What actually happens inside an NFL War Room on Draft Day?
Former Raiders GM and legendary draft expert Mike Mayock joins Steve Smith Sr. and James Palmer for an unfiltered look at the high-stakes world of NFL decision-making. Mike takes us inside the building to explain the pressure of the clock, the “groupthink” traps, and the complexity of managing a draft board when millions of dollars are on the line.
In a rare moment of transparency, Mike addresses his tenure in Las Vegas, breaking down the draft picks that didn’t work out and what he learned from the process. But it’s not just a look back—Mike shares his “scouting soul” on the 2026 Wide Receiver class. From his high praise for USC’s Makai Lemon to his “buyer beware” warnings on some of this year’s top-rated prospects, Mike and Steve compare notes on who actually has the “nervous system” to survive in the NFL.
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In This Episode:
*The GM Perspective:* What the media gets wrong about Draft Day.
*The Raiders Tenure:* Mike candidly discusses the picks he’d like to have back.
*Evaluating “Traits”:* Why some “Combine Warriors” fail in the building.
*The 2026 WR Big Board:* Mike’s favorite fits for the next generation of stars.
0:00 Welcome Mike Mayock
1:52 Where teams are at in the draft process
4:40 Medical issues
6:30 “Red Flag” prospects
11:05 NIL era prospects
15:50 NFL organization draft dynamics
20:30 Mike’s NFL Draft experience
27:25 Finding the right character fit
30:00 Managing War Room tension
35:00 Evaluating small school prospects
42:00 Transfer portal impact
43:30 How draft boards change
47:00 Jordyn Tyson vs Denzel Boston
52:25 Drafting Maxx Crosby
55:00 Clelin Ferrell 4th overall
57:20 Mike Mayock loves Makai Lemon
1:04:00 KC Concepcion’s Drops
1:08:00 2026 WR Class
#nfldraft #nfl #raiders #mockdraft #stevesmith
49 Comments
Would there be a benefit to regional scouts rotating there areas quarterly? Maybe it’d provide a fresh set of eyes and perspectives on certain prospects. Does this already happen?
You wanna know how great Mike Mayock is?
2018 NFL Draft, he was asked “who is the best QB in the draft?”
He said “If I’m a take a shot with any of these guys, give me the big kid, with all the athleticism and the big arm in Josh Allen. He’s like a piece of clay that you just want to mold into what you want”.
Nobody! I mean nobody had Josh Allen #1 in their rankings. The only person… was Mike Mayock 😎💪🏾🔥
Just found this channel. Awesome. Steve is great at this
mike was a 1st year gm with a sb coach who had 100% support from the owner. mike was almost a pupett. my bet jon just wanted him to give him a scouting report on all those prospects and character traits that fits him. its jon gruden that drafted those players.
9:08 Monroe Freeling combine warrior
Mayock, as a Raider fan since ‘99, you did a great job and I am a huge fan before you became the GM of the Raiders and still a fan. Besides the Cle pick, you did great job IMO. R4L!
This guy drafted Ferrell, Abram, Ruggs, Arnette and Leatherwood, all in the first round. Why listen to him just because he hit on one guy ….. Crosby!!!!
There are 32 guys who if healthy will be contributing at a HIGHER LEVEL! Than any of the 32 in any other class in the last 10 years. The guys projecting into the 4-7 rounds are going to be way better than last year. You have 9 guys with 1st round potential. Nine guys aren't going in the first round. You have guys who are clear 2nd round guys who are going to slip into the 3rd and 4th. How often are there 2nd round receivers in the 4th round? What are you smoking? Maybe your blind eyes can't see what you can't steal anymore!
Mayock is the best of the best. It's really good seeing him again.
Great episode
Steve thanks for this this was an amazing breakdown and Mike was good to see as a raiders fan of course! Awesome video keep up the good work. Your my go to for wr breakdowns. I watch the tape and think man I better go see what Steve thinks cuz I could be wrong on this guy 😆. Appreciate you. Keep grinding.
