The Las Vegas Raiders had a tough 2022 NFL season, and here are the worst decisions made by their new GM last off-season.
When David Ziegler was named the general manager of the Las Vegas Raiders last offseason, it was announced that he would have the final say in personnel decisions. Making his first stint as a general manager in the NFL, Ziegler had a big job to do but was entering a franchise that was fresh off their first playoff appearance since 2016.
In Year 1, Ziegler had some big swings, landing Davante Adams via a trade with the Green Bay Packers, but he also had some big misses. In fact, some of the reason for the Raiders’ struggles in 2022 was due to the team that he put together, as he allowed some key pieces to walk, and brought in some players who really underperformed.
Of course, all a general manager can do is try to make the right decisions for the team and does not have any control over whether or not they do their thing between the white lines. He also had a head coach who seemed allergic to winning games, even with a big lead, so that is something to keep an eye on in Josh Mcdaniels’ second season at the helm.
Here, we look at the five worst decisions by Ziegler in Year 1.
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.
Las Vegas Raiders: 5 worst decisions David Ziegler made in year one as GM
Letting Alec Ingold walk in free agency
The Las Vegas Raiders went into last offseason with a bunch of pending free agents, and one of those players was fullback Alec Ingold. During the 2021 season, Ingold, seen as a team leader on the field and in the locker room, tore his ACL in November and was placed on injured reserve, ending his season.
Little did he know at the time that the injury would also end his Raiders career, as the team decided to not bring him back, and instead added former New England Patriots fullback, Jakob Johnson. While Johnson had a strong season for Las Vegas, Ingold was one of the glues of this Raiders offense, and fans were sad to see him go.
Ingold also appeared to be on a mission this season, as he made it all the way back from his ACL injury, and even started Week 1 for the Miami Dolphins. With Miami, Ingold appeared in 17 games, making 14 starts, and was named an alternate to the Pro Bowl, making his first appearance. When healthy, he is one of the best fullbacks in the game.
Las Vegas Raiders: 5 worst decisions David Ziegler made in year one as GM
Trading away Yannick Ngakoue
On the same day that the team brought in Chandler Jones to team with Maxx Crosby at defensive end, the Silver and Black also traded away Yannick Ngakoue to the Indianapolis Colts. Ngakoue came to Las Vegas on a two-year deal back in 2021, and in his only season with the Raiders, he was outstanding, leading the team in sacks, and was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 7.
Unfortunately, the new regime decided it was best to trade him away for some secondary help, and they did so by sending him to the Colts for Rock Ya-Sin. For a team that has struggled mightily in the defensive backfield, the arrival of Ya-Sin was a welcome one, but for Ngakoue, it proved to be very heavily one-sided in Indianapolis’s favor.
Ya-Sin battled through an injury-riddled season in Las Vegas, and while he was solid, Ngakoue went to Indianapolis and had 9.5 sacks. Las Vegas goes into the 2023 offseason with more questions than answers in the secondary, and with Ya-Sin a pending free agent, the Raiders may have given Ngakoue away for a one-and-done player.
Las Vegas Raiders: 5 worst decisions David Ziegler made in year one as GM
Not fixing the RT spot
Going into the 2022 offseason, there was clearly a need for David Ziegler and his staff to rebuild and upgrade the offensive line. With them giving Derek Carr a new extension, and bringing in Davante Adams, protecting No. 4 should have been a priority, and it seemed to be when they added Dylan Parham with their first pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
The problem was, that pick did not come until the third round, so while Parham was good as a rookie, he was not the kind of top-level talent this offensive line was lacking. Ziegler and his crew needed to go to the free agency pool, or even try to trade back into the second round to at least get some kind of talent at the right tackle spot.
Instead, the combination of Jermaine Eluemunor and Thayer Munford Jr. manned the position all season, and while Eluemunor played well at times, neither of them is the answer moving forward. Hopefully, Ziegler will make the offensive line a priority this offseason, because there are enough weapons on that side of the ball for this to be a dangerous unit in 2023 no matter who the quarterback is.
Las Vegas Raiders: 5 worst decisions David Ziegler made in year one as GM
Not picking up Josh Jacobs’ fifth-year option
The best running back in the NFL this season was a player that Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels had playing in the Hall of Fame game back in August. Josh Jacobs dominated the NFL landscape in 2022, leading the league in both rushing yards, and yards from scrimmage, all the while serving as a constant on an offense that really struggled at times.
Prior to the season, Ziegler and his staff did not pick up Jacobs’s fifth-year option, making him a free agent this offseason.
In all fairness to Ziegler, this season from Jacobs was one for the ages, but he did prove even prior to 2022 that he is a dependable running back. In fact, Jacobs has now rushed for over 1,000 yards in three of his first four NFL seasons and has done so behind some of the worst offensive line play in the league.
3 first-year Las Vegas Raiders the team should bring back in 2023
The Las Vegas Raiders have a ton of free agency decisions to make this offseason, and bringing back these three first-year players should be a priority.
Now, the attention turns to what they plan to do with him long-term, as he is still only going into his age-25 season, and has a lot of good football left in him. A franchise tag won’t cost the team too much money, but that could also deter Jacobs from signing with the team after the 2023 season, especially after two ‘show-me’ seasons in Las Vegas.