…An Interview With:
MIKE MAYOCK
THE MODERATOR: Mike is a former draft
pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers and played for the
New York Giants for a couple of years and has
made a career as a broadcaster for CBS, ESPN
and now NFL Network the past three years. We
bill him as our draft guru, he’s covered the
Combine for us and Senior Bowl and has been
on college football his entire career with us. So
without further ado, Mike, I'll turn it over to you.
MIKE MAYOCK: Thanks. I'm going to
throw it open to you in a second. Really, I have
not done a formal mock draft. I reveal that next
week, seven, eight, nine teams, four nights in a
row on our Total Access show at 7 PM ET. I'd be
happy to talk about any player in the country you'd
like to talk about. I'd be happy to talk about any
teams you'd like to talk about. Really, the floor is
yours, go ahead.
Q. I don't know if you just heard there
was a trade where the 49ers acquired a second
first round pick, so they have 6 and 22 right
now. What would you anticipate a trade ten
days before the draft to acquire a second first
round pick would mean?
MIKE MAYOCK: For the 49ers, you
mean?
Q. Yes, for the 49ers?
MIKE MAYOCK: It's kind of interesting,
because what Denver did there, kind of anticipated
that from a couple of teams in that 20 to 30 range,
with the theory being in this draft this year, there's
a vast similarity between the picks, say, between
20 and 40. There's an awful lot of good depth in
there and a lot of teams have talked about moving
out of there and talked about trying to stockpile
picks. So it didn't surprise me at all Denver chose
to do that especially with their extra first round pick.
As far as the 49ers in, my head at No. 6 I
think they are going to go after the tight end,
Vernon Davis, who would immediately help that
football team given the fact that they have average
wide receivers and a young quarterback. I think
that would really help them. At No. 22, I think
because there's depth at the corner position in this
draft, I think there's a good chance that they are
trying to move up and make sure that they can get
one of those corners that's going to come off the
board between 20 and 30.
Q. Would you anticipate that they could
use those two picks to move up into the
top three or four?
MIKE MAYOCK: I think what they are
trying to do is not package them and move up.
The reality is, I think trying to move up from 6 to
pick a player at 3 or 4, you're going to have to give
up that other first round pick and maybe a little bit
more. I think they have got multiple needs that
have to be addressed and if they were able to
come away with Vernon Davis at No. 6 and a top
corner at 22, I think they would be real happy.
Q. In the context of the spread option
offense, do you see a number of teams actually
incorporating part of that offense in the NFL?
Part of the conversation was that is team that
innovation is moving up from the high school
and college ranks to the NFL; whereas, 15
years ago, it was the opposite.
MIKE MAYOCK: I really don't see that as
happening. With Vince Young, I think a team is
probably going to try to take advantage of what he
does athletically, but that spread option offense is
an incredibly simple offense. And from a defensive
perspective in the NFL, I think the last thing you
want -- and I could give you the names of 31
defensive coordinators that would love Vince
Young to run the ball 15 or 20 times a game.
Q. You're rating of Cutler as the No. 1
QB has drawn some controversy. What is it
about him that you rate him or what did you
see at the Combine or Senior Bowl to back
your rating?
MIKE MAYOCK: I got a phone call back in
September from a guy who is a good friend of
mine, a high ranking scout in the NFL, and he said,
"You'd better throw some Vanderbilt tape on." This
is back in September. He said, "Tell me if I'm
seeing this right or if I'm off base but I think this kid
would be special."
I threw on a couple of September tapes and a
couple of his junior tapes and I fell over. I couldn't
believe the arm strength, the release, the
toughness. What really stood out to me and this is
all the way back in September now, the fact that he
stood in there, got smacked in the face and
consistently delivered the football.
My perception on this kid is biggest arm in
the draft, quickest release in the draft, he's a
three-time captain, he's a smart kid, he's a tough
kid. Does he have some technical issues that he's
got to clean up? Absolutely. But I have watched
every one of his game tapes. Senior Bowl to me
reinforced the arm strength and the difference
between him and everybody else. And he's more
athletic than people think. So I don't take anything
away from Leinart or Vince Young, who are very
special in different ways. But I think four years
from now, you're going to look back and see that
this kid is the best of the three.
Q. This is a bit of a risk by you, but are
you concerned that if this doesn't pan out the
way you see it that it could affect your
credibility going forward or are you that
comfortable with your analysis?
MIKE MAYOCK: I'm not concerned in the
least. I'm the guy that last year thought that Aaron
Rodgers was going to fall to 24 and I got laughed
at pretty heavily the week before the draft. And
Aaron Rodgers fell to 24.
So to me, compared to that, this is nothing.
What I'm telling people is what I truly believe. And
he might not be the first quarterback to go, I'm not
trying to say he's the first one off the board. What I
am tying to say is that I think he's going to be the
best pro.
Q. Do you think that Vince Young's
choice of representation has hurt him at all or
will hurt him at all?
MIKE MAYOCK: I don't know if it will hurt
him at all. Major Adam has some -- inaudible -- of
feeling. I know he's got one of the Philadelphia
Eagles -- I believe Sheldon Brown --
Q. Michael Lewis.
MIKE MAYOCK: Michael Lewis, I
apologize. My question about representation has
been that I didn't understand what he was doing in
that ESPN Made For Television Skills Contest. To
me that was a situation where he had absolutely
nothing to gain and everything to lose. I thought
he showed poorly in that skills competition. Yet, he
wouldn't work out at the Combine in front of 32
NFL head coaches and general managers. I
thought they were inconsistent and curious
decisions. Now what happens going forward as far
as negotiated contracts, I have no idea.
Q. Speaking of people who have
different opinions than you about Cutler,
obviously this is the first year NFL Network is
going to be side-by-side doing the Draft itself,
will you feel some competition with them or
Kiper in particular in terms of trying to make a
mark as these two different entities present the
same event simultaneously?
MIKE MAYOCK: I've had that question a
bunch in the last couple of weeks, and the reality
to me is -- I'm a football guy. I'm the son of a
coach, I love the game, I love watching tape. I
have so much respect for what ESPN has done the
last 26 or 27 years. I feel Mel Kiper the last 12 or
14 years, I have a ton of respect for Mel. We are
going to do things a little bit differently in general.
I'm going to do things a little bit different
specifically. It's just going to give the viewer
another option. The viewer can watch both and
choose. I don't feel any kind of competition
individually whatsoever.
Q. I don't know if this is in your
wheelhouse or not, but the big increase in
salary cap this year, there's a lot of numbers
being thrown around, especially from Bush's
camp on how much of a signing bonus he may
be due, and if the Saints hold onto their No. 2
pick, what kind of money are they looking at?
MIKE MAYOCK: If we are talking salary
caps and bonuses, I'm going to defer on this one.
Q. Can you tell me what your opinion is
on Marcus Vick, obviously as an athlete and
what he can do, and also with the baggage that
he brings into the draft and where do you think
he might fall to?
MIKE MAYOCK: That was well said. I
believe that as far as an athlete and a football
player, he's not as good an athlete as his older
brother. He's not as dangerous a runner as his
older brother, but he's got a little bit better innate
feel for the pass game than his brother had at this
time in his career.
Having said that, the term "baggage" you
used is a good one. I think there's a trend in the
NFL away from bad character guys, especially
because the teams that are winning a lot of games
like New England, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia,
Carolina, are typically character teams.
So I think teams are shying away from
those kind of guys. So I think Vick is going to be a
guy that if he had perfect character off the field,
you'd be talking about a late first day kind of
prospect. But given where he is, I think you're
talking about six, seventh, round, at best, and
maybe a priority free agent.
Q. What sort of players do you see
available for the Browns? They may take a 12.
MIKE MAYOCK: I played for Romeo years
ago. He was a special teams coach for the Giants,
and he's got that 3-4, Bill Belichick, Bill Parcells
philosophy. Despite the fact that they have got
McGinest in free agency, they are both old. I think
you are looking at either an outside linebacker like
Kamerion Wimbley from Florida State, I call a
poor man's DeMarcus Weir (ph) or perhaps a nose
tackle like a Haloti Ngata from Oregon. I think
those are the type of players that Romeo will be
looking for, he and Phil Savage, at No. 12 in the
first round.
Q. There's some thought maybe the
Cowboys might draft a quarterback even
though they have Tony Romo and Drew
Henson. What are your thoughts on the
quarterbacks after the Top 3, and the viability
of the Cowboys taking any of those guys, and if
you could also hit on what you think of this
class of wide receivers coming in, as well.
