Dave

Ziegler

Ziegler spent last season in a personal advisor role with the Saints after a two-year stint as the Raiders’ general manager (2022-2023). Ziegler and new Titans GM Mike Borgonzi will now work together to rebuild a Titans franchise that is fresh off a 3-14 season and currently possesses the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Ziegler’s first role in the NFL came as a player personnel assistant with the Broncos in 2010. He then spent the next two seasons as a scout for the Broncos and has held multiple front office positions since then. With plenty of years of experience to offer, Ziegler should fit nicely with Borgonzi, who is entering his first year as GM but has 16 years of front office experience with the Chiefs.

Ziegler couldn’t make it through his second full season with the team, being dismissed alongside head coach Josh McDaniels in a middle-of-the-night move by Raiders owner Mark Davis. Ziegler oversaw the exodus of Derek Carr and the signing of Jimmy Garoppolo, a move that created one of the NFL’s least productive offenses. Ziegler could end up in another front office, though the stink of the past two seasons in Las Vegas could linger for a while.

It’s clear that the Raiders had their mind made up as soon as they decided to move on from Mike Mayock. Ziegler was the first person to get an interview for the role and the connection grew even stronger once the team was linked to Pats OC Josh McDaniels. Rapoport noted that Ziegler’s role was key in the Pats’ quick turnaround from losing Tom Brady to returning to the playoffs with Mac Jones. Ziegler was promoted to director of player personnel after Nick Caserio vacated the role last year. McDaniels should be the next domino to fall for the Raiders.

The Raiders currently have Mike Mayock as their GM but this points to the end of his tenure in Las Vegas. After a tumultuous season off the field, the Raiders may be cleaning house this offseason. Head coach Jon Gruden resigned earlier this year. Interim head coach Rich Bisaccia led Vegas to the playoffs and the team is conducting head coaching interviews anyway. Mayock might be the next to go. Ziegler was a candidate to land the GM gig in Denver last year but chose to stay in New England instead. He took over as director of player personnel for Nick Caserio after the latter left for Houston. The Raiders also put in a request in interview Colts executive Ed Dodds.