The Las Vegas Raiders 2022 season was a total disappointment, and after finishing with a 6-11 record, general manager Dave Ziegler will be looking deep into the offseason to improve the roster.
While the Raiders will be shoppers during free agency, they do have an opportunity to add valuable young depth during the 2023 NFL Draft.
“We’re going to continue to find players that fit what we look for, and continue to build this team in our vision, and I think we’re going to, at the same time, our goal is to win football games, and our goal for next year is to make an improvement over where we were this year,” said Ziegler.
After landing the seventh overall selection for this year’s draft, we’ll be teaming up with SI’s Draft Bible to get the latest information on potential players the Silver and Black may draft.
First up is offensive lineman Peter Skoronski, Northwestern Wildcats
The 6-foot-4, 315 pound lineman was the recipient of the Big Ten’s Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year.
Skoronski graded as one of the top pass-protectors in the country by Pro Football Focus, with a 93.0 pass blocking grade, after allowing only six pressures on 474 pass-blocking snaps.
According to PFF, his 79.1 run-blocking grade also ranks fifth among all qualifying Power 5 tackles.
“The potential first-round pick that has the versatility to play any position on the offensive line with his size and athletic ability,” said SI Draft Bible.
Skoronski, originally manned the right tackle spot, and was moved into the left tackle position in place of Rashawn Slater, now with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Versatility is a huge plus for the Raiders new coaching staff and he sure checks that box.
A powerful blocker in both the pass and run game, some say his arm length may be too short to play tackle at the next level and should consider moving him inside but his tape shows otherwise.
The more I watch his tape, the more I see how exceptionally athletic he is at tackle.
Loved by the coaches, and demonstrates great passion for the game and high character. His quick feet and fundamentally sound technique are two of his more favorable attributes.
“When you start building that relationship and you understand his personality and what his individual goals are … you realize that this guy was a perfect fit for the culture of this program. But probably more so, the culture that we’re trying to build within the offensive lineman,” sais Northwestern offensive line coach Kurt Anderson.
Drafting a player with his football IQ and strong work ethic in the first round of the draft will help solidify the Raiders offensive line for years to come.
The 2023 NFL Draft is set to begin on Thursday, April 27 with the start of the first round.
The NFL Draft will take place in Kansas City, Missouri, which will be held at Union Station and it will end with rounds five to seven on Saturday, April 29.
All seven rounds will be broadcasted through ESPN, ABC, and NFL Network.
The NFL Scouting Combine is February 28-March 6, 2023, held at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN. March 7, 2023, before 4:00 p.m. EST, is the club’s deadline to designate Franchise or Transition Players.
March 13-15 is the free agent negotiation period. During the time starting at 12:00 noon EST on March 13 and ending at 3:59:59 p.m., New York time, 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 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 15.
The 2023 NFL Year and Free Agency period begins at 4:00 p.m. EST on March 15. The Raiders are expected to be significant players in the free-agent market this season.
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Michael Rothstein, ESPN Staff WriterJun 7, 2023, 11:07 AM ETClosePreviously covered University of Michigan for ESPN.com and AnnArbor.com Also covered Notre Dame
The roster-building portion of the NFL offseason is mostly over. Free agency is behind
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