the same All Star Team in eighth grade and I was like, wow, this kid for an eighth grader can really rip it.
Watching him this year, he's still a little bit all over the place. He has some accuracy issues at times, but he can really push the football down the field and he has not been in an offense long enough to really learn. So I think he's got some upside.
And then I think it was Allen Robinson and Devin Street. Robinson to me is a solid second round pick, good production, can get up the field, he has good strength and good size. I just want to see some more burst and the ability to separate.
And Devin Street, he had some injuries or ability issues, pretty solid college football player. I think he's mid to late draftable for the NFL.
Q. Two questions Louisiana related. With the Saints obviously cash strapped, as far as they may be really tough to work in free agency, so where do you think they could possibly look at that 27 spot? I know we talked a lot about best player available late in the draft and then two, just which of the LSU players can really stand out at the Combine? You've talked about Zach Mettenberger and you brought up Beckham.
MAYOCK: One of my favorite players in the draft is Jarvis Landry.
And when I look at those two wide receivers, Landry to me, with his toughness and ability to play inside or outside reminds me a little bit of Hines Ward. He's one of the physically toughest players in this draft, for any position. He catches everything, he's the kind of guy I'd like to have as a teammate, so I really like him.
I think the two defensive tackles [Ego Ferguson and Anthony Johnson], the two young guys have ability. I wish they had stayed in school longer. I think they could have been higher round picks, but if both of them are in the third round, it wouldn't stun me.
And that tailback at LSU [Jeremy Hill], just to finish for a second there, he's a gifted, gifted kid. I have him as my second tailback now. I don't think he's going to be the second tailback because of all his off the field stuff but he is really a gifted kid. As far as the Saints are concerned at 27, you're right, there's an awful lot of questions there, and you relate it to salary cap and late in the first round, who is left.
I think they have got to get better on that offensive line again. They have had issues there the last couple of years, and when they are really good, Drew Brees can step up in the pocket and it hasn't been quite as good. So at 27, it's just a matter of being nimble, trying to find who is the best offensive lineman left, with some of the guards, might make some sense, like the Yankee kid from Stanford, so they would all make sense to me and who knows what's going to happen with Jimmy Graham if they re sign him if they can't, they will.
Q. On Calvin Pryor and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.
MAYOCK: They are different players. For me, Calvin prior is like a bigger, stronger Bob Sanders. He flies around, he hits people, he explodes everywhere. I think he is a little better in the box than he is on the back end.
It might be just because of the way Louisville used him but that Ha Ha Clinton-Dix did, from the other hand, has got better range, and I think he's more of a deep third, deep half guy, he tackles well and he can invert up into the box. I think he's a complete player, so both of those guys, I wouldn't even blink if they went at No. 10. But it depends what flavor you're looking for because they are a little bit different type players.
Q. And on your receivers, if Sammt Watkins is gone or any other guys from a Top 10 caliber?
MAYOCK: In this draft, I'd have trouble saying they are going to go in the Top 10, but I think both of those guys are going to go 11 to 20.
Q. My question is about the Browns at No. 4 and which of the top quarterbacks you think would fit them best in terms of their division, the environment in which they play most of their games and Kyle Shanahan being on board.
MAYOCK: Yeah, you know what, I'm not sure the Browns know yet who the best one of those three is, are.
Because on one hand, you talk about being in that division is, and I live in the Philadelphia area so I get to see a lot of Baltimore Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and I know that you have to be able to throw the ball in the wind and the cold. You have to have big hands.
There's a lot of stuff about quarterback in those conditions. I think all of those Top 3 quarterbacks could play for the Cleveland Browns. Blake Bortles is kind of a bigger, stronger guy, and people think he's got the biggest arm. I'm not sure if he does or not. I want to see him live.
But I also think he's the least developed of the three. I think [Teddy] Bridgewater is the most ready to play NFL style quarterback in this draft and I think man sell has got that it factor where I don't think it matters if it's Cleveland, Seattle, Dallas, warm weather, cold weather, whatever. I think he's just going to be who he is.
