Raiders looking into the future after releasing GM Mike Mayock

The story of the 2021 Raiders was one of great complications. They had their fair share of ups and downs. They saw their Head Coach Jon Gruden being forced to resign and wide receiver Henry Ruggs being arrested for a DUI which resulted in a death. Even with all of the distractions the Raiders still found a way to somehow make the postseason. The Raiders ended their season with a lot of momentum.

However, Raiders owner Mark Davis felt as if that momentum wasn’t enough and is currently looking to hit the restart button. NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported. The decision to fire GM Mike Mayock was made several days ago, but was not made official until Monday after the team had submitted interview requests for potential successors, Rapoport added.

"We have relieved Mike Mayock of his duties as General Manager of the Las Vegas Raiders," the team said in a statement. "We thank Mike for his contributions over the last three years in helping to form the foundation for the franchise to build upon in its future."

Mayock’s tenure as Raiders GM was an up and down one. He had great success in the 2019 draft. Drafting gems such as Josh Jacobs, Maxx Crosby, Hunter Renfrow. League speculation points to the many misfires in the 2020 draft that may have been the reason for Mayock losing his job. Cornerback Damon Arnette, the 19th overall pick of the 2020 draft, was a major disappointment. Raiders released him in 2021 after he appeared in a viral video brandishing a gun and threatening to kill someone. Receiver Henry Ruggs III as I mentioned before was the 12th overall pick of that same class, was released in 2021 following his arrest and charged for multiple felonies related to his role in a fatal traffic collision.

As for the 2021 draft, Mayock again raised eyebrows when he spent Las Vegas' first-round pick on Alabama offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood, who struggled at the position in his rookie season and eventually switched to guard during the 2021 campaign. A lot of those picks to Mayock’s credit were picked in lockstep with former Head Coach Jon Gruden. Gruden was the one who hired Mayock in the first place so it could be Davis’s way of wiping the slate clean of the Gruden era,

Las Vegas has other pressing decisions to make that can hold huge weight in the state of their franchise. Raiders are expected to conduct a full coaching search. Raiders quarterback Derek Carr's future is also uncertain he will be tied to the next coach and general manager’s decision Rapoport reported Saturday. Carr will be entering the final year of his five-year, $125 million deal, the two sides have a mutual decision to make this offseason and the choice of head coach will be a factor, per Rapoport.

Raiders current interim coach Rich Bissacia is a locker room and team favorite to win the job and is expected to be in the interview process. He also isn’t a lock to win the job with the Raiders requesting an interview with Patriots coordinator Jerod Mayo.