The cool thing about having a GM like Mike Mayock is we always know what he thought of a draft prospect. At some point or another, the former NFL Network draft analyst had something to say about just about any notable player.
It can be interesting to dig up those remarks and see how they held up.
Saturday the Raiders signed wide receiver Nelson Agholor to a one-year free-agent deal. The former 20th overall pick never played up to his potential in his five-year career and thus signed a prove-it deal with the Raiders.
Mayock’s final wide receiver rankings for the 2015 draft had the USC product as his fifth-best wide receiver. His full top-five went as follows:
- Kevin White
- Amari Cooper
- DeVante Parker
- Breshad Perriman
- Nelson Agholor
Agholor’s status in the top five came late in the process after Mayock called him his number one draft riser.
“I think at the beginning of the process he was perceived as a mid-to-late second-round solid wideout,” said Mayock a couple weeks ahead of the draft. “The more the coaches have gotten involved with the evaluation, they see a kid that can play inside, he can play outside, he’s a devastating punt returner. And apparently, they love him in the meeting room – great on the board and a hard worker.”
Mayock added that he thinks Agholor could go in the late first round. And he was right about that. He saw him as a top-40 pick. It’s safe to say, based on Mayock’s wording, that, though he liked Agholor, he wasn’t quite as high on him as some of the NFL folks were. And as we all know, it only takes one team to fall in love with a player.
After the Eagles drafted Agholor at 20 overall, Mayock had more to add.
“Agholor is a precise route runner, Mayock said on the NFL Network draft broadcast. “He has added value as a great returner. He reminds you of Jeremy Maclin, the guy he’s replacing. Agholor can play anywhere, outside and in the slot. The Philadelphia Eagles are going to love him.”
Agholor never lived up to the Maclin comparison in Philly. Agholor’s best season was in 2017 with 768 yards and 8 touchdowns. Maclin’s *worst* season with the Eagles he had more yards (773) and he twice had 10 touchdowns in a season.
Agholor also didn’t do much kick or on punt returns. He had a total of five kick returns and three punt returns in his five seasons. His longest kick return went 27 yards and his longest punt return four yards.
Safe to say Agholor didn’t live up to even a top-40 pick. Let alone the 20th overall pick.
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