Raiders: Placing an early grade on the hire of Dave Ziegler

Raiders: Placing an early grade on the hire of Dave Ziegler

Raiders past drafting blunders

For a franchise that was able to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2016, the hiring of Ziegler is seen as the stepping stone for this franchise to finally turn the corner. Especially considering this franchise has not achieved a playoff victory in two decades.

With Ziegler in charge, the onus will be on him to not only find a top target for quarterback Derek Carr this year but add some depth and talent to a Raiders roster that indeed has some holes that need filling.

The first-round blunder in the NFL Draft for the Raiders is something unseen in basically NFL history, well at least in terms of the Mayock-Jon Gruden regime. This embarrassment has become apparent with the poor play of recent first-round pick Alex Leatherwood, and two 2020 first-round draft picks in Henry Ruggs and Damon Arnette who aren’t even in the NFL at this time.

Ziegler has too sharp of an eye to miss these character issues for one and will do his due diligence when not only bringing in some of the top free-agent talents this offseason but also virtually giving the Raiders a deep and reliable draft class.

It is common knowledge at this point the many blunders of personnel hired away from the Patriots as being deemed inferior to other hirings, and this should be documented. The former player of Personnel for the Patriots in Nick Caserio is currently in Houston doing a rather bizarre and messy job with the Texans — hopefully, this will not be the case with Ziegler.