The Raiders are one of the NFL's most iconic franchises, and the team has had a history of signing big-name players, often past their primes. Here are five stars you may have forgotten donned the silver and black.
5. Randy Moss, 2005-2006
One of the greatest wide receivers in NFL history, Moss spent seven incredibly productive years with the Minnesota Vikings before being traded to Oakland in 2005. During his two seasons with the Raiders, Moss dealt with injuries, and was publicly dissatisfied with the team's performance, admitting his effort was not 100%. He caught 60 passes for 1.005 yards and eight touchdowns in 2005, and his production fell to 42 grabs for 553 yards and three scores. Moss was dealt to the New England Patriots after the season, where he promptly set the NFL record for receiving touchdowns in a season with 23. For a player as spectacular as Moss, his time in California was extremely forgettable. To say his two seasons were disappointing would be an understatement. When he was traded to New England, many believed he was past his prime, but that was clearly not the case. It was simply a matter of effort and quarterback play; going from Kerry Collins, Andrew Walker, and Aaron Brooks to prime Tom Brady was quite the glow-up.
4. DeAngelo Hall, 2008
Hall was the eighth overall pick in 2004, and made two Pro Bowls in four seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. Prior to the 2008 campaign, Hall was traded to the Raiders in exchange for second and fifth-round picks. Hall then signed a seven-year contract with Oakland worth $70 million. He lasted eight games before being cut, leaving the team with $8 million of that $7 million. The Raiders were fortunate that NFL contracts hadn't developed the significant guarantees that they include today, otherwise the team would not have been able to move on from hall so easily. Hall just didn't perform up to expectations, and attitude issues were also a concern. He signed with the Washington Redskins for the remainder of the season, and spent another nine years in D.C. before retiring.
3. Justin Tuck, 2014-2015
Tuck was a key cog in the New York Giants defense for seven years, winning two Super Bowls. He totaled 10 or more sacks in four seasons, and finished sixth all-time in Giants history in sacks. He signed a two-year deal worth $11 million with Oakland in 2014, after reportedly receiving an “insulting” offer from New York. Tuck had a decent first season with the Raiders, putting up five sacks and 11 tackles for loss, but his 2015 season did not go as well. as he landed on injured reserve after five games due to a pectoral injury that ultimately signaled the end of his career. Tuck wasn't bad, but at 31, it was clear he was past his prime. He returned to the Giants after the 2015 campaign to sign a ceremonial one-day contract, retiring with his original team.
2. Eric Dickerson, 1992
A Hall of Famer, Dickerson is best known for setting the single-season rushing record when he ran for 2,105 yards in 1984. After spending four-and-a-half seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, Dickerson was traded to the Raiders for fourth and eighth-round selections. In his lone year with Oakland, Dickerson ran for 729 yards and two TDs at the age of 32. Given his age, Dickerson's performance was fine. No one was expecting him to still be his record-breaking self.
The following offseason, he was moved to the Atlanta Falcons for a sixth-round pick, and was a seldom-used backup for Atlanta. He retired after the 1993 campaign with the Los Angeles Rams.
1. Ronnie Lott, 1991-1992
Lott is one of, if not the greatest safety in the history of the league. He played 10 seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, making five All-Pro teams. At the age of 32, he moved across the bay to Oakland, where he played for two seasons. Lott led the NFL in interceptions in 1991 with eight, as he made his sixth All-Pro team and 10th Pro Bowl. He moved on to the New York Jets in 1993, and after playing two seasons with them, returned to the Niners, but injuries forced him to retire. He was a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2000, and although he isn't remembered for his time in Oakland, Lott's performance with the Raiders was significantly better than the others on this list.
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