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Las Vegas Raiders GM Mike Mayock truly believes he had one of the better NFL drafts.
According to Vic Tafur of The Athletic, Mayock had two specific picks that he believed were gems.
“There were two nuggets from Mayock’s chat with @SiriusXMNFL today: 1) #Raiders had their own time of @damon_arnette at the combine — 4.43 as opposed to the 4.56 other teams had. 2) Raiders had a second-round grade for @B__ED89.”
The two picks were ironically part of the trade with the Chicago Bears that landed them Khalil Mack.
When Jon Gruden returned to coaching in 2018, he pulled off a huge stunt by trading away defensive superstar Khalil Mack to the Chicago Bears. The Bears traded away a first-round pick in 2019 and 2020, as well as a third and sixth round pick, while receiving Mack, a second-round pick, and a fifth-round conditional pick.
There were two nuggets from Mayock's chat with @SiriusXMNFL today: 1) #Raiders had their own time of @damon_arnette at the combine — 4.43 as opposed to the 4.56 other teams had. 2) Raiders had a second-round grade for @B__ED89
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) April 30, 2020
Mack has since signed a six-year, $141 million contract extension before he ever played a game. The Bears won the NFC North in his first season, while also landing on the All-Pro team. However, Cody Parkey’s missed field goal as time expired cemented that the Bears remain winless in the postseason since 2011.
The Bears used their second-round pick on tight end Cole Kmet and their fifth-rounder on Arlington Hambright.
The #Raiders got a WR at No. 12 and then go CB at No. 19. They talked trade, but go with #OSU CB Damon Arnette. A first-round surprise.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 24, 2020
On the Raiders side, the 2020 NFL Draft finished the trade. The Raiders used their picks on running back Josh Jacobs, cornerback Damon Arnette, defensive back Blessuan Austin (traded to the Jets), and wide receiver Bryan Edwards.
Only time will tell who truly won this trade and if these picks really do pan out.
