GM of the former Raiders joins the Saints through the 2024 draft
General manager Dave Ziegler was also let go by the Raiders midway through head coach Josh McDaniels’ second season on the franchise. The latter has, at least temporarily, located his next NFL opportunity.
Ziegler will work as an advisor for the Saints during the 2017 draft, according to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports.
With the team navigating its yearly slate of cap gymnastics and free agency, New Orleans will have an experienced voice in important personnel decisions over the next few weeks thanks to this temporary agreement.
Of course, the draft itself will be another important milestone on the offseason schedule.
In 2010, Ziegler began working as an executive for the Broncos. That year he was employed as an assistant in player personnel, but part of his latter experience was gained in Denver and New England as a scout.
Prior to accepting the general manager position with the Raiders in 2021, the 46-year-old rose up the ranks with the Patriots, becoming player personnel director.
However, in Vegas, things did not go as planned. During his tenure, the Raiders finished 14–20, and the team developed a distinct Patriot Way identity.
A handful of former Patriots players, including Jimmy Garoppolo at quarterback, were added.
In his first season in Vegas, the veteran faced fresh injury worries, and interim coach Antonio Pierce benched him in favor of rookie Aidan O’Connell.
The Raiders’ new management will be able to cut bait thanks to Garoppolo’s PED punishment, but finding a successor will be a primary offseason priority in an effort to break up the McDaniels-Ziegler duo.
In the near future, the Saints will need to make a number of crucial decisions, such as continuing the extensions and reorganizations that will be required to stay under the salary cap ceiling.
However, it’s expected that a number of veterans will be let go, including wideout Michael Thomas, whose contract is set up for his release.
The Saints, who have gone a combined 16-18 under head coach Dennis Allen, will need to replace them via free agency and the draft if they hope to make the postseason.
After the draft is over, it will be interesting to see if Ziegler gets to stay longer in New Orleans or if he boosts his resume for another executive job somewhere.
