Ziegler on Not Drafting a QB: 'I Don't See That Happening'

Las Vegas Raiders General Manager Dave Ziegler believes drafting a quarterback in this year's NFL Draft is necessary.

As important as it will be for the Las Vegas Raiders to find the right person to step in as their new starting quarterback, it is probably just as crucial that the club has depth.

There's no guarantee a team will have the same primary quarterback throughout the season, as was proven by several teams this past season.

The San Francisco 49ers, for example, who were only a win away from making it to the Super Bowl, went through three starting quarterbacks, and Josh Johnson, who replaced an injured Brock Purdy in the NFC title game.

Whether or not the Raiders decide that their next franchise quarterback will come from this year's NFL Draft, General Manager Dave Ziegler is confident his club will have added at least one quarterback from this draft to the position group.

"I never like to talk in absolutes," Ziegler said at the NFL Combine last Tuesday. "Could that [not drafting a quarterback] happen? Yes, it could happen. Do I see that happening? No, I don't see that happening. I think every year we've talked about it philosophically; I think Ron Wolf had a philosophy in Green Bay that almost every draft, they wanted to come out in some form or fashion with a quarterback prospect. 

"And I'm not going to tie myself to that, because again, you do an absolute and then that doesn't happen and then that doesn't work out well for you. But I would say some form or fashion we're always looking at the quarterbacks. We had Chase Garbers last year in college free agency after the draft. But I think we want to always continue to add to that position. I think you know this year will be no different."

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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