Mike Mayock may seem like an unlikely candidate for the newly-open Washington Redskins general manager job. This is a man, after all, who does not currently work for a team, but for the media. His ability to suddenly run the personnel department of a franchise would be questionable, at best. Still, he has emerged as a possible candidate for the position.
Vast draft knowledge
ESPN's Field Yates and Adam Schefter reported that Mayock, a television analyst for the NFL Network, is a candidate for the Redskins front office position. His primary responsibility with the network has been their draft coverage, making him a strong evaluator of college prospects.
His absence from the Alabama Crimson Tide pro day came as a surprise to many -- the latest reports about his job status could suggest a possible explanation.
If he were to be hired, the move would draw plenty of comparisons with the San Francisco 49ers' hire of John Lynch in the same position this winter. Lynch had no personnel or management experience prior to his hiring. Mayock has been a respected member of the NFL Network since 2005, but his only locker reoom experience came through a very brief playing career. His draft analysis would be helpful at Washington, but it can't be the be all, end all for the organization.
Mess in Washington
The general manager position opened after a firing shrouded in secrecy.
Scot McCloughan was let go via a terse statement released by the team. The Redskins pretty much refused to comment about the firing, which allowed an innuendo about McCloughan's past issues with alcohol to dominate the narrative. The way it has been handled is another embarrassing chapter in the history of the Washington franchise.
Mayock would have a lot to deal with if he's hired. Kirk Cousins supposedly demanded a trade and was rebuked by ownership. His two best targets, DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon, have left in free agency, though they signed Terrelle Pryor. Additionally, the team's drafting has been a mess over the past few years, something Mayock would be brought in specifically to assist with.