So I understand what Shanahan's offense is and I understand what you're asking me, but I think all three of them could fit depending what they feel about each individual kid.
Q. Just wondering with the cornerback group and the Bengals at 24, just who you might see there out of that group and maybe how many can go in the first round?
MAYOCK: I think [Darqueze] Dennard and [Justin] Gilbert will be gone before Cincinnati is on the clock. Now, you hear me talk about flavors all the time, and with corners, that's very true, you know, what type of flavor are you looking for.
There are a lot of guys with potential first round talent out there, the [Loucheiz] Purifoy kid from Florida but he's had some off the field issues, [Marcus] Roberson from Florida had some injuries, Bradley Roby from Ohio State, some real good tape, some not so good tape.
I am a Kyle Fuller guy, I think he makes a ton of sense but we need to see what he runs. I have him ranked higher than most of the corners out there and like I said earlier why, I think [Jason] Verrett is the ideal nickel in this draft.
I think the top two guys will be gone and then it's just a matter of what Cincinnati and Paul Guenther and that new staff are looking for.
Q. Also because you've known Paul for a while, just how do you think he'll do as the defensive coordinator here?
MAYOCK: I think he'll do great. I mean, he was on Mike Zimmer’s hip for the last several years. He's had a tremendous background for a younger guy.
I think the players respect him. I think like the young linebacker just took Paul and his wife with him to Hawaii for the Pro Bowl which is awesome. He's earned respect and I think he'll do a great job.
Q. I think the Patriots two biggest needs are a defensive tackle and tight end, and let's assume they address both of those at the end of the first and second round. Is there a way to maximize the talent that they get, how would you go about that if you were making those draft picks based on how you expect the board to unfold?
MAYOCK: Interesting question, I think they are sitting there at 29 and obviously depending on how you look at this thing and what type of defensive tackle they are looking for, Louis Nix III and [Timmy] Jernigan are probably gone. Then [Dominique] Easley, the kid I really like from Florida, tore an ACL, his second ACL, so he's not going to go. He's one of those picks that the Patriots tend to get in like the third or fourth round for value, a first round guy later on.
I think [Ra’Shede] Hageman from Minnesota is the big question mark there. If he's still on the board, because he's an explosive kid, he could play a couple different slots and Coach Belichick likes those versatile guys. He's had some off the field questions attached to him but he's got a ton of ability and talent. If Hageman was sitting there, I think he'd be really interesting.
Now, the flipside of that is what happens with the tight ends. The North Carolina kid [Eric Ebron] is going to be long gone, and then there's a lot of different varying opinions on what you're looking for. [Austin] Seferian Jenkins, for lack of a better term, is built like [Rob] Gronkowski whereas [Jace] Amaro from Texas Tech is built more like [Aaron] Hernandez.
So there are a lot of people that like Amaro and point to him as that kind of guy. Depending on what you're looking for, and that's probably the kind of guy they are looking for, if he's sitting there and they like him, he would be logical at 29 and I think the other guy would be Hageman. Outside of that, I think the other top guys are going to be gone.
Q. Michael Sam, I assume you don't have him in the pure 4 3 defensive end category. How would you evaluate him, strength and weaknesses also is there a current player you think his skill set and size sort of emulate a little bit?
MAYOCK: Well, he's a tweener and I think that's why people are having trouble with the evaluation.
And I saw him on Missouri his tape and then again at Senior Bowl and what I saw was a guy that's a natural edge rush guy. He's much better going forward than he is backwards. He's got a little bit of explosion off the edge, but he doesn't have the length.
So he's got linebacker size, but he's got physical skill set of a defensive end. He's a tough fit.
So what I see is a situational pass rush, not an every down player but a situational pass rusher that also can become a core special teams player and I think he goes somewhere in the third to the fifth round.
Off the top of my head, I'm not sure, I think [LaMarr] Woodley is a little bit longer than he is, and a little more explosive, and he's a higher graded guy, so it's hard for me off the top of my head. But he's really kind of tight hipped and I don't think he can play linebacker.