MIKE MAYOCK: I'll do that backwards.
The wide receiver class I've been expecting a little
bit of an attrition given the fact that last year there
were six, and the year before there were seven
that went in the first round. This is the payback
year with an awful lot of those under classmen
coming out, especially at the top end. I see two
wide receivers, Holmes and Chad Jackson as
definite first rounders, with Sinorice Moss a
possibility; I've got him on the cusp of the first and
second round. In a normal year, I wouldn't have
him in the first round. I think there's some pretty
good second and third round values at the wide
receiver position.
Regarding the Cowboys and the
quarterback situation, you know, given the
commitment to Henson and what Parcells thinks
about Romo, would they get a developmental
guy -- I'll tell you a guy that's moving up charts a
little bit is Kellen Clemens from Oregon. Got hurt,
missed a lot of his senior year. He's thrown the
ball extremely well on his pro day. A guy like
Campbell or Tarvaris Jackson from Alabama
State who is kind of raw; I think they are two logical
guys, and Clemens is a third or fourth rounder in
my opinion. Tarvaris Jackson a fourth or fifth
rounder. Clemens could step in earlier. Tarvaris
Jackson is a developmental guy.
Q. Did you say that you rate Jay Cutler
as the guy going to be the best pro of the
quarterbacks in draft?
MIKE MAYOCK: Yeah, I've been on the
record since September saying that he's the best
quarterback ultimately out of this draft class. Every
tape I've watched -- I've watched too much tape of
these three quarterbacks, and nothing's changed
my opinion throughout the whole Senior Bowl,
Combine, Pro Day.
I'll tell you how bad it is, guys. I was
watching Pro Day workout tape this morning, and
just to see if I'm missing anything. The bottom line
to me is Cutler, he's going to be the best pro.
Vince Young I have reservations on, not because
he's a great athlete and a great kid, and I could
care less about the wuderlick. But I do have a
concern about whether or not he'll ever get to the
next level as a sophisticated NFL quarterback.
And in 40 Super Bowls, there's never been a
scrambling quarterback that's won a Super Bowl.
Matt Leinart, I have a ton of respect for,
given the fact that he understands when and
where to throw the football. As a former defensive
back, those guys always scared me. He's got
average arm strength, great leadership, great
touch and accuracy. But for a Top-10 pick, I want
my Top-10 quarterback to have a better arm than
Leinart.
So in kind of a quick snapshot, that's my
overview of the three quarterbacks.
Q. One more question about these
quarterback I'd like to say that Roger Staubach
was a bit of a scrambler and he won the Super
Bowl.
MIKE MAYOCK: I would say that he
developed into a throwing quarterback and a
passing quarterback over time. But you're right
because that was his nickname, Roger the
Dodger.
Q. So back to Vince. I still have issues
trying to understand how Cutler is going to
outdo Vince in coming a quarterback because
it reminded me of some of the argument with
some of the quarterbacks, got so much hype
and never pan out. Can you give me
something with a little more meat on why Vince
isn't going to pan out compared to Cutler?
MIKE MAYOCK: Sure, I'd be happy to.
I've watched every coach's tape of all three
quarterbacks --
Q. In college --
MIKE MAYOCK: I'm trying to project it for
you into the NFL. I don't have any other tape that I
can watch other than their college tape. I watched
Vince Young, what I see is a very simplified
offense, that right option offense. He's got one,
maybe two reads; if it's not there, he tucks the ball
and he goes. Now, when that internal clock of his
goes off and he's in the pocket, whether that
pocket has broken down or not, he's out the gate.
And I can put some Ohio State tape on for
you and I can show you where the pocket is
perfect, but he will not look for a secondary or third
receiver, because that clock has gone off in his
head and he says, it's time to get out of here.
When a defense forces him to pull the ball
down and not scramble for big yardage, his
efficiency goes way down. So in my opinion and
this is really the crux of it, if you've got a Top-5
quarterback, or just Top-5 pick in the Draft at any
position, if you miss with that pick, you set your
franchise back three or four years, given the salary
cap structure. It's even more so at the quarterback
position. So you can't afford to miss.
When I look at Vince Young if I'm a
general manager, I'm not telling you that I don't
think -- he probably will go 3 to Tennessee. But
my point is if I'm the general manager, I'm not
pushing all my chips out to the middle of the table
and betting my franchise on this kid turning into an
advanced throwing quarterback in the NFL. I could
be wrong, but that's my opinion.
Q. Are you saying, then, that the NFL
does not want to teach a quarterback; they
want to bring in someone they can just plug in
right away?
MIKE MAYOCK: No, I'm not saying that at
all. I think that hopefully you get the best tutelage
in the world in the NFL, especially the quarterback
position and especially with a high draft pick. What
I'm saying is that some players are not able to
make the transition from runner to thrower, okay.
Some players are. Steve McNair has become a
great NFL quarterback who I respect as much as
any player in the game. Steve Young went from a
scrambler to a passing quarterback late in his
career and that's when they won Super Bowls. So
guys can develop.
I just look at Vince Young, and my
personal opinion is, if I had, again, to bet my
franchise on him, I'd be uncomfortable doing that.
And I think some teams will look at a Matt Leinart
and say, I feel a lot more comfortable there
because he comes out of a pro-style attack.
There's no fear of the unknown. He's been
coached by Pete Carroll, it's a pro-style attack, he
knows where and when to throw the ball, he can
look off a free safety, he can dunk to a third
receiver. So these are all factors going through
those coaches and general managers' minds that
have Top-10 picks. You've got three potential
franchise quarterbacks who all should go in that
Top-10.
Q. You mentioned Sinorice Moss on
the cusp of the first round; who at the
University of Miami who is most likely to be a
first rounder, and who projects the best pro
career in your opinion?
MIKE MAYOCK: Out of the University of
Miami, the kids that I really like, I like Rocky
McIntosh a lot, the linebacker. He's had some
durability issues. He's another kid that's on the
cusp of that first, second round. I think if he stays
healthy, he's got an opportunity to be to be one of
those typical Miami linebackers,
sideline-to-sideline, make plays.
Eric Winston is a guy that I have criticized
this year with the caveat that I thought he was a
tremendous tackle before he got hurt and that
knee operation. And typically I believe it takes you
two years to come back fully from that. So this
year was the first year. I had him projected as a
first round left tackle prior to the injury. I've got him
as a second round right tackle right now. Now,
he's the kind of kid with his athletic ability that
could end up an all-pro. I thought he struggled
with speed this year. He's got 32-inch arms which
is not good for a left tackle; that's three or four
inches shorter than what they would like. But he's
a kid that I think has tremendous upside because
he's a former tight end with great athletic ability.
We talked about Sinorice Moss, very
similar to his brother, doesn't have as much
production coming out of Miami as I'd like to see.
And Orien Harris is another kid that not many
people talk about, defensive tackle, could be a 3-4
defensive end. I see him as a second round pick
also, and maybe third round pick just because of
his return. Devon Hester is another kid with
tremendous potential. I don't know what the heck
position they are going to put him at but you know
somebody is going to draft him because of his
capability as a return guy. So he's another second
or third rounder and that's kinds of an overview of
the Hurricanes draft picks early on.
Q. What the Ravens might do at 13, will
they trade that or will somebody be there that
they just can't refuse?
MIKE MAYOCK: The Ravens at No. 13, a
lot of people are trying to talk about Winston
Justice. I don't see them being interested in
Winston Justice. I think a defensive tackle like
Haloti Ngata could slide to them and I think he
would be a guy given the fact that they lost
Cablioto (ph), I think he's a guy if he would be a
guy if he was sitting there at 13 they would be all
over him.
Outside of that, there's a lot of talk about
whether a quarterback will slide, and if the
quarterback, one of those three quarterbacks slid
like a Leinart or a Cutler, what would they do at
that point. I know or I believe that they are also
preparing for that eventuality.
Q. What do you think about the special
teams players, kickers and do you think any
will go on the second day or all be free agents?
MIKE MAYOCK: I always tease that I
don't really think they are even athletes so I don't
even evaluate them. I've got about three really
good friends that are special teams coaches in the
league, and to be really honest with you, I'm
scheduled to talk to them next week. I'd be lying if
I told you I knew anything about the punters or the
kickers.
Q. Could you talk about Ernie Simms
and maybe the linebacker group in general?
