Soon after Mike Mayock moved from the role of draft analyst | general | Forum

ALAMEDA http://www.steelersfootballaut…..-authentic , Calif. (AP) — to Oakland Raiders general manager, former Baltimore GM Ozzie Newsome warned him that having an opinion is far easier than making a decision.Now that his first draft as an NFL general manager is over, Mayock said that resonated with him with each decision he made all weekend.“The difference is just ownership,” Mayock said Saturday. “Skin in the game. It just meant something different this week for me. At the end of the day, we won’t know how we did for a couple of years. But we couldn’t feel better today because we stayed consistent to our philosophy and we drafted the kind of guy we want to bring into this building.”One common theme that developed was that the Raiders were focused on more than just size, speed and how players looked on game tape.With the team moving to Las Vegas in 2020, Mayock and coach Jon Gruden also wanted to make sure they added players who could handle whatever distractions would come with being in Sin City.“It’s very, very challenging,” Gruden said. “You have to have a lot of maturity. We wanted guys that weren’t only great football players in talents but guys that could handle the circumstances of being front-line players, leaders, and also having a lot of maturity to handle the move of the franchise.”The players the Raiders drafted this weekend fit that bill with first-round picks Clemson defensive end Clelin Ferrell and Alabama running back Josh Jacobs overcoming difficult childhoods to excel on and off the field as college players.The Raiders ended up with other players with strong leadership skills on day three of the draft Zach Gentry Jersey , including LSU tight end Foster Moreau in the fourth round and Clemson receiver Hunter Renfrow in the fifth.“Obviously, from a player standpoint, people might think that players’ focus can get off track when you move to a city like Las Vegas,” Ferrell said. “From what I know so far, we’re trying to bring in the right guys that, regardless of the situation of the outside sources, they have a vision for themselves as far as the football player in their life.“Obviously, when you’re young you’re going to enjoy life, but you have a vision, so anything that detracts off that you’re not going to let it interfere. It’s all about making the right decisions.”The Raiders also targeted players with winning pedigrees with four of the picks coming from players who participated in the national championship game this past season.Oakland took three from Clemson — Ferrell, cornerback Trayvon Mullen in round two and Renfrow — and Jacobs from Alabama. Gruden even joked on his congratulatory call to Renfrow on Saturday that the Raiders would look to add Tigers coach Dabo Sweeney next.Here are some other takeaways from draft weekend:WHO THEY GOTThe Raiders came into the draft with three first-round picks thanks to last year’s deals that sent star edge rusher Khalil Mack to Chicago and receiver Amari Cooper to Dallas. Oakland turned those picks into Ferrell L.J. Collier Jersey , Jacobs and Mississippi State safety Jonathan Abram. Mayock then got busy the next two days, trading down four times to get more picks and then up once to seize Renfrow in the fifth round.The other players selected were: Mullen in the second round; Eastern Michigan defensive end Maxx Crosby, Houston cornerback Isaiah Johnson and Moreau in the fourth; Renfrow in the fifth; and Prairie View A&M edge rusher Quinton Bell in the seventh round.SURPRISE MOVEThe biggest surprise came in round one when the Raiders took Ferrell fourth overall ahead of a more heralded pass rusher like Kentucky’s Josh Allen or Houston’s Ed Oliver. Mayock said the Raiders had Ferrell rated right behind Ohio State’s Nick Bosa at edge rusher and were happy to take him fourth when no opportunities to trade down materialized.HOW THEY DIDThe biggest needs for the Raiders heading into the draft were finding edge rushers to upgrade a defense that had an NFL-low 13 sacks last season, a featured running back to replace Marshawn Lynch, and more help in the secondary.Those needs were all targeted on the first two days of the draft and now the team must wait to see if the players chosen can deliver on their potential.WHAT’S NEXT?The Raiders have targeted most of their needs this offseason but still could be looking for more help on the interior of the offensive line after trading guard Kelechi Osemele to the Jets last month.Edge rusher remains a big need, even after the additions of Ferrell and the two third-day picks. Oakland did little to address the position in free agency, with Benson Mayowa the most prominent addition, and could try to find a veteran on the market before training camp. ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — Of all the things the Kansas City Chiefs wanted to accomplish during their three-week getaway to training camp at Missouri Western, returning home with everyone healthy probably topped the list.Not only did they accomplish that, they actually improved their roster depth.With the signing of cornerback Morris Claiborne to a one-year prove-it deal http://www.seahawksfootballaut…..-authentic , the Chiefs bolstered what was undoubtedly the weakest position group on the team. And when you consider the only big injury of camp was to backup cornerback Keith Reaser, the Chiefs are heading back to Kansas City in good shape.“Football is one of those games where you have to have a little fortune when it comes to being healthy,” said Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, who arrived early after offseason ankle surgery but has been full-go in camp. “It’s just the way the game is played. There’s a lot of psychical guys out here and playing football and playing it the right way, you have to have some fortune with that.”That’s not to say there haven’t been plenty of nagging ailments.Defensive end Frank Clark, whom the Chiefs acquired from Seattle and lavished with a $104 million extension, has missed time with a hip injury and an illness. Wide receiver Gehrig Dieter may have missed out on a chance to earn one of the final roster spots because of a lingering back problem.Right tackle Mitchell Schwartz, cornerback Bashaud Breeland and a handful of other guys have missed time with minor issues, but none is expected to carry over into the regular season.Of course, the regular season is still three weeks away.The Chiefs wrapped up their final practice in St. Joseph on Thursday, then head to Pittsburgh for their second preseason game on Saturday. They’ll return to their own practice facility in Kansas City next week for the final push toward their real opener Sept. 8 in Jacksonville.“I think we’re right where we need to be D.K. Metcalf Jersey ,” Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy said. “I think the guys came out and accomplished the goals that we need to accomplish. The most important thing that we wanted to do is win last week. I thought the guys did a great job of that.“Now,” Bieniemy continued, “the thing that we’re focusing on, because we put it on tape, is just the details and the fundamentals, just making sure that we’re focused on that moving forward.”The Chiefs certainly performed well in their preseason opener against Cincinnati, rolling to a 38-17 victory. Their first-team offense played just one series, but the backups moved the ball up and down the field against the Bengals, while a revamped defense kept them in check most of the night.They even had some young guys shine, both in practices and in their preseason game.Sixth-round draft pick Darwin Thompson is making a move toward the No. 2 running back job behind Damien Williams, the injury-prone starter. Quarterback-turned-tight end Blake Bell has taken a grip on the backup job at his position. Second-round pick Juan Thornhill has spent most of camp running with the first-team defense http://www.seahawksfootballaut…..-authentic , and could start at safety alongside Tyrann Mathieu in the opener.“Everyone that comes in here is going to be coached up, they’re going to learn, and they’re going to compete,” Chiefs wide receivers coach Greg Lewis said. “That’s how we roll in our room and this year is no different from the competition level, it’s just guys are out there making plays.”In fact, Reid said the competition level at this year’s camp has been so high that many guys who are cut will be picked up by other teams. Those decisions won’t need to be made until Aug. 31.“That’s why you really want to maximize how much you play those young guys, if you can, and still get your veteran guys ready,” Reid said. “But you want to try not to miss on the other guys and keep the best players you possibly can. That’s what we’re doing.”NOTES: DE Frank Clark and WR Sammy Watkins returned to practice Thursday after illnesses. … WRs Gehrig Dieter (back) and Davon Grayson, DE Michael Hunter (groin) and TE John Lovett (shoulder) will not play at Pittsburgh. … Reid said that starters will play most of the first half against the Steelers. Backups will get the third quarter and everyone else will play in the fourth.