Three Raiders on hot seat as new league year approaches
After making the playoffs in 2021 and acquiring star wideout Davante Adams, the Las Vegas Raiders had an excellent chance to strengthen their standing among the AFC hierarchy. But Las Vegas finished 6-11 and missed the playoffs.
Here are three Raiders on the hot seat as the new league year approaches on March 15:
1. Head coach Josh McDaniels
McDaniels may repeat the same mistake that led to his first head-coaching failure in Denver, where he tried to mirror the calculating style of his mentor, Bill Belichick.
Players are not buying into McDaniels’ methods. The Raiders’ recently released NFLPA report card, a survey of players, said, “The coaching staff was the lowest-graded category.” Players said the HC wasted their time with long work hours and did not listen to their advice.
The report card noted seven of the eight HCs rated as most efficient with players’ time made the playoffs. McDaniels must ease up or the results could get worse in Vegas.
2. General manager Dave Ziegler
Fitting for a GM in Las Vegas, Ziegler likes to gamble. That worked well in the deal for Adams, whom the Raiders acquired from Green Bay for two first-round picks. In 2022, Adams had 100 catches for 1,516 yards and 14 TD receptions.
But Ziegler’s propensity for risk-taking may torpedo the franchise. He released veteran QB Derek Carr with no succession plan in place. Now he must either find a solid veteran QB or draft a franchise cornerstone to replace him. (The Raiders hold the seventh pick in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.) Chase Garbers, the only QB under contract, isn’t the answer.
Ziegler recently said there might not be an “immediate answer” at QB. That can’t be comforting for Raiders fans.
3. Defensive end Chandler Jones
Signing Jones to a four-year deal with $32M guaranteed last offseason didn’t pan out. In 2022, the defensive end seemed past his prime. In 15 games, Jones had four sacks, the second-lowest total of his career.
The Raiders bet on Jones revving up the pass rush and complementing Pro Bowl DE Maxx Crosby, but Las Vegas ranked 30th in sacks last season.
If Jones doesn’t bounce back, he could become a cap casualty in 2024. Per OverTheCap, releasing Jones can save $12.2M before the June 1 deadline, $17M afterward.