Q. You've talked a little bit about Manziel and everybody is wondering if you're the Texans and you're Bill O'Brien and you're general manager Rick Smith, is it as simple as you've got to find the quarterback who is NFL ready? You mentioned Teddy Bridgewater, or Manziel with his local connections and the "It" factor you mentioned, if he is close to Bridgewater, does that become impossible to pass up from an organizational standpoint?
MAYOCK: An interesting question, because it really comes down to whether or not ownership gets involved.
And from my perspective, ownership should never push a draft pick, especially the first pick in a draft on a coaching staff. It's great when all the world comes together and everybody believes in the same kid and he happens to come from that backyard.
However, I don't think it matters whether or not he's a local kid. I think the important thing is to get the pick right and if they are not in love with any of those three quarterbacks, this is one of the best position Top 10s I've ever seen, and either pick and I'm taking a position kid or trading down makes a ton of sense for these guys.
A, they have to believe in one of those three kids. B, they have to say forget the whole local attraction thing. The most important thing is to build for the future and win football games. That will take care of itself as long as you're winning games.
Q. Since '98, we've had quarterbacks if they are anywhere near that good, they go No. 1. If Clowney goes No. 1, there have not been a lot of defensive players gone No. 1. What convinces you that this kid has got the talent and maybe the physical or mental makeup to make it with the pressure or what gives you pause that maybe he doesn't have that?
MAYOCK: You talking about Clowney?
Q. Yes.
MAYOCK: I know that he's got the physical makeup to be the best player in the draft. If you want to compare him to Mario Williams, I think he's a better football player with more upside than when Mario came out of college and he was obviously the first pick.
So from a physical skill set, this kid is as freaky as they come. He plays a position of critical importance in today's NFL which is an ability to get the quarterback. He can play multiple places on the defense, so all those things check off.
My biggest concern is just what's his mental makeup and how important is it to him when he gets a big paycheck to become the best player in football, or is he just going to be happy to be a millionaire.
So I think that's the most critical checking point here from an organization is finding out what the motivation, what kind of kid are they going to get. I know what the football player is when motivated. I just want to know what kind of kid I'm getting.
Q. With the Jets at 18, most earn thinks that they have to take a receiver there. Do you subscribe to that thinking and if so, which of the receivers with their varied skill sets that you alluded to earlier do you think would be a best fit for this system?
MAYOCK: Boy, I mean, they need some talent out there, all right, and I wouldn't be surprised at all if the Jets pick multiple wide receivers this year. If you are sitting there at 18, I had said earlier, I think you can have any one of three receivers sitting there; Marqise Lee fits in that side, then helps in the return game, versus the two big bodied guys, [Mike] Evans and [Kelvin] Benjamin. I think all three of them are talented enough to work with that group.
Curly is already a slot, Holmes is at the end of his career, Stephen Hill is an outside guy. I just think you pick less about X's and O's; which guy is the best football player.
My perspective would be you can't go wrong with either Marqise Lee or Mike Evans.
Q. I had a philosophical question about the evolution of left and right tackle. It seems there's a shrinking distinction in what is a left tackle and right tackle for a various number of reasons. I guess the first question is: Do you subscribe to the theory that the difference between the two is shrinking, and if so what are the biggest contributing factors to that?
MAYOCK: It's an interesting question and I'll take it a step further. Not only are they shrinking, which I agree with, but I think the second most important position on the offensive line might be center.
So what I think we're seeing is that the old days, the defensive always line their best pass rusher up against the left tackle with the theory being it's the blind side of the quarterback, the offense would have to protect the blind side, and in the old days they lined up that way every snap every game.
Now we are seeing defenses getting much more creative, moving guys around, trying to get mismatches wherever they can, overload wherever they can. And sometimes they will put somebody over against a left tackle that they know can't win because they don't care. They will figure, we will try to overwhelm the right side.
So having said all of that, it's gotten a lot closer, the left tackle and the right tackle. The right tackle better be able to pass protect but I also think if you talk to any of the Peyton Manning, Tom Brady type of quarterbacks that are drop back quarterbacks, the thing that bothers them the most is immediate pressure up the middle.
