Former NFL GM Defends McDaniels’ First Season in Las Vegas

Las Vegas Raiders Coach Josh McDaniels had an underachieving first season with the Silver and Black.

After finishing 6-11 a year after the Raiders had clinched their first playoff berth since the 2016 season, the head coach was not well received by many members of Raider Nation.

However, McDaniels' defenders, like former Minnesota Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman, understand that it's all a process.

“I think there were so many close games, and I think as you get used to -- I believe in Josh McDaniels, I believe in his system," Spielman said, per "The Inside Scoop," a video series on Raiders.com. "Great coach, great leader of men in the locker room. But it takes some time. Sometimes it clicks quicker, and other times, it doesn’t. It’s just like when you watch a player. Some rookies come in and maybe struggle their first year and two years later, they’re in the Pro Bowl. Others come in and make an immediate impact but struggle down the road.

“So I think that with his background -- I’m very familiar with his dad. We grew up in the same area together in Ohio. My dad and his dad were coaching against each other in Canton, Ohio. But I know that he’s going to have that program turned around. There’s too many good football players down there. And as they get adapted to the new systems, it’s just going to get smoother and smoother. And I think if they’re able to finish some of the games that they could have won this year, they wouldn’t have had maybe as disappointing of a season as probably everybody felt it was.”

The 2023 NFL Draft will go from April 27-29 and be held at Union Station in Kansas City, Mo.

March 13-15 is the free agent negotiation period. Starting at 12 p.m. EDT on March 13 and ending at 3:59:59 p.m. EDT on March 15, clubs are permitted to contact and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expiration of their 2022 Player Contracts at 4 p.m. EDT on March 15.

The 2023 NFL Year and Free Agency period begins at 4 p.m. EDT on March 15. The Raiders are expected to be significant players in the free-agent market this season.

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