MIKE MAYOCK: Absolutely. I really
believe that Ernie Simms is the most explosive,
through-the-hips athlete in this draft. As far as an
outside linebacker is concerned, everybody has
got A.J. Hawk penciled in. I think Simms has the
most upside of any linebacker in the draft. Do I
think he's going to be exposed occasionally as a
rookie? Yes, he'll over pursue, get fooled on
play-action. But when he gets there, he's an
explosive hitter, he's going to make plays and I
think he can have the kind of impact early in his
career that a Derrick Brooks or a Jonathan
Vilma did.
So I'm a big Ernie Simms guy with the
caveat that he passes his medical because he's
got a history of concussions. The other for sure
first day outside linebacker is Chad Greenway
from Iowa. He can run, but didn't run as well as
people expected at the Combine but he's athletic,
6-2, 243, he's got tremendous upside. I don't see
him getting past Minnesota at 17.
Then the three outside linebackers that I
have on the cusp of 1 and 2 are Rocky McIntosh
from Miami, DeMeco Ryans from Alabama and --
inaudible.
Q. Do you believe that the New Orleans
Saints are going to draft Matt Leinart even
though they agreed to terms with Drew Brees?
MIKE MAYOCK: I think they are doing a
good job for keeping everything which they would
love to do. If they stay at No. 2, I don't believe it
will be a quarterback. I believe it will either be
Mario Williams or D'Brickashaw Ferguson. My
belief on Williams, even though they already have
two good defensive ends. I do believe that's a
good chance that Cutler could slide to No. 10. I
don't think he'd get past Arizona at No. 10, though.
Q. The Eagles are at 14 in the first
round and 45 in the second. Who do you think
might be there and how would you describe the
players you think might be there?
MIKE MAYOCK: I might tell you one thing
but Andy Read is going to tell you another. He's
an inside-out believer, and at 14, with Jon
Runyan's age, with Tra Thomas's history of
durability concerns, I think if Winston Justice is
there, he's real logical. I think a defensive tackle is
logical, Ngata or Bunkley. My guess is Bunkley
is gone in the Top 10. Ngata probably doesn't get
past Baltimore at 13, so they would have to trade
up. I would like to see them look at Santonio
Holmes. I think they need a playmaker on
offense, but I don't think they are willing to do that.
Defensively, I'd love to see them look at an
Ernie Simms or a linebacker, but again that's not
the Eagles' way. So I think they are going to focus
on Winston Justice or a defensive tackle. But
they are the general needs, whether it's at 14 or
45, that they have got to take care of, and you
might see them go with a running back a little
further down, I believe they three fourth round
picks. Gerald Riggs is an interesting guy who was
hurt most of his senior year, bigger back and might
satisfy a need in the fourth round for the Eagles.
Q. Justice has come out and said that
he's every bit as good as Ferguson, but do you
believe that's true or there's not much that
separates them?
MIKE MAYOCK: With all due respect to
Winston Justice, he didn't prove it on a
snap-by-snap basis throughout his career. So my
reaction is he's every bit as talented physically as
D'Brickashaw Ferguson, but he's inconsistent
and has a certain immaturity about him right now.
So for him to thrive, he needs to get an offensive
line coach that sits on his butt daily and demands
perfection, because he's a talented, talented kid,
but has not shown it on a consistent basis.
Q. Are there generalities you can draw
about the kind of guy Herm Edwards like to
have from his draft with the Jets, maybe
athletes or over guys with size and strength,
that kind of thing?
MIKE MAYOCK: Yeah, I think you can
draw some conclusions from Herm. You know,
Herm is a pretty tough guy, and Herm believes in
mental and physical toughness. Being a former
defensive back, he drafted a lot of defensive backs
in New York, and he did very well with the
defensive backs that he drafted in New York. So I
think that's a trend you're going to see continue in
Kansas City.
I think they have got to start to play some
defense out there if they ever want to get to the
Championship Game. So they need an edge
rusher, they need a couple defensive backs and
they can continue to beef up that linebacker core.
Q. If you were to rank the first round
core as 1, 2, 3, as far as readiness to play, how
would you rank them? You mentioned some
second and third round receivers you thought
were going to be there and be good values at
that point in the draft, could you elaborate on
those guys?
MIKE MAYOCK: Sure. As far as corners
are concerned, I've got 7 potential first rounders,
realistically five of them will go. I think Michael
Huff who can play free safety also is at the top of
most people's boards. I think Jonathan Joseph,
the junior from South Carolina has a love/hate
relationship. You either think he's going to be the
best corner in the draft or you can't stand him. Tye
Hill from Clemson had a tremendous Senior Bowl,
track guy, real quick feet. He could step in and be
that nickel corner that a lot of teams covet right
away. Antonio Cromartie from in Florida State,
he's starting to move up charts. Here is a guy that
started one game in three years, missed all of last
season with an ACL, but he's almost 6-3, 208
pounds ran a 2:4 :40 and they are making him
sound like he's the best DB to come out of there
since Deion Sanders. He's a guy that's going to go
somewhere between 20 and 25 and only has one
start in his career. Williams is an enigma, another
guy that either is a boom-or-bust candidate, either
All-Pro or a washout.
Jennings from Miami who I may have
neglected to mention earlier from the Miami
discussions, he's a first or second rounder with
quick feet, can step in and play that nickel
defender position, as can Richard Marshall from
Fresno. So that's a quick overview of the six or
seven corners but I think Michael Huff will be the
guy to get on the field immediately.
Q. What about those wide receivers?
MIKE MAYOCK: I think a guy that not a lot
of people talk about is Greg Jennings from
Western Michigan, high production, real quick, can
separate. I think he's a tremendous second round
value, nobody is talking a whole lot about him.
Demetrius Williams at Oregon, tall, thin, can
separate another second round player. Maurice
Stovall had a huge senior year at Notre Dame,
played for Charlie Weis this year, just became a
different kind of player dropping 15 pounds. I think
he's kind of a late second round, early third round
guy, 6-5, tremendous red zone asset. And then
Brandon Williams and Brandon Marshall, Brandon
Williams is at Wisconsin, great punt return guy,
and Brandon Marshall is the guy that some scouts
are teasingly calling baby T.O. out of central
Florida. Lit up the whole Senior Bowl and ran
about a 4:55 :40 so he's a big West Coast type of
receiver. I think they are the type of guys that a
guy at Oregon State might ask, they are the guys
that are pretty good values that can get on the field
and get some immediate production.
Q. What do you think of Jason Avant?
MIKE MAYOCK: I love him on tape. He's
taken a beating lately because he ran so poorly in
his Pro Day. He ran between 4-6 and 4-8 and he
had a cast on one hand because he apparently
broke it during the drill. I think he's a disciplined
runner with great hands but there are not a whole
lot of 4-7, 4-8 wide receivers getting drafted high in
this league.
Q. What about the safety coming out of
southern California, Darnell Bing, 6-2, almost
230, what about him?
MIKE MAYOCK: There's some mixed
opinion on him. I don't believe he's a first round
pick. Some people have him as second round,
some people have him in the third round. The
reason they don't have him as high as Huff (ph) is
because he has some coverage issues; he's 225
or 230. I almost think he would be better suited for
weak outside linebacker position, but I think he's
good enough that he can make a living as an
in-the-box, strong safety. He's a tough guy, but he
is a little bit limited on the coverage side. So I think
you're going to see him go kind of mid to late
second round with the possibility of sliding into the
third.
Q. Talking about wide receivers and a
lot of wide receivers in the first round have not
really panned out recently. Is there a reason
behind that, that they are not quite living up to
their billing?
MIKE MAYOCK: I would tell you that you
could pick a couple of names each year that don't
pan out. But I would say the majority of them the
last few years have done okay. There were six
taken last year, seven the year before, I would say
that Reggie Williams has not panned out. I would
say that Rashaun Woods has not panned out.
Besides that, you know, there have not been that
many busts.
But what I would also say is that I believe,
for the most part, it takes a wide receiver a good
two years to get comfortable an NFL offense.
There's so much more reading; that the defenses,
are so much more complicated. If you're not on
your same page with your quarterback, it doesn't
matter how fast you run and how great your hands
are. So you've got to give them a little type.
Michael Williams is another guy who I did not like
coming out of USC, and he struggled a little bit. So
I would say that -- it really takes two or three years
for these guys.
Q. Any receives coming out this year
that might make an immediate impact?
