Henderson, Nevada – The question seemed harmless enough.
Is there an inherent pressure to get it right?
Of course, a million times over of course, there is pressure to get it right when it comes to the NFL Draft.
But when it comes to the Las Vegas Raiders and their recent draft misses, especially early on, well, pressing is what one does, right?
Raiders second year general manager Dave Ziegler replied “Yeah, I want to get 12 contributing players.”
As things stand now, the Raiders have dozens of selections—Nos. 7, 38, 70, 100, 109, 141, 144, 174, 204, 214, 220, and 231—to set Ziegler’s vision for the crew even further in motion, along with second-year head coach Josh McDaniels.
“So yeah, we put that pressure on ourselves and I put that pressure on myself and Josh puts the pressure on himself, and as a scouting department we feel that pressure in a good way, because I think that pressure pushes you,” Ziegler added. “When you meet for 15 days in a row, there’s a monotony that you can allow to grow, but I think that pressure, that drive to do it right, that drive to improve the team…and it called.”
Yes, Ziegler wants a start in that No. 7 spot—they should stay there—and admittedly, that’s a lower bar than that set by former general manager Mike Mayock. Remember, Mayock said if the Raiders do their jobs right, they will “hopefully” have three starters from their three third-round draft picks in 2020.
None of them – not WR Lynn Bowden Jr. Or WR Bryan Edwards or LB Tanner Muse – he’s still with the team, as none other than the surprising Edwards has played for Las Vegas.
The first-round failures were more than a fiasco. Way back before Mayock.
Twenty years ago, after a Super Bowl appearance, the Raiders selected cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha and defensive end Tyler Brayton at the end of the first round. Asomugha ran to a slew of All-Pro and Pro Bowl nods. Brighton, not so much.
After that, it’s a bunch of close acts (OL Robert Gallery, RB Darren McFadden, DB Michael Huff, WR Amari Cooper), head scratchers (WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, S Karl Joseph) and absolute misses (CB Fabian Washington, QB JaMarcus Russell, LB Rolando McClain, CB DJ Hayden, CB Gareon Conley, DE Clelin Ferrell, S Johnathan Abram, WR Henry Ruggs III, CB Damon Arnette, OL Alex Leatherwood).
The only surefire first-round hit in the past two decades has been rusher Khalil Mack in 2014, left tackle Colton Miller in 2018 and running back Josh Jacobs in 2019.
The 2020 draft was a massively dismal flop, with only one of their seven draft picks still on the roster — fourth-round cornerback Amick Robertson, Las Vegas’ final pick in the 139th overall.
It’s no wonder, then, that the Raiders haven’t won a playoff game since the AFC Championship game on January 19, 2003, and they’ve only had two winning seasons since (2016 and 2021).
Take note of Raiders owner Mark Davis, who took over the franchise after the death of his father, Al, in 2011.
“This is one of the places where we have failed for a long time,” Davis said at the league’s annual meetings last month. “I think we’ve had one good draft, really, since I’ve been here, and that was in ’14.”
That was when GM selected Reggie McKenzie Mack, quarterback Derek Carr, and guard Gabe Jackson, and tackled defensive tackle Justin Ellis with his first four picks.
“Otherwise,” Davis mused, “we haven’t done a good job. And that’s something it takes to build a franchise for sustainability. And that’s what we’re trying to build now—sustainable. Having that faith in the new system takes patience.”
Davis is showing that faith to Ziggler and McDaniels, who hold the keys to the Silver and Black Castle and make their first-round picks this year.
Last year, the Raiders didn’t pick until the third round, 90th overall, and came up with a PFWA rookie inside linebacker in Dylan Parham, who started all 17 games (13 at left guard, two at center, and two at right guard). His first two selections were awarded away to All-Pro receiver in Davante Adams.
now? Ziegler likes the Raiders’ spot at No. 7, where D.C. can still let them move up if they so choose (Las Vegas tried trading up to No. 1, presumably for a quarterback) or back if a player they don’t really like went by choice.
Still …
“Dave is young, he’s never been in this position,” Davis said of Ziegler. “It takes time to learn all the tricks of the trade, so to speak. I think the people that he trusts, and all that stuff, may not give him the whole picture, you know, because it’s so competitive.”
Davis laughed.
“But he will do well,” Davis continued. “And I think Josh, frankly, is a really great offensive mind. He just has to find his place within the organization.”
As Ziegler said, signing veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo gives the Raiders the luxury of not having to “reach” for a QB who may not be sold in the draft.
Besides, Ziegler said, the Raiders have addressed the needs in free agency and, therefore, can draft the best player available…on their board.
Cornbucks Christian Gonzalez And Devon Witherspoon They are tied with the Raiders (at least one must be on the board in seventh), as well as the quarterbacks Bryce Young And CJ Stroud (An ascending deal would likely be required that either should slide past #2) and don’t sleep on the snooty invaders if either Will Anderson Jr. or Terry Wilson Available (Zigler and McDaniels aren’t afraid to make the force stronger).
“We are focused on selecting the best player available,” Ziegler said. “There’s a lot of different things that include it; it’s not just a bar…it’s best suited to the Raiders.” [and] There are different things that go into that, whether it’s a piece of football intelligence, or a football personality… that makes that player the best player available to each individual organization. I think sometimes he can get lost.”
Seems harmless enough, right?