Whether it be in Northern or Southern California, a multitude of great wide receivers have donned the Silver and Black colors. As you could probably guess, it was very hard to pick my top four, since the Las Vegas Raiders have had so many greats at this position.
Here’s my attempt at ranking the top four Raiders wideouts of all-time:
The Top 4 Raiders Wide Receivers
Touchdown Tim Brown
I don’t need to explain this one very much, and I’m sure you expected Brown to make this list as soon as you read the title to this article. He is undoubtedly the greatest Raiders receiver of all-time, and he’s got a strong argument for the best overall ever.
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On December 9, 2001 #Raiders HOFer Tim Brown had a 88-yard punt return TD versus the Chiefs @ the Oakland Coliseum. A Raiders 28-26 win.
*It stands as the 5th longest punt return in team history. pic.twitter.com/p9duBuTZjr
— AFL Godfather ðŸ´â€â˜ ï¸ðŸ‘“🈠(@NFLMAVERICK) December 9, 2019
Brown holds the franchise record for yards, receptions, touchdowns, and all-purpose yards. He is also the leader in both punt-returns and yards. For nine consecutive seasons, he totaled 1,000+ receiving yards, which is absolutely insane. I don’t think I’d be going out on a limb by saying we probably won’t see another Raiders wide receiver match that accomplishment.
Brown was the perfect receiver. Raider Nation couldn’t have asked for a better player to represent them for 16 years.
Fred Biletnikoff
There’s a reason the best receiver in college football gets an award named after this man. Biletnikoff had the stickiest hands in the game. He set franchise records for the Raiders for 14 years until Brown broke them. He is second to Brown in receptions, touchdowns and yards. Moreover, he didn’t back down in the post-season either. He ranks seventh in NFL history when it comes to post-season yards, and was named Super Bowl XI MVP.
Happy birthday to one of the smoothest receivers ever, @Raiders legend and Hall of Famer Fred Biletnikoff! pic.twitter.com/TzPBAqnRCX
— NFL Throwback (@nflthrowback) February 24, 2019
Biletnikoff was the most important piece of a high-tempo Raiders offense from 1965-1978. His tremendous career set a precedent the organization had never been seen before.
Related:Â Will Raiders Regret Not Picking Up Cam Newton?
Art Powell
Powell only spent four years with the Raiders, but in that time, he put up 4,491 yards, which equals an average of 1,222 yards per season. When considering the run-heavy era Powell played in, these numbers somehow look more impressive.
While only spending four seasons with the team, Powell comes in at fourth in franchise receiving yards leaders for wide receivers. He put up a whopping 16 touchdowns in the 1963 season, and his 50 total touchdowns ranks fourth in franchise history. Again, he achieved this in just four years!
Cliff Branch
Obviously, Cliff Branch will close this list out. It is an absolute crime that Branch isn’t in the NFL Hall of Fame, and there is no reason he shouldn’t have worn a gold jacket before he passed away.
Rest in power, Cliff Branch. pic.twitter.com/RQ6nlJkBtS
— Joe Montana’s Right Arm (@JoeMsrightarm) August 4, 2019
When your kid asks you for an example of the perfect Raiders player, you should show him a picture of Cliff Branch.
Branch is the only Raiders receiver to have played in all three of the team’s Super Bowl wins. He totaled 8,685 receiving yards in his illustrious career, good enough for third in franchise history. He also has the third most touchdowns in Raiders’ history, at 67. Branch was a great human off the field. He was, and always will be, the prime example of the perfect player. Raider Nation is blessed to have seen him touch the field for 14 seasons. While the Hall of Fame may not recognize his greatness, Raiders fans always will.
Raiders’ Honorable Mentions
Jerry Rice
Jerry Rice is the best wide receiver in the history of football, and he’s got a decent argument to be the best football player of all-time. With that said, he only played for the Raiders for three and a half years, and he built his legacy across the bay in San Francisco. He has the most receiving yards in NFL history, but he comes in at only 18th in team history when it comes to receiving yards. While he’s undoubtedly the GOAT at this position, he didn’t build enough of a legacy with the Raiders to crack this list.
James Jett
James Jett has the perfect name for a wide receiver, and his last name described his style of play perfectly. Jett spent his ten year career with the Los Angeles and Oakland Raiders, amassing the sixth most receiving yards in franchise history. He suited up for a very long time, and he built a legacy as one of the more iconic players in Raiders history.
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