MIKE MAYOCK: Santonio Holmes has
ability because of his quickness and the run after
his catch ability to make the difference. That's the
key in the NFL. At the wide receiver position, who
can run after the catch, and I think Santonio
Holmes is one of those guys that you can put in
the slot, try to simplify it for him, and let him get
open, get the football, let him break a tackle and
go.
Q. What kind of impact can Vernon
Davis make right away?
MIKE MAYOCK: Special. I'm a big
believer that if you can get a tight end that can
stretch a defense vertically and give you some
blocking on top of it, you can change your whole
offense. Look at Kansas City and look at San
Diego. They have no wide receivers to speak of
that are perennial all-pros, yet they continue to
lead the league in total offense because they have
got great tight ends and great tailbacks. I look at
Vernon Davis and say here is a guy that's
ridiculous, 254 pounds, he's willing to block people.
That's why I think San Francisco is going to take
him at six because they have got average wide
receivers and he can help with young quarterbacks
and he can be a difference maker in the NFL.
Q. The Redskins might be in the market
or a weak side linebacker, you mentioned some
of the round two guys, anybody you think can
step in and play right away for Greg Williams?
MIKE MAYOCK: You're right, they have
one pick, I think of the first 152 picks or so. I think
a guy like Jon Alston from Stanford is the kind of
guy that could play in some Nickel in this case he
will situations for them and help them on special
teams. But beyond that, I don't think they are
going to get a whole lot of help.
Q. What about the Falcons?
MIKE MAYOCK: Atlanta did well last year
with some of those type of players. Michael Bollio
(ph) came in on special teams and then got to play
as a linebacker. Chauncey Davis, another guy like
that. So they have done pretty well with their mid
to late round guys to help them on special teams.
You know, I look at the safety position,
they picked up Lawyer Malloy and Chris Crocker.
Are they going to try to get a young safety -- and
this is a pretty good year for second and third
round safeties. I think a guy like Daniel Bollock
(ph) would help them immensely on special teams
and down the road as a starter.
Q. What about D’Quwell Jackson,
University of Maryland, any talks about what
teams are interested in him?
MIKE MAYOCK: Well, I'll tell you what,
when I put tape on of him, I think he's a first round
pick. I really like him a lot. Got to see him up
close at Senior Bowl. His stock has fallen a little
bit because he did not run that well. And I get
frustrated sometimes because to me he just looks
like a football player and I don't really care that he
ran a 4:07:5. I don't really care at all. I just see a
football player. I think he could slide into the
second round and the nice thing about him is he's
athletic enough as an inside linebacker and could
even stay on the field in nickel situations. He's the
kind of guy that I think could come in and play real
well early on for an NFL team.
Q. Do you see any late round
quarterback that might go and have an impact
in the league in a few years?
MIKE MAYOCK: Yeah, a couple of
interesting guys are Charlie Whitehurst from
Clemson. There's a medical issue on him with his
shoulder but he's a big, good-looking prototype
drop-back passer that can throw the heck out of
the ball with you he's been inconsistent. Croyle
from Alabama is a guy who can be a solid backup
in a certain type of offense, can be a starter down
the road. I already mentioned Clemens and
Tarvaris Jackson, both of whom I like a lot.
Then a couple of interesting kids to keep
your eye on is Darnell Hackney from UAB, reminds
me a lot of the backup down in Jacksonville, David
Garrard (ph). And then there's Bruce Eugene from
Grambling. If he doesn't make it at quarterback he
may make it at guard because he's six feet, 262.
Q. You had mentioned that you have
known Mel Kiper for about a dozen years.
What do you think of the job he does and how
his visibility opens doors for guys like you?
MIKE MAYOCK: I think Mel does a
fantastic job, because it doesn't matter whether it's
the first pick in the Draft or the 247th pick in the
draft, he knows the kid's bio off the top of his head,
and I give him a ton of credit for that. He's
well-prepared and he's been living it, breathing it,
sleeping it since he was a high school kid. So I
respect him and my hat is off to him.
The beauty in what I'm doing right now and
one of the reasons I'm doing it, and I thought of it a
little bit, I wanted to be a playbook analyst and
X&O analyst when I came to this network and they
said, you don't have a big enough name. You only
played in the NFL a couple years and nobody ever
heard of you. When he would like you to do some
college stuff and personnel evaluations. My dad is
a coach, I've been watching tape since I was ten
years old and the beauty of what I'm doing now,
courtesy of Mel Kiper, there are not a whole lot of
coaches and players retiring who want to be in
player personnel. So I've got a little job security
here.
Q. Could this be the year the Eagles
look at some of the quarterbacks?
MIKE MAYOCK: Yeah, I think it's time to
start thinking about that, I agree. They got rid of
Andy Hall, the kid from Delaware they bought into
for a couple of years. I think now is the time or
next year is the time, depending on whether or not
a kid catches their eye they have to start to groom
somebody for a couple of years down the road as
a No. 3, a degree.
Q. Do you have an opinion on Eric
Henderson, defensive end out of Georgia Tech
and where he may land or play in the NFL?
MIKE MAYOCK: Yeah, he is a defensive
end that has some pass rushing playability and
could play some outside linebacker. Most of the
teams I've talked to have got him in the fourth or
fifth round and I think that's probably where he's
going to end up.
Q. Has Vince Young's representatives
hurt his position or is more of that made than
what it is? And are there any guys
like DeMarcus Ware any guys would could
jump up high this year?
MIKE MAYOCK: Yeah, the DeMarcus
comparison is good, I loved him last year. This
year there is a guy who is white hot right now who I
gave a third round grade to and everybody is
telling me he's going to go between 12 and 20 and
that's Manny Lawson from North Carolina state,
the other end besides Mario Williams. I'm not
buying into the fact yet that that's what he is, but
he's a 4-3 defensive end that lit it up at the
Combine at 241 pounds. He ran a 4:40, he's a
work-out warrior. To me, DeMarcus showed me at
Senior Bowl a year ago he was a first round big.
Manny Lawson did not show me that. So it looks
like he's going to be a first round pick. I'm not
buying into it yet.
The other guy that will be a first round pick,
and I believe a good football player is Kamerion
Wimbley from Florida State, hands-down, 4-3
defensive end who will be a 3-4 outside linebacker.
I think he could go as early as number 12 to
Cleveland.
Q. As far as Vince Young's
representatives, there's been a lot of talk about
him being inexperienced, have they hurt --
MIKE MAYOCK: I answered this earlier,
but to give you the quick overview I thought they
made some poor decisions early. I don't know why
he went on that ESPN Skills Competition because
he had nothing to gain and everything to lose. But
the reality -- why he would do that and not the
Combine, I thought was inconsistent at best. The
reality is, he threw the ball well at his Pro Day. I
think he's going to be fine as far as Draft day. But
a lot of people in the league right now they he's
going to be 3 to Tennessee.
Q. What about Tamba Hali?
MIKE MAYOCK: I think there was more
media frenzy about Tamba Hali than 100% pure
substance. He's a really good football player that's
a 4-3 defensive end. He's got tweener size. He's
only about 261, 262. He probably can't stand up
and play outside linebacker. He's got a
tremendous first step, he's got a tremendous
motor, but I think he's probably going to be an
early second round pick. I like him a lot. It's just
that he's kind of an outside speed rusher that isn't
as big as people would like.
Q. Do you think Matt Leinart fired Lee
Steinberg, is that going to have any impact --
inaudible?
MIKE MAYOCK: I kind of laugh when I
hear those things about the agent and impacting
his draft status. No, I don't think it will have any
impact whatsoever. People are evaluating based
on his tape, his personal interviews and his
workouts.
Q. You mentioned the Redskins not
having a lot of picks -- inaudible -- have you
seen a team that doesn't help their depth at all?
MIKE MAYOCK: It's kind of like the old
days with George Allen. I agree with you and I'll
take it a step further. As active as they were in this
off-season and with the amount of money they
spent and I believe overspent on some of those
players, down the road, two, three, four years,
there's going to be hell to pay with the salary cap.
Q. Two questions about Florida State
players, Willie Reed, Leon Washington (ph)
both had injury problems. Your assessment of
where they may end up?
MIKE MAYOCK: Yeah, both of them are
on the rise. Both worked out well at the Combine,
had a good on campus work out. Willie Reed I
think because of his ability to separate in short
areas probably goes in the fourth round, and that's,
without a lot of college production. And Leon
Washington, the tailback, was highly rated going
into the season, a little heavy coming into it, didn't
have as good of a year as he should have. I think
he's probably going to climb back into the first day
and I have him in my third round right now.
