Raiders' GM Ziegler's Second Offseason Much Different than First

As the Senior Bowl concludes in Mobile, Ala., and Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham’s National Team emerges victorious, General Manager Dave Ziegler and the Las Vegas Raiders begin the thick of their offseason.

This includes dealing with quarterback Derek Carr’s future -- most likely with another team -- working out a contract with running back Josh Jacobs, and trying to figure out who they’re going to draft at No. 7 in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Ziegler’s 2023 off-season is going to look much different than his 2022 off-season for several reasons. Expectations have changed this time around.

Last season, the Raiders expected to be contenders in the AFC playoff conversation after acquiring wide receiver Davante Adams. Now, Ziegler is essentially re-tooling the roster and potentially going into the 2023 regular season without two of the franchise’s familiar faces -- Carr and Jacobs.

Carr has recently sent out a couple of tweets that all but confirm that he will not be a Raider in 2023, and the expectation is that someone new will be quarterbacking the Raiders next season.

Ziegler is tasked with finding that replacement, whether in-house with backup Jarrett Stidham or a big fish like Aaron Rodgers; he will have his work cut out for him.

The Raiders also have some flexibility regarding their first-round draft pick. They sit at No. 7 overall and could go a couple of different ways with it. They could stay where they are and take the best offensive lineman or defensive back available, or they could package more picks and move up if they like one of the top quarterbacks in the class. This seems unlikely as they gave up draft capital last season to acquire Adams, and Ziegler needs to add depth to multiple positions on the team.

Owning draft picks in the first two rounds is new to Ziegler, considering the Raiders' first selection last year came in the third round when they took guard Dylan Parham. Whether Ziegler decides to trade up or not, he has some flexibility in the draft.

Dave Ziegler’s off-season looks much different this time, and this was to be expected, considering last year was his first, but this off-season should be far from a “normal” one. Ziegler has a lot to accomplish this offseason to make the Raiders the contender he wants them to be.

The NFL Scouting Combine is Feb. 28-March 6, 2023, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. March 7, 2023, before 4 p.m. EST, is the club's deadline to designate Franchise or Transition Players.

March 13-15 is the free agent negotiation period. During that time, starting at 12 p.m. EST on March 13 and ending at 3:59:59 p.m. EST 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 EST on March 15.

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

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