Raiders Preview: Ziegler Needs To Draft With Immediacy -

While the NFL Draft remains of utmost importance to the Las Vegas Raiders and its braintrust. Smarter decisions must be the rule of the day.

When Dave Ziegler’s first offseason as general manager of the Las Vegas Raiders resulted in the signings of Davante Adams and Chandler Jones, a precedent was set that he intended his team to win for years to come. Now, with more questions than answers about the team’s future, including the team’s nine-year constant at the quarterback position heading out the door for nothing in return, Ziegler has come upon a new opportunity to rebuild the trust of the fan base and uphold the win-soon precedent previously set: the NFL draft.
Having traded the team’s first- and second-round picks in the 2022 Draft, Ziegler has not had much of an opportunity to acquire a top-tier rookie.

Only Up From Here

Following a barrage of disappointing and questionable picks should have set the standard low for the Raiders’ second-year general manager, but considering the level of turbulence the team reached in 2022, expecting a solid starter from the sixth pick is not asking too much. While predictions and mock drafts point to Las Vegas selecting a quarterback in the first round, Ziegler has to be sure of what he is getting. This is no time for a “smartest guy in the room” pick, where a chance is taken on an athlete over a true position player. Raiders fans have seen their front office attempt to get flashy with picks, and have only seen disappointing results.

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Grab A Quarterback ASAP

As the Derek Carr situation has unfolded, his release has appeared more calculated than an “out of options” move. Should this be the case, Ziegler certainly has planned an acquiring a new quarterback from somewhere, especially considering his comments regarding Jarrett Stidham, which indicated the former New England Patriot not being the quarterback of the future. Although many will point out that another former Patriot quarterback was drafted in the sixth round and had a pretty decent career if Stidham is not the answer, this is not a draft in which the Raiders can afford to worry about a quarterback later in the draft; if a quarterback is a pick, he has to be taken in the first round.

Easy Path, Difficult Road

Despite pressure to return to the playoffs and just be successful in general, Ziegler sits in a decent spot. Yes, the defense as a whole needs help. Meanwhile, with the Raiders’ skill positions being comparatively better than a decent amount of teams, they look in great shape to pick a first-round quarterback. At worst, any of these quarterbacks could fall under the “sustainable” category and the Raiders can focus on acquiring other pieces as the general of the offense develops to the NFL.

Measured Perspective

Ziegler does not need to change the world in this year’s draft. While many holes require filling, this Raiders team did make the players with less talent. Signing Davante Adams to a five-year deal extended the Raiders’ window for success. Yet, all windows do eventually close, and squandering the final four years of his contract is not an option. Reports surfaced that Adams will have a say in the quarterback selection process. As a result, this remains pivotal to keeping one of the faces of this team content.

Overview

From a broad standpoint, the Raiders front office handled the end of the 2022 season and postseason well. However, benching Carr and letting him walk with no return was the bare minimum. Not to mention, it was also the easiest decision the team needed to make. Franchise tags have to be distributed, draft picks must find a resolution and free agency addressing. Unfortunately, in the Raiders’ more recent history, a stationary general manager reaped the most approval. All systems chug along until decisions arise. Currently, the Raiders teeter on the cliff of a mountainside. Their precarious conditions allow one of two options to continue sliding. First, forcing the team to start again from the base. Or, dig their toes in to return to and exceed their peak of the 2021 season. Most importantly, the team’s success in the 2023 Draft plays a massive role in determining which direction the team is headed.