MIKE MAYOCK
THE MODERATOR: Mike is a former draft
pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers and played for the
New York Giants for a couple of years and has
made a career as a broadcaster for CBS, ESPN
and now NFL Network the past three years. We
bill him as our draft guru, he’s covered the
Combine for us and Senior Bowl and has been
on college football his entire career with us. So
without further ado, Mike, I'll turn it over to you.
MIKE MAYOCK: Thanks. I'm going to
throw it open to you in a second. Really, I have
not done a formal mock draft. I reveal that next
week, seven, eight, nine teams, four nights in a
row on our Total Access show at 7 PM ET. I'd be
happy to talk about any player in the country you'd
like to talk about. I'd be happy to talk about any
teams you'd like to talk about. Really, the floor is
yours, go ahead.
Q. I don't know if you just heard there
was a trade where the 49ers acquired a second
first round pick, so they have 6 and 22 right
now. What would you anticipate a trade ten
days before the draft to acquire a second first
round pick would mean?
MIKE MAYOCK: For the 49ers, you
mean?
Q. Yes, for the 49ers?
MIKE MAYOCK: It's kind of interesting,
because what Denver did there, kind of anticipated
that from a couple of teams in that 20 to 30 range,
with the theory being in this draft this year, there's
a vast similarity between the picks, say, between
20 and 40. There's an awful lot of good depth in
there and a lot of teams have talked about moving
out of there and talked about trying to stockpile
picks. So it didn't surprise me at all Denver chose
to do that especially with their extra first round pick.
As far as the 49ers in, my head at No. 6 I
think they are going to go after the tight end,
Vernon Davis, who would immediately help that
football team given the fact that they have average
wide receivers and a young quarterback. I think
that would really help them. At No. 22, I think
because there's depth at the corner position in this
draft, I think there's a good chance that they are
trying to move up and make sure that they can get
one of those corners that's going to come off the
board between 20 and 30.
Q. Would you anticipate that they could
use those two picks to move up into the
top three or four?
MIKE MAYOCK: I think what they are
trying to do is not package them and move up.
The reality is, I think trying to move up from 6 to
pick a player at 3 or 4, you're going to have to give
up that other first round pick and maybe a little bit
more. I think they have got multiple needs that
have to be addressed and if they were able to
come away with Vernon Davis at No. 6 and a top
corner at 22, I think they would be real happy.
Q. In the context of the spread option
offense, do you see a number of teams actually
incorporating part of that offense in the NFL?
Part of the conversation was that is team that
innovation is moving up from the high school
and college ranks to the NFL; whereas, 15
years ago, it was the opposite.
MIKE MAYOCK: I really don't see that as
happening. With Vince Young, I think a team is
probably going to try to take advantage of what he
does athletically, but that spread option offense is
an incredibly simple offense. And from a defensive
perspective in the NFL, I think the last thing you
want -- and I could give you the names of 31
defensive coordinators that would love Vince
Young to run the ball 15 or 20 times a game.
Q. You're rating of Cutler as the No. 1
QB has drawn some controversy. What is it
about him that you rate him or what did you
see at the Combine or Senior Bowl to back
your rating?
MIKE MAYOCK: I got a phone call back in
September from a guy who is a good friend of
mine, a high ranking scout in the NFL, and he said,
"You'd better throw some Vanderbilt tape on." This
is back in September. He said, "Tell me if I'm
seeing this right or if I'm off base but I think this kid
would be special."
I threw on a couple of September tapes and a
couple of his junior tapes and I fell over. I couldn't
believe the arm strength, the release, the
toughness. What really stood out to me and this is
all the way back in September now, the fact that he
stood in there, got smacked in the face and
consistently delivered the football.
My perception on this kid is biggest arm in
the draft, quickest release in the draft, he's a
three-time captain, he's a smart kid, he's a tough
kid. Does he have some technical issues that he's
got to clean up? Absolutely. But I have watched
every one of his game tapes. Senior Bowl to me
reinforced the arm strength and the difference
between him and everybody else. And he's more
athletic than people think. So I don't take anything
away from Leinart or Vince Young, who are very
special in different ways. But I think four years
from now, you're going to look back and see that
this kid is the best of the three.
Q. This is a bit of a risk by you, but are
you concerned that if this doesn't pan out the
way you see it that it could affect your
credibility going forward or are you that
comfortable with your analysis?
MIKE MAYOCK: I'm not concerned in the
least. I'm the guy that last year thought that Aaron
Rodgers was going to fall to 24 and I got laughed
at pretty heavily the week before the draft. And
Aaron Rodgers fell to 24.
So to me, compared to that, this is nothing.
What I'm telling people is what I truly believe. And
he might not be the first quarterback to go, I'm not
trying to say he's the first one off the board. What I
am tying to say is that I think he's going to be the
best pro.
Q. Do you think that Vince Young's
choice of representation has hurt him at all or
will hurt him at all?
MIKE MAYOCK: I don't know if it will hurt
him at all. Major Adam has some -- inaudible -- of
feeling. I know he's got one of the Philadelphia
Eagles -- I believe Sheldon Brown --
Q. Michael Lewis.
MIKE MAYOCK: Michael Lewis, I
apologize. My question about representation has
been that I didn't understand what he was doing in
that ESPN Made For Television Skills Contest. To
me that was a situation where he had absolutely
nothing to gain and everything to lose. I thought
he showed poorly in that skills competition. Yet, he
wouldn't work out at the Combine in front of 32
NFL head coaches and general managers. I
thought they were inconsistent and curious
decisions. Now what happens going forward as far
as negotiated contracts, I have no idea.
Q. Speaking of people who have
different opinions than you about Cutler,
obviously this is the first year NFL Network is
going to be side-by-side doing the Draft itself,
will you feel some competition with them or
Kiper in particular in terms of trying to make a
mark as these two different entities present the
same event simultaneously?
MIKE MAYOCK: I've had that question a
bunch in the last couple of weeks, and the reality
to me is -- I'm a football guy. I'm the son of a
coach, I love the game, I love watching tape. I
have so much respect for what ESPN has done the
last 26 or 27 years. I feel Mel Kiper the last 12 or
14 years, I have a ton of respect for Mel. We are
going to do things a little bit differently in general.
I'm going to do things a little bit different
specifically. It's just going to give the viewer
another option. The viewer can watch both and
choose. I don't feel any kind of competition
individually whatsoever.
Q. I don't know if this is in your
wheelhouse or not, but the big increase in
salary cap this year, there's a lot of numbers
being thrown around, especially from Bush's
camp on how much of a signing bonus he may
be due, and if the Saints hold onto their No. 2
pick, what kind of money are they looking at?
MIKE MAYOCK: If we are talking salary
caps and bonuses, I'm going to defer on this one.
Q. Can you tell me what your opinion is
on Marcus Vick, obviously as an athlete and
what he can do, and also with the baggage that
he brings into the draft and where do you think
he might fall to?
MIKE MAYOCK: That was well said. I
believe that as far as an athlete and a football
player, he's not as good an athlete as his older
brother. He's not as dangerous a runner as his
older brother, but he's got a little bit better innate
feel for the pass game than his brother had at this
time in his career.
Having said that, the term "baggage" you
used is a good one. I think there's a trend in the
NFL away from bad character guys, especially
because the teams that are winning a lot of games
like New England, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia,
Carolina, are typically character teams.
So I think teams are shying away from
those kind of guys. So I think Vick is going to be a
guy that if he had perfect character off the field,
you'd be talking about a late first day kind of
prospect. But given where he is, I think you're
talking about six, seventh, round, at best, and
maybe a priority free agent.
Q. What sort of players do you see
available for the Browns? They may take a 12.
MIKE MAYOCK: I played for Romeo years
ago. He was a special teams coach for the Giants,
and he's got that 3-4, Bill Belichick, Bill Parcells
philosophy. Despite the fact that they have got
McGinest in free agency, they are both old. I think
you are looking at either an outside linebacker like
Kamerion Wimbley from Florida State, I call a
poor man's DeMarcus Weir (ph) or perhaps a nose
tackle like a Haloti Ngata from Oregon. I think
those are the type of players that Romeo will be
looking for, he and Phil Savage, at No. 12 in the
first round.
Q. There's some thought maybe the
Cowboys might draft a quarterback even
though they have Tony Romo and Drew
Henson. What are your thoughts on the
quarterbacks after the Top 3, and the viability
of the Cowboys taking any of those guys, and if
you could also hit on what you think of this
class of wide receivers coming in, as well.
