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Raiders' Mayock: If you draft Clemson, Alabama players, you'll do well

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Oakland Raiders general manager Mike Mayock had a lot at stake during the 2019 NFL Draft, his first with the team.

Entering the draft with four selections in the first 35 picks, Mayock left with nine new players, including three from Clemson and one from Alabama - the two teams that met in the most recent College Football Playoff National Championship - and says the talent displayed in that powerhouse matchup left an impact on him.

"I felt it on the field before the game, these were the two best college programs in the country and have been for several years now," Mayock said, according to Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer.

"And when you walk around on the field before the game and watch these guys warm up, and you do your body types, you’re taking notes - they look like two NFL teams. I said it to somebody, I don't remember who, and I remember thinking to myself, 'Man, if you just draft from these two teams, you're gonna do well, forget the rest of the country.'

"I didn't consciously set out to make that happen. But we got more and more impressed with these Clemson kids, as we met them, as people. We loved the Alabama tailback. And it worked out pretty well from our perspective."

In the draft, Oakland selected defensive end Clelin Ferrell, wide receiver Hunter Renfrow, and safety Trayvon Mullen from Clemson, and nabbed running back Josh Jacobs from Alabama.

Many were surprised to see Ferrell selected fourth overall, but Mayock was intent on drafting him.

"At the end of the day, people act like the thought wouldn't occur to me to trade down and still get Cle," Mayock said. "He was our guy, OK? And whether we got him at 4, 8, 10, it didn’t matter. He was gonna be our guy.

"He’s a foundation player. And even more importantly, he’s a three-down defensive end who can stick his hand in the dirt and play on run downs and pass downs. He's not a guy who's going to be a designated pass-rusher. He’s in there on every snap. And he’s gonna set the tone for us, as far as these young guys are concerned. I couldn’t wait to get to that pick."

After hiring Mayock following a 4-12 record last season, the Raiders will hope his draft strategy can lead to better results in 2019.

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