Las Vegas Raiders: 5 worst decisions David Ziegler made in year one as GM

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 13: General manager Dave Ziegler of the Las Vegas Raiders throws a ball back to players during warmups before a game against the Indianapolis Colts at Allegiant Stadium on November 13, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Colts defeated the Raiders 25-20. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 13: General manager Dave Ziegler of the Las Vegas Raiders throws a ball back to players during warmups before a game against the Indianapolis Colts at Allegiant Stadium on November 13, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Colts defeated the Raiders 25-20. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 18: Chandler Jones #55 of the Las Vegas Raiders celebrates after a game against the New England Patriots at Allegiant Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 18: Chandler Jones #55 of the Las Vegas Raiders celebrates after a game against the New England Patriots at Allegiant Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Getty Images)

Las Vegas Raiders: 5 worst decisions David Ziegler made in year one as GM

Signing Chandler Jones

Two big moves the Raiders made this past offseason were the trade for wide receiver Davante Adams, and the free agency signing of Chandler Jones. While Adams came in and was outstanding, setting the team’s single-season receiving yards record, Jones struggled for most of his first year in the Silver and Black.

In fact, outside of a late-season surge, he was mostly forgettable for the Raiders, and in some games, you even forgot that he was such a big free-agency signing. While I understand why Ziegler brought him in, as he traded away Yannick Ngakoue, and wanted to get Maxx Crosby some help, this signing was a disaster.

Now, Jones has the third-highest cap number going into the 2023 NFL season, and his dead cap number is higher than the cap hit they will take on if he stays with the team. It looks like another season for No. 55 in Las Vegas, and hopefully, Year 2 will bring more highlights like the one he had to end the New England Patriots game.

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