MIKE MAYOCK: I'll do that backwards.
The wide receiver class I've been expecting a little
bit of an attrition given the fact that last year there
were six, and the year before there were seven
that went in the first round. This is the payback
year with an awful lot of those under classmen
coming out, especially at the top end. I see two
wide receivers, Holmes and Chad Jackson as
definite first rounders, with Sinorice Moss a
possibility; I've got him on the cusp of the first and
second round. In a normal year, I wouldn't have
him in the first round. I think there's some pretty
good second and third round values at the wide
receiver position.
Regarding the Cowboys and the
quarterback situation, you know, given the
commitment to Henson and what Parcells thinks
about Romo, would they get a developmental
guy -- I'll tell you a guy that's moving up charts a
little bit is Kellen Clemens from Oregon. Got hurt,
missed a lot of his senior year. He's thrown the
ball extremely well on his pro day. A guy like
Campbell or Tarvaris Jackson from Alabama
State who is kind of raw; I think they are two logical
guys, and Clemens is a third or fourth rounder in
my opinion. Tarvaris Jackson a fourth or fifth
rounder. Clemens could step in earlier. Tarvaris
Jackson is a developmental guy.
Q. Did you say that you rate Jay Cutler
as the guy going to be the best pro of the
quarterbacks in draft?
MIKE MAYOCK: Yeah, I've been on the
record since September saying that he's the best
quarterback ultimately out of this draft class. Every
tape I've watched -- I've watched too much tape of
these three quarterbacks, and nothing's changed
my opinion throughout the whole Senior Bowl,
Combine, Pro Day.
I'll tell you how bad it is, guys. I was
watching Pro Day workout tape this morning, and
just to see if I'm missing anything. The bottom line
to me is Cutler, he's going to be the best pro.
Vince Young I have reservations on, not because
he's a great athlete and a great kid, and I could
care less about the wuderlick. But I do have a
concern about whether or not he'll ever get to the
next level as a sophisticated NFL quarterback.
And in 40 Super Bowls, there's never been a
scrambling quarterback that's won a Super Bowl.
Matt Leinart, I have a ton of respect for,
given the fact that he understands when and
where to throw the football. As a former defensive
back, those guys always scared me. He's got
average arm strength, great leadership, great
touch and accuracy. But for a Top-10 pick, I want
my Top-10 quarterback to have a better arm than
Leinart.
So in kind of a quick snapshot, that's my
overview of the three quarterbacks.
Q. One more question about these
quarterback I'd like to say that Roger Staubach
was a bit of a scrambler and he won the Super
Bowl.
MIKE MAYOCK: I would say that he
developed into a throwing quarterback and a
passing quarterback over time. But you're right
because that was his nickname, Roger the
Dodger.
Q. So back to Vince. I still have issues
trying to understand how Cutler is going to
outdo Vince in coming a quarterback because
it reminded me of some of the argument with
some of the quarterbacks, got so much hype
and never pan out. Can you give me
something with a little more meat on why Vince
isn't going to pan out compared to Cutler?
MIKE MAYOCK: Sure, I'd be happy to.
I've watched every coach's tape of all three
quarterbacks --
Q. In college --
MIKE MAYOCK: I'm trying to project it for
you into the NFL. I don't have any other tape that I
can watch other than their college tape. I watched
Vince Young, what I see is a very simplified
offense, that right option offense. He's got one,
maybe two reads; if it's not there, he tucks the ball
and he goes. Now, when that internal clock of his
goes off and he's in the pocket, whether that
pocket has broken down or not, he's out the gate.
And I can put some Ohio State tape on for
you and I can show you where the pocket is
perfect, but he will not look for a secondary or third
receiver, because that clock has gone off in his
head and he says, it's time to get out of here.
When a defense forces him to pull the ball
down and not scramble for big yardage, his
efficiency goes way down. So in my opinion and
this is really the crux of it, if you've got a Top-5
quarterback, or just Top-5 pick in the Draft at any
position, if you miss with that pick, you set your
franchise back three or four years, given the salary
cap structure. It's even more so at the quarterback
position. So you can't afford to miss.
When I look at Vince Young if I'm a
general manager, I'm not telling you that I don't
think -- he probably will go 3 to Tennessee. But
my point is if I'm the general manager, I'm not
pushing all my chips out to the middle of the table
and betting my franchise on this kid turning into an
advanced throwing quarterback in the NFL. I could
be wrong, but that's my opinion.
Q. Are you saying, then, that the NFL
does not want to teach a quarterback; they
want to bring in someone they can just plug in
right away?
MIKE MAYOCK: No, I'm not saying that at
all. I think that hopefully you get the best tutelage
in the world in the NFL, especially the quarterback
position and especially with a high draft pick. What
I'm saying is that some players are not able to
make the transition from runner to thrower, okay.
Some players are. Steve McNair has become a
great NFL quarterback who I respect as much as
any player in the game. Steve Young went from a
scrambler to a passing quarterback late in his
career and that's when they won Super Bowls. So
guys can develop.
I just look at Vince Young, and my
personal opinion is, if I had, again, to bet my
franchise on him, I'd be uncomfortable doing that.
And I think some teams will look at a Matt Leinart
and say, I feel a lot more comfortable there
because he comes out of a pro-style attack.
There's no fear of the unknown. He's been
coached by Pete Carroll, it's a pro-style attack, he
knows where and when to throw the ball, he can
look off a free safety, he can dunk to a third
receiver. So these are all factors going through
those coaches and general managers' minds that
have Top-10 picks. You've got three potential
franchise quarterbacks who all should go in that
Top-10.
Q. You mentioned Sinorice Moss on
the cusp of the first round; who at the
University of Miami who is most likely to be a
first rounder, and who projects the best pro
career in your opinion?
MIKE MAYOCK: Out of the University of
Miami, the kids that I really like, I like Rocky
McIntosh a lot, the linebacker. He's had some
durability issues. He's another kid that's on the
cusp of that first, second round. I think if he stays
healthy, he's got an opportunity to be to be one of
those typical Miami linebackers,
sideline-to-sideline, make plays.
Eric Winston is a guy that I have criticized
this year with the caveat that I thought he was a
tremendous tackle before he got hurt and that
knee operation. And typically I believe it takes you
two years to come back fully from that. So this
year was the first year. I had him projected as a
first round left tackle prior to the injury. I've got him
as a second round right tackle right now. Now,
he's the kind of kid with his athletic ability that
could end up an all-pro. I thought he struggled
with speed this year. He's got 32-inch arms which
is not good for a left tackle; that's three or four
inches shorter than what they would like. But he's
a kid that I think has tremendous upside because
he's a former tight end with great athletic ability.
We talked about Sinorice Moss, very
similar to his brother, doesn't have as much
production coming out of Miami as I'd like to see.
And Orien Harris is another kid that not many
people talk about, defensive tackle, could be a 3-4
defensive end. I see him as a second round pick
also, and maybe third round pick just because of
his return. Devon Hester is another kid with
tremendous potential. I don't know what the heck
position they are going to put him at but you know
somebody is going to draft him because of his
capability as a return guy. So he's another second
or third rounder and that's kinds of an overview of
the Hurricanes draft picks early on.
Q. What the Ravens might do at 13, will
they trade that or will somebody be there that
they just can't refuse?
MIKE MAYOCK: The Ravens at No. 13, a
lot of people are trying to talk about Winston
Justice. I don't see them being interested in
Winston Justice. I think a defensive tackle like
Haloti Ngata could slide to them and I think he
would be a guy given the fact that they lost
Cablioto (ph), I think he's a guy if he would be a
guy if he was sitting there at 13 they would be all
over him.
Outside of that, there's a lot of talk about
whether a quarterback will slide, and if the
quarterback, one of those three quarterbacks slid
like a Leinart or a Cutler, what would they do at
that point. I know or I believe that they are also
preparing for that eventuality.
Q. What do you think about the special
teams players, kickers and do you think any
will go on the second day or all be free agents?
MIKE MAYOCK: I always tease that I
don't really think they are even athletes so I don't
even evaluate them. I've got about three really
good friends that are special teams coaches in the
league, and to be really honest with you, I'm
scheduled to talk to them next week. I'd be lying if
I told you I knew anything about the punters or the
kickers.
Q. Could you talk about Ernie Simms
and maybe the linebacker group in general?