I think the center and that interior offensive line has become more important and the center, because on top of that, they are calling the protections and coordinating the lines. I would say that left tackle followed by center and then right tackle, but it's getting closer and closer to all five up front.
Q. With the Raiders having pretty much a clean slate in terms of salary cap and a full complement of draft picks, how do you expect Reggie McKenzie to proceed with rebuilding this team and who makes the most sense do you think at No. 5?
MAYOCK: Who makes the most sense is a quarterback if there's one there that they believe in and I don't think there's any doubt about that. I was sitting here the other day looking at the Raiders' roster, and in big letters I wrote, "No. 5, quarterback," then "best player available."
They have got to get the quarterback if possible and they do have so many needs that I think they can't get all locked into, oh, we have to get a wide out with the second round pick or we have to get an offensive lineman.
I think they have got to go get football players, and I think you're 100 percent right that now the salary cap issue has changed, I think this is the most critical year for the Raiders in my memory, because they have kind of been through purgatory and now they have got to get out of there and they have to make great decisions on; A, re signing their own players; B, on signing new free agents; and then C, they have to come out of this draft preferably with the quarterback that they can develop and base their entire football team around.
Q. Wondering about Khalil Mack, could he fit into a 4 3 scheme much like the Buccaneers are going to play, or do you think he's strictly an outside linebacker and a 3 4?
MAYOCK: No, I think he could play with his skill set and his ability to drop, his ability to I think he could play SAM or WILL to be honest with you. He's 6 3, 248. You could line him up on a tight end and he'd be okay.
I think the important thing is that if you are drafting him as a 4 3 team you have to make sure that in nickel and sub situations, you're freeing him up to go get the quarterback and in today's NFL, because of the versatility in defenses, I think that's fine.
4 3 teams are doing all kind of different things in sub packages, and I think the most important I think that's why I kind of changed the way I the verbiage I use, and just call them edge shots. I think he's the most after [Jadeveon] Clowney, I think he's the most gifted edge guy in this class, and I think regardless of your scheme, you need to draft them and play them.
Q. What do you like for the Buccaneers at 7? What would you do there if you were running that team?
MAYOCK: I think first and foremost, they do need an edge guy. If [Khalil] Mack was sitting there, he and an offensive tackle would be of interest to me. Now, what I think is interesting on top of that, and again, one or two of those offensive tackles should be there, but I think they also need a new age tight end went number seven and gave your quarterback another weapon, I'd be all for it.
Q. The Eagles last two drafts have been pretty good, and they have talked to finally having the right process, which they mean taking the best player available rather than drafting for need, which they did earlier. When you look at their last two drafts, do you see that as being a key to their success and can you completely disregard need when you're drafting?
MAYOCK: You know, I don't think it's one or the other. I think it's a common sense approach to, okay, just pick a number. Let's say we're picking in the second round at 46 and I have no idea where the Eagles are.
But you're picking at a number, you know what your team needs are and you know what your board says as far as the next best player available on your board. Now, if you're picking 46 and the 21st best player on the board is still sitting there, yet you've got a player at a position of need that's ranked 47th, I think you're crazy if you don't get the guy that's ranked 21. You're just diluting your overall team talent.
I think some teams still subscribe to the best player available at a position of need, and I think that's what the Eagles used to be, and I think you get in trouble there.
So I think it's a little bit of common sense. If it's two players rated in the same area, sure, you pick the position of need. But if there's two players, one who is ranked 20 or 30 slots above another, you're crazy to take a lower ranked player.
Q. I wanted to circle back to Kony Ealy, I saw he was your second ranked defensive end. What stands out about him?
MAYOCK: I mean, nine-and-a-half sacks this year, three forced fumbles. The tape I really liked on him was Texas A&M. I thought he had a great game against [Jake] Matthews and he was a natural edge guy with speed, he had good get off, he had natural bend, he had an ability to dip under offensive tackles. He had some toughness. He's physical, he hustles. He played all across the front depending on the game. I saw him play some nose tackle later in the season.
So I think he's a hustles, plays hard, has some natural edge ability and in today's NFL, that all adds up to a first round pick for me.
(to be continued...)