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Was the new Raiders regime OK with losing in 2022 all along?

By Keith Ricci

HENDERSON, NEVADA - JULY 27: (L-R) Owner and managing general partner Mark Davis, head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler of the Las Vegas Raiders talk during the team's first fully padded practice during training camp at the Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters/Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center on July 27, 2022 in Henderson, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
HENDERSON, NEVADA - JULY 27: (L-R) Owner and managing general partner Mark Davis, head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler of the Las Vegas Raiders talk during the team's first fully padded practice during training camp at the Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters/Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center on July 27, 2022 in Henderson, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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Aug 14, 2022; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders safety Johnathan Abram (24) in the first half against the Minnesota Vikings at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Las Vegas Raiders 2022 season was always going to be a transition year

Fixing the draft mistakes

McDaniels and Ziegler removing their predecessors’ early draft picks at a fast pace is also impacting things. I don’t believe retaining these players would result in a record better than 2-7 right now, however roster turnover at this pace and at the start of a season takes time to adjust to.

A trio of early-round picks was gone in almost a two-month span – when former second-round pick Trayvon Mullen was traded and former first-rounders Johnathan Abram and Alex Leatherwood were released. Additionally, former 1st rounders Josh Jacobs and Clelin Ferrell each had their fifth-year options declined for 2023.

The new regime is clearly not committing to any of the old regime’s early draft picks – and rightfully so given some of those players’ lack of production. A sure sign this is a transition season.

I believe Davis knew after interviewing McDaniels and Ziegler that giving up on all these players who were once the future of the franchise was very possible in 2022 (once they physically saw them on the field) and in doing so would slow things down.

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