MIKE MAYOCK: Absolutely. I really
believe that Ernie Simms is the most explosive,
through-the-hips athlete in this draft. As far as an
outside linebacker is concerned, everybody has
got A.J. Hawk penciled in. I think Simms has the
most upside of any linebacker in the draft. Do I
think he's going to be exposed occasionally as a
rookie? Yes, he'll over pursue, get fooled on
play-action. But when he gets there, he's an
explosive hitter, he's going to make plays and I
think he can have the kind of impact early in his
career that a Derrick Brooks or a Jonathan
Vilma did.
So I'm a big Ernie Simms guy with the
caveat that he passes his medical because he's
got a history of concussions. The other for sure
first day outside linebacker is Chad Greenway
from Iowa. He can run, but didn't run as well as
people expected at the Combine but he's athletic,
6-2, 243, he's got tremendous upside. I don't see
him getting past Minnesota at 17.
Then the three outside linebackers that I
have on the cusp of 1 and 2 are Rocky McIntosh
from Miami, DeMeco Ryans from Alabama and --
inaudible.
Q. Do you believe that the New Orleans
Saints are going to draft Matt Leinart even
though they agreed to terms with Drew Brees?
MIKE MAYOCK: I think they are doing a
good job for keeping everything which they would
love to do. If they stay at No. 2, I don't believe it
will be a quarterback. I believe it will either be
Mario Williams or D'Brickashaw Ferguson. My
belief on Williams, even though they already have
two good defensive ends. I do believe that's a
good chance that Cutler could slide to No. 10. I
don't think he'd get past Arizona at No. 10, though.
Q. The Eagles are at 14 in the first
round and 45 in the second. Who do you think
might be there and how would you describe the
players you think might be there?
MIKE MAYOCK: I might tell you one thing
but Andy Read is going to tell you another. He's
an inside-out believer, and at 14, with Jon
Runyan's age, with Tra Thomas's history of
durability concerns, I think if Winston Justice is
there, he's real logical. I think a defensive tackle is
logical, Ngata or Bunkley. My guess is Bunkley
is gone in the Top 10. Ngata probably doesn't get
past Baltimore at 13, so they would have to trade
up. I would like to see them look at Santonio
Holmes. I think they need a playmaker on
offense, but I don't think they are willing to do that.
Defensively, I'd love to see them look at an
Ernie Simms or a linebacker, but again that's not
the Eagles' way. So I think they are going to focus
on Winston Justice or a defensive tackle. But
they are the general needs, whether it's at 14 or
45, that they have got to take care of, and you
might see them go with a running back a little
further down, I believe they three fourth round
picks. Gerald Riggs is an interesting guy who was
hurt most of his senior year, bigger back and might
satisfy a need in the fourth round for the Eagles.
Q. Justice has come out and said that
he's every bit as good as Ferguson, but do you
believe that's true or there's not much that
separates them?
MIKE MAYOCK: With all due respect to
Winston Justice, he didn't prove it on a
snap-by-snap basis throughout his career. So my
reaction is he's every bit as talented physically as
D'Brickashaw Ferguson, but he's inconsistent
and has a certain immaturity about him right now.
So for him to thrive, he needs to get an offensive
line coach that sits on his butt daily and demands
perfection, because he's a talented, talented kid,
but has not shown it on a consistent basis.
Q. Are there generalities you can draw
about the kind of guy Herm Edwards like to
have from his draft with the Jets, maybe
athletes or over guys with size and strength,
that kind of thing?
MIKE MAYOCK: Yeah, I think you can
draw some conclusions from Herm. You know,
Herm is a pretty tough guy, and Herm believes in
mental and physical toughness. Being a former
defensive back, he drafted a lot of defensive backs
in New York, and he did very well with the
defensive backs that he drafted in New York. So I
think that's a trend you're going to see continue in
Kansas City.
I think they have got to start to play some
defense out there if they ever want to get to the
Championship Game. So they need an edge
rusher, they need a couple defensive backs and
they can continue to beef up that linebacker core.
Q. If you were to rank the first round
core as 1, 2, 3, as far as readiness to play, how
would you rank them? You mentioned some
second and third round receivers you thought
were going to be there and be good values at
that point in the draft, could you elaborate on
those guys?
MIKE MAYOCK: Sure. As far as corners
are concerned, I've got 7 potential first rounders,
realistically five of them will go. I think Michael
Huff who can play free safety also is at the top of
most people's boards. I think Jonathan Joseph,
the junior from South Carolina has a love/hate
relationship. You either think he's going to be the
best corner in the draft or you can't stand him. Tye
Hill from Clemson had a tremendous Senior Bowl,
track guy, real quick feet. He could step in and be
that nickel corner that a lot of teams covet right
away. Antonio Cromartie from in Florida State,
he's starting to move up charts. Here is a guy that
started one game in three years, missed all of last
season with an ACL, but he's almost 6-3, 208
pounds ran a 2:4 :40 and they are making him
sound like he's the best DB to come out of there
since Deion Sanders. He's a guy that's going to go
somewhere between 20 and 25 and only has one
start in his career. Williams is an enigma, another
guy that either is a boom-or-bust candidate, either
All-Pro or a washout.
Jennings from Miami who I may have
neglected to mention earlier from the Miami
discussions, he's a first or second rounder with
quick feet, can step in and play that nickel
defender position, as can Richard Marshall from
Fresno. So that's a quick overview of the six or
seven corners but I think Michael Huff will be the
guy to get on the field immediately.
Q. What about those wide receivers?
MIKE MAYOCK: I think a guy that not a lot
of people talk about is Greg Jennings from
Western Michigan, high production, real quick, can
separate. I think he's a tremendous second round
value, nobody is talking a whole lot about him.
Demetrius Williams at Oregon, tall, thin, can
separate another second round player. Maurice
Stovall had a huge senior year at Notre Dame,
played for Charlie Weis this year, just became a
different kind of player dropping 15 pounds. I think
he's kind of a late second round, early third round
guy, 6-5, tremendous red zone asset. And then
Brandon Williams and Brandon Marshall, Brandon
Williams is at Wisconsin, great punt return guy,
and Brandon Marshall is the guy that some scouts
are teasingly calling baby T.O. out of central
Florida. Lit up the whole Senior Bowl and ran
about a 4:55 :40 so he's a big West Coast type of
receiver. I think they are the type of guys that a
guy at Oregon State might ask, they are the guys
that are pretty good values that can get on the field
and get some immediate production.
Q. What do you think of Jason Avant?
MIKE MAYOCK: I love him on tape. He's
taken a beating lately because he ran so poorly in
his Pro Day. He ran between 4-6 and 4-8 and he
had a cast on one hand because he apparently
broke it during the drill. I think he's a disciplined
runner with great hands but there are not a whole
lot of 4-7, 4-8 wide receivers getting drafted high in
this league.
Q. What about the safety coming out of
southern California, Darnell Bing, 6-2, almost
230, what about him?
MIKE MAYOCK: There's some mixed
opinion on him. I don't believe he's a first round
pick. Some people have him as second round,
some people have him in the third round. The
reason they don't have him as high as Huff (ph) is
because he has some coverage issues; he's 225
or 230. I almost think he would be better suited for
weak outside linebacker position, but I think he's
good enough that he can make a living as an
in-the-box, strong safety. He's a tough guy, but he
is a little bit limited on the coverage side. So I think
you're going to see him go kind of mid to late
second round with the possibility of sliding into the
third.
Q. Talking about wide receivers and a
lot of wide receivers in the first round have not
really panned out recently. Is there a reason
behind that, that they are not quite living up to
their billing?
MIKE MAYOCK: I would tell you that you
could pick a couple of names each year that don't
pan out. But I would say the majority of them the
last few years have done okay. There were six
taken last year, seven the year before, I would say
that Reggie Williams has not panned out. I would
say that Rashaun Woods has not panned out.
Besides that, you know, there have not been that
many busts.
But what I would also say is that I believe,
for the most part, it takes a wide receiver a good
two years to get comfortable an NFL offense.
There's so much more reading; that the defenses,
are so much more complicated. If you're not on
your same page with your quarterback, it doesn't
matter how fast you run and how great your hands
are. So you've got to give them a little type.
Michael Williams is another guy who I did not like
coming out of USC, and he struggled a little bit. So
I would say that -- it really takes two or three years
for these guys.
Q. Any receives coming out this year
that might make an immediate impact?
