Raiders GM Dave Ziegler says team might not have ‘immediate answer’ at QB position
Feb 23, 2023, 1:30 PM
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 23: Head coach Josh McDaniels (L) and general manager Dave Ziegler of the Las Vegas Raiders walk off the field after the team's 38-20 victory over the Houston Texans at Allegiant Stadium on October 23, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The Las Vegas Raiders are in an interesting spot in regard to their quarterback position.
Technically, they don’t have one on the roster. The team released Derek Carr earlier this month and his backup, Jarrett Stidham, is an unrestricted free agent.
With the seventh pick in this year’s NFL Draft, they could select someone young and have them grow with the team. Or, the Raiders have also been linked to Aaron Rodgers rumors and other free-agent quarterbacks.
Because of the possibilities, general manager Dave Ziegler doesn’t know if the next quarterback is the one who will be with the team long-term. On the latest episode of the Bussin’ With the Boys podcast released Tuesday, he explained the pressure of “filling the most important position on the team.”
“And however we fill it, it doesn’t mean we’re going to have an immediate answer this year,” Ziegler said on the podcast. “But, at the end of the day, we have to have an answer in some form or fashion. There’s pressure that comes along with it. That’s also part of the excitement too, is that pressure, is finding that guy and that’ll be the next task.”
The episode was recorded earlier this year, on Jan. 20, before the team released Carr, but after the season had ended and with the writing on the wall with Carr’s future.
Las Vegas Raiders GM Dave Ziegler on Bussin With The Boys discussing the Derek Carr situation with Will Compton and Taylor Lewan.
🎥:// YT @BussinWTB pic.twitter.com/FEbb8UQ9HJ— Kenny King Jr (@KennyKing_Jr) February 21, 2023
Hosts Will Compton and Taylor Lewan also asked Ziegler about the decision to bench the former Raiders’ starting quarterback. In his first year as the general manager of the Raiders, Ziegler noted there were a lot of hard decisions the team had to make, which included not picking up the fifth-year option for safety Johnathan Abram or releasing Alex Leatherwood.
“A decision like that, it’s a tough decision, there’s a lot of emotion involved in that decision, too,” Ziegler said. “Derek Carr is a phenomenal human being, it’s hard not to like Derek Carr.”
