Josh McDaniels could have saved his job if not for overruling general manager Dave Ziegler on a potential franchise-altering move at this past April’s 2023 NFL Draft.
McDaniels and Ziegler were fired by owner Mark Davis following an ugly Week 8 road loss to the Detroit Lions. The duo inherited a 10-win playoff team in 2022 but left Vegas with a disappointing 9-16-0 record in their short-lived tenure with the organization.
Oh, how things could have been so much different.
According to a report from Raiders reporter Hondo S. Carpenter Sr. of Sports Illustrated, Ziegler wanted to trade up into the No. 2 spot to take Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud. Ziegler even viewed the ex-Buckeye as “a generational talent, but according to Carpenter Sr., McDaniels overruled the GM and nixed a potential move for Stroud.
Here’s what one source told Carpenter Sr.:
“He (Ziegler) felt the cost was cheap, and he was willing to do almost anything that didn’t include Maxx Crosby. He and Josh agreed that the price of No. 1 was too high, but Z wanted to move up to No. 2 and grab Stroud.
He could have made the deal. He also knew Stroud would allow McDaniels to show the fans and the owner that an identity would be established. Josh was willing to move up for Bryce Young, but as expected, he went No. 1, and Stroud to the Raiders had long been dead.”
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After Bryce Young went first overall to the Carolina Panthers, the Houston Texans took Stroud with the No. 2 pick. And the rest, as they say, is history.
While the Raiders have been held back by lackluster quarterback play all season long, Stroud is piecing together one of the best rookie QB seasons ever. Stroud has completed 63.7 percent of his pass attempts for 3,266 yards and 19 touchdowns against only five interceptions.
As for the Raiders? Jimmy Garoppolo, Brian Hoyer and rookie Aidan O’Connell have combined for 2,630 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.
Yeah, they could have used Stroud alright.