MIKE MAYOCK: Santonio Holmes has
ability because of his quickness and the run after
his catch ability to make the difference. That's the
key in the NFL. At the wide receiver position, who
can run after the catch, and I think Santonio
Holmes is one of those guys that you can put in
the slot, try to simplify it for him, and let him get
open, get the football, let him break a tackle and
go.
Q. What kind of impact can Vernon
Davis make right away?
MIKE MAYOCK: Special. I'm a big
believer that if you can get a tight end that can
stretch a defense vertically and give you some
blocking on top of it, you can change your whole
offense. Look at Kansas City and look at San
Diego. They have no wide receivers to speak of
that are perennial all-pros, yet they continue to
lead the league in total offense because they have
got great tight ends and great tailbacks. I look at
Vernon Davis and say here is a guy that's
ridiculous, 254 pounds, he's willing to block people.
That's why I think San Francisco is going to take
him at six because they have got average wide
receivers and he can help with young quarterbacks
and he can be a difference maker in the NFL.
Q. The Redskins might be in the market
or a weak side linebacker, you mentioned some
of the round two guys, anybody you think can
step in and play right away for Greg Williams?
MIKE MAYOCK: You're right, they have
one pick, I think of the first 152 picks or so. I think
a guy like Jon Alston from Stanford is the kind of
guy that could play in some Nickel in this case he
will situations for them and help them on special
teams. But beyond that, I don't think they are
going to get a whole lot of help.
Q. What about the Falcons?
MIKE MAYOCK: Atlanta did well last year
with some of those type of players. Michael Bollio
(ph) came in on special teams and then got to play
as a linebacker. Chauncey Davis, another guy like
that. So they have done pretty well with their mid
to late round guys to help them on special teams.
You know, I look at the safety position,
they picked up Lawyer Malloy and Chris Crocker.
Are they going to try to get a young safety -- and
this is a pretty good year for second and third
round safeties. I think a guy like Daniel Bollock
(ph) would help them immensely on special teams
and down the road as a starter.
Q. What about D’Quwell Jackson,
University of Maryland, any talks about what
teams are interested in him?
MIKE MAYOCK: Well, I'll tell you what,
when I put tape on of him, I think he's a first round
pick. I really like him a lot. Got to see him up
close at Senior Bowl. His stock has fallen a little
bit because he did not run that well. And I get
frustrated sometimes because to me he just looks
like a football player and I don't really care that he
ran a 4:07:5. I don't really care at all. I just see a
football player. I think he could slide into the
second round and the nice thing about him is he's
athletic enough as an inside linebacker and could
even stay on the field in nickel situations. He's the
kind of guy that I think could come in and play real
well early on for an NFL team.
Q. Do you see any late round
quarterback that might go and have an impact
in the league in a few years?
MIKE MAYOCK: Yeah, a couple of
interesting guys are Charlie Whitehurst from
Clemson. There's a medical issue on him with his
shoulder but he's a big, good-looking prototype
drop-back passer that can throw the heck out of
the ball with you he's been inconsistent. Croyle
from Alabama is a guy who can be a solid backup
in a certain type of offense, can be a starter down
the road. I already mentioned Clemens and
Tarvaris Jackson, both of whom I like a lot.
Then a couple of interesting kids to keep
your eye on is Darnell Hackney from UAB, reminds
me a lot of the backup down in Jacksonville, David
Garrard (ph). And then there's Bruce Eugene from
Grambling. If he doesn't make it at quarterback he
may make it at guard because he's six feet, 262.
Q. You had mentioned that you have
known Mel Kiper for about a dozen years.
What do you think of the job he does and how
his visibility opens doors for guys like you?
MIKE MAYOCK: I think Mel does a
fantastic job, because it doesn't matter whether it's
the first pick in the Draft or the 247th pick in the
draft, he knows the kid's bio off the top of his head,
and I give him a ton of credit for that. He's
well-prepared and he's been living it, breathing it,
sleeping it since he was a high school kid. So I
respect him and my hat is off to him.
The beauty in what I'm doing right now and
one of the reasons I'm doing it, and I thought of it a
little bit, I wanted to be a playbook analyst and
X&O analyst when I came to this network and they
said, you don't have a big enough name. You only
played in the NFL a couple years and nobody ever
heard of you. When he would like you to do some
college stuff and personnel evaluations. My dad is
a coach, I've been watching tape since I was ten
years old and the beauty of what I'm doing now,
courtesy of Mel Kiper, there are not a whole lot of
coaches and players retiring who want to be in
player personnel. So I've got a little job security
here.
Q. Could this be the year the Eagles
look at some of the quarterbacks?
MIKE MAYOCK: Yeah, I think it's time to
start thinking about that, I agree. They got rid of
Andy Hall, the kid from Delaware they bought into
for a couple of years. I think now is the time or
next year is the time, depending on whether or not
a kid catches their eye they have to start to groom
somebody for a couple of years down the road as
a No. 3, a degree.
Q. Do you have an opinion on Eric
Henderson, defensive end out of Georgia Tech
and where he may land or play in the NFL?
MIKE MAYOCK: Yeah, he is a defensive
end that has some pass rushing playability and
could play some outside linebacker. Most of the
teams I've talked to have got him in the fourth or
fifth round and I think that's probably where he's
going to end up.
Q. Has Vince Young's representatives
hurt his position or is more of that made than
what it is? And are there any guys
like DeMarcus Ware any guys would could
jump up high this year?
MIKE MAYOCK: Yeah, the DeMarcus
comparison is good, I loved him last year. This
year there is a guy who is white hot right now who I
gave a third round grade to and everybody is
telling me he's going to go between 12 and 20 and
that's Manny Lawson from North Carolina state,
the other end besides Mario Williams. I'm not
buying into the fact yet that that's what he is, but
he's a 4-3 defensive end that lit it up at the
Combine at 241 pounds. He ran a 4:40, he's a
work-out warrior. To me, DeMarcus showed me at
Senior Bowl a year ago he was a first round big.
Manny Lawson did not show me that. So it looks
like he's going to be a first round pick. I'm not
buying into it yet.
The other guy that will be a first round pick,
and I believe a good football player is Kamerion
Wimbley from Florida State, hands-down, 4-3
defensive end who will be a 3-4 outside linebacker.
I think he could go as early as number 12 to
Cleveland.
Q. As far as Vince Young's
representatives, there's been a lot of talk about
him being inexperienced, have they hurt --
MIKE MAYOCK: I answered this earlier,
but to give you the quick overview I thought they
made some poor decisions early. I don't know why
he went on that ESPN Skills Competition because
he had nothing to gain and everything to lose. But
the reality -- why he would do that and not the
Combine, I thought was inconsistent at best. The
reality is, he threw the ball well at his Pro Day. I
think he's going to be fine as far as Draft day. But
a lot of people in the league right now they he's
going to be 3 to Tennessee.
Q. What about Tamba Hali?
MIKE MAYOCK: I think there was more
media frenzy about Tamba Hali than 100% pure
substance. He's a really good football player that's
a 4-3 defensive end. He's got tweener size. He's
only about 261, 262. He probably can't stand up
and play outside linebacker. He's got a
tremendous first step, he's got a tremendous
motor, but I think he's probably going to be an
early second round pick. I like him a lot. It's just
that he's kind of an outside speed rusher that isn't
as big as people would like.
Q. Do you think Matt Leinart fired Lee
Steinberg, is that going to have any impact --
inaudible?
MIKE MAYOCK: I kind of laugh when I
hear those things about the agent and impacting
his draft status. No, I don't think it will have any
impact whatsoever. People are evaluating based
on his tape, his personal interviews and his
workouts.
Q. You mentioned the Redskins not
having a lot of picks -- inaudible -- have you
seen a team that doesn't help their depth at all?
MIKE MAYOCK: It's kind of like the old
days with George Allen. I agree with you and I'll
take it a step further. As active as they were in this
off-season and with the amount of money they
spent and I believe overspent on some of those
players, down the road, two, three, four years,
there's going to be hell to pay with the salary cap.
Q. Two questions about Florida State
players, Willie Reed, Leon Washington (ph)
both had injury problems. Your assessment of
where they may end up?
MIKE MAYOCK: Yeah, both of them are
on the rise. Both worked out well at the Combine,
had a good on campus work out. Willie Reed I
think because of his ability to separate in short
areas probably goes in the fourth round, and that's,
without a lot of college production. And Leon
Washington, the tailback, was highly rated going
into the season, a little heavy coming into it, didn't
have as good of a year as he should have. I think
he's probably going to climb back into the first day
and I have him in my third round right now.
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