In the 2025 Raider draft, pretty clear that the HoF tinted HC ran roughshod over the GM. That continued into the season when once mathematically eliminated rookies did not see the field.
Mike's GM career in Oakland was much better Day three than Day one. Maybe it's on Chuckie, but in 2019 Clelin Ferrell, and Jonathan Abram hurt more than Josh Jacobs helped. But Day three had Maxx, Hunter Renfrow, Foster Moreau and Isaiah Johnson (three consecutive PBUs in the EZ to win a game vs, SD). 2020 had Henry Ruggs (his own decision do not detract from the quality of the pick) and Damon Arnette in round 1; and again Day Three has John Simpson and Amik Robertson. 2021 Alex Leatherwood was a mistake, but Moehrig and Nate Hobbes are solid. If the round one included zero guys who didn't make it past their first contract in the league, a good record.
Question can Steve do videos without his owner daddy? Or is it by contract that you has to be in the videos unless given permission? Gaunt eyes dim weirdos.
Watched all 70:34 minutes and enjoyed it thoroughly, old school NFL network fan of Mayock
Got a Clelin Ferrell comp? 🤣
Miss Mike as the GM! He and Gru got done wrong!
Around 12:30 to 12:50 minutes/seconds in I'm paraphrasing here "You're a offensive linemen making around 450K in college, you should stay in college everyday you can". That's cold!. But reality never lies.
Fantastic interview. Well done guys
Yo Steve, luv u dawg #keeppoundingnation, I'm curious on your thoughts on Stribling from Ole Miss. The last few daft classes for WR Ole Miss aint a school you want to draft from….
Great show
Mike is amazing!
This was good lol 🍻
Deal has to be done around August 12, 2026 🎉
Loves St brown… drafts 3 busts ahead of him LOL
What a crock of crap this guy was spewing……..
@scrapironff1873 weird, the longtime NFL evaluator echoed my exact point this episode.
Eh yo Steve Brandon Marshall and y’all should be linking up and covering the raiders through a joint venture with Mike and I
It was Steve’s
“___ damn ball” 🏈
❤ IT 😮
Mayock's draft analysis is legendary.
This was my first episode ever of this pod and it didn't disappoint. Great interview!! I hope all the interviews are this good. Mike is still as Sharpe as ever. Great to see him again. It was cool to see him talk about the Raiders. He had it tough and still did a decent job
Talk about Anez Cooper or David Gusta Sleepers what do you think
Great interview! I’ve been wanting a show to interview an agent also to get their points of view on not only the draft process but negotiations as well. Would love to see it!
First time ever watching you all. I've watched no exaggeration hundreds of "mock draft" or "draft evaluation" videos this off-season. For a hall of famer Steve Smith asked some of the best questions I have ever heard to help regular people understand the process. Seriously killer job. Loved it.
Man, WR Tyren Montgomery showed up out of the blue at the Senior Bowl and hasn't been talked about since.
This was terrific
Mike has so much knoledge of the draft i miss him breaking down the combine with steve eisen and deion on nfl network, man good times
this is excellent thank yiou
The Raiders might be better off if Gruden let him do his job
9:50 and for that Big Jeff is so thankful to AAS…. Him and Ward have also been the only two players to say they are in Tennessee to win a Championship… I do hope they do.
Excellent episode!
These were some good questions man. I’m loving this podcast more and more
Dope episode
Great episode need Mike on more
Mayock & Stevie are like nashvillle hot chicken & ranch. The perfect amount of spicy kick & cool smoothness
Steve and James y’all should post a Jordyn Tyson review. Just now realizing that y’all didn’t post one
Imagine doing all these mock drafts and still taking Clelin Ferrell at 4 lmao.
All this prep just to set my Raiders back 5 years smh
As a raiders im piss hearing this ISH
Respect for Mike Mayock!