NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE April 19, 2006 wide receivers and a young quarterback. I think An Interview With: that would really help them. At No. 22, I think because there's depth at the corner position in this draft, I think there's a good chance that they are trying to move up and make sure that they can get MIKE MAYOCK one of those corners that's going to come off the board between 20 and 30. Q. Would you anticipate that they could THE MODERATOR: Mike is a former draft use those two picks to move up into the pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers and played for the top three or four? New York Giants for a couple of years and has MIKE MAYOCK: I think what they are made a career as a broadcaster for CBS, ESPN trying to do is not package them and move up. and now NFL Network the past three years. We The reality is, I think trying to move up from 6 to bill him as our draft guru, he’s covered the pick a player at 3 or 4, you're going to have to give Combine for us and Senior Bowl and has been up that other first round pick and maybe a little bit on college football his entire career with us. So more. I think they have got multiple needs that without further ado, Mike, I'll turn it over to you. have to be addressed and if they were able to MIKE MAYOCK: Thanks. I'm going to come away with Vernon Davis at No. 6 and a top throw it open to you in a second. Really, I have corner at 22, I think they would be real happy. not done a formal mock draft. I reveal that next week, seven, eight, nine teams, four nights in a Q. In the context of the spread option row on our Total Access show at 7 PM ET. I'd be offense, do you see a number of teams actually happy to talk about any player in the country you'd incorporating part of that offense in the NFL? like to talk about. I'd be happy to talk about any Part of the conversation was that is team that teams you'd like to talk about. Really, the floor is innovation is moving up from the high school yours, go ahead. and college ranks to the NFL; whereas, 15 years ago, it was the opposite. Q. I don't know if you just heard there MIKE MAYOCK: I really don't see that as was a trade where the 49ers acquired a second happening. With Vince Young, I think a team is first round pick, so they have 6 and 22 right probably going to try to take advantage of what he now. What would you anticipate a trade ten does athletically, but that spread option offense is days before the draft to acquire a second first an incredibly simple offense. And from a defensive round pick would mean? perspective in the NFL, I think the last thing you MIKE MAYOCK: For the 49ers, you want -- and I could give you the names of 31 mean? defensive coordinators that would love Vince Young to run the ball 15 or 20 times a game. Q. Yes, for the 49ers? MIKE MAYOCK: It's kind of interesting, Q. You're rating of Cutler as the No. 1 because what Denver did there, kind of anticipated QB has drawn some controversy. What is it that from a couple of teams in that 20 to 30 range, about him that you rate him or what did you with the theory being in this draft this year, there's see at the Combine or Senior Bowl to back a vast similarity between the picks, say, between your rating? 20 and 40. There's an awful lot of good depth in MIKE MAYOCK: I got a phone call back in there and a lot of teams have talked about moving September from a guy who is a good friend of out of there and talked about trying to stockpile mine, a high ranking scout in the NFL, and he said, picks. So it didn't surprise me at all Denver chose "You'd better throw some Vanderbilt tape on." This to do that especially with their extra first round pick. is back in September. He said, "Tell me if I'm As far as the 49ers in, my head at No. 6 I seeing this right or if I'm off base but I think this kid think they are going to go after the tight end, would be special." Vernon Davis, who would immediately help that I threw on a couple of September tapes and a football team given the fact that they have average couple of his junior tapes and I fell over. I couldn't …when all is said, we’re done Mike Mayock 4.19.06 FastScripts by ASAP Sports 1 t. 01.631.425.2701 f. 01.631.425.6116 visit our archives at www.asapsports.com believe the arm strength, the release, the decisions. Now what happens going forward as far toughness. What really stood out to me and this is as negotiated contracts, I have no idea. all the way back in September now, the fact that he stood in there, got smacked in the face and Q. Speaking of people who have consistently delivered the football. different opinions than you about Cutler, My perception on this kid is biggest arm in obviously this is the first year NFL Network is the draft, quickest release in the draft, he's a going to be side-by-side doing the Draft itself, three-time captain, he's a smart kid, he's a tough will you feel some competition with them or kid. Does he have some technical issues that he's Kiper in particular in terms of trying to make a got to clean up? Absolutely. But I have watched mark as these two different entities present the every one of his game tapes. Senior Bowl to me same event simultaneously? reinforced the arm strength and the difference MIKE MAYOCK: I've had that question a between him and everybody else. And he's more bunch in the last couple of weeks, and the reality athletic than people think. So I don't take anything to me is -- I'm a football guy. I'm the son of a away from Leinart or Vince Young, who are very coach, I love the game, I love watching tape. I special in different ways. But I think four years have so much respect for what ESPN has done the from now, you're going to look back and see that last 26 or 27 years. I feel Mel Kiper the last 12 or this kid is the best of the three. 14 years, I have a ton of respect for Mel. We are going to do things a little bit differently in general. Q. This is a bit of a risk by you, but are I'm going to do things a little bit different you concerned that if this doesn't pan out the specifically. It's just going to give the viewer way you see it that it could affect your another option. The viewer can watch both and credibility going forward or are you that choose. I don't feel any kind of competition comfortable with your analysis? individually whatsoever. MIKE MAYOCK: I'm not concerned in the least. I'm the guy that last year thought that Aaron Q. I don't know if this is in your Rodgers was going to fall to 24 and I got laughed wheelhouse or not, but the big increase in at pretty heavily the week before the draft. And salary cap this year, there's a lot of numbers Aaron Rodgers fell to 24. being thrown around, especially from Bush's So to me, compared to that, this is nothing. camp on how much of a signing bonus he may What I'm telling people is what I truly believe. And be due, and if the Saints hold onto their No. 2 he might not be the first quarterback to go, I'm not pick, what kind of money are they looking at? trying to say he's the first one off the board. What I MIKE MAYOCK: If we are talking salary am tying to say is that I think he's going to be the caps and bonuses, I'm going to defer on this one. best pro. Q. Can you tell me what your opinion is Q. Do you think that Vince Young's on Marcus Vick, obviously as an athlete and choice of representation has hurt him at all or what he can do, and also with the baggage that will hurt him at all? he brings into the draft and where do you think MIKE MAYOCK: I don't know if it will hurt he might fall to? him at all. Major Adam has some -- inaudible -- of MIKE MAYOCK: That was well said. I feeling. I know he's got one of the Philadelphia believe that as far as an athlete and a football Eagles -- I believe Sheldon Brown -- player, he's not as good an athlete as his older brother. He's not as dangerous a runner as his Q. Michael Lewis. older brother, but he's got a little bit better innate MIKE MAYOCK: Michael Lewis, I feel for the pass game than his brother had at this apologize.