Ziegler Prefers Building the Defense 'Inside Out'

Defense should be a major priority for the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason.

The Las Vegas Raiders are going to need to make significant improvements on the defensive side of the football if they hope to return to the playoffs next season.

Las Vegas finished the 2022 season in the bottom-fourth of the National Football League in yards allowed per game (365.6) and points allowed per game (24.6).

The Raiders' pass coverage was frankly unacceptable, ranking 29th in the league in passing yards allowed per game at 242.9. 

While the secondary should be a major point of emphasis for Las Vegas this offseason, Raiders General Manager Dave Ziegler did express his thoughts of the importance of a solid defensive line.

"I think I've always been in a belief, when you're talking about the defensive side of the football of, I'd say, building it inside out," Ziegler said at the NFL Combine on Tuesday. "I think having a strong defensive line sets the tone for the rest of the defense. Now, that doesn't mean -- you can find a good player, draft a good player. We've talked about drafting the best available players, but I think having a deep defensive line that can disrupt, that you can run in waves and things of that nature. We have a lot of work to do to get to that point, but if I was going to kind of lean one way, I would say that would be where I would start from a building standpoint."

The 2023 NFL Draft will go from April 27-29 and be held at Union Station in Kansas City, Mo. On March 7, 2023, before 4 p.m. EST, is the club's deadline to designate Franchise or Transition Players.

March 13-15 is the free agent negotiation period. Starting at 12 p.m. EDT on March 13 and ending at 3:59:59 p.m. EDT on March 15, clubs are permitted to contact and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expiration of their 2022 Player Contracts at 4 p.m. EDT on March 15.

The 2023 NFL Year and Free Agency period begins at 4 p.m. EDT on March 15. The Raiders are expected to be significant players in the free-agent market this season.

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