Raiders Countdown to Kickoff: 56: Who wore it best, who's wearing it now

This time next week the Raiders rookies will report to training camp. The start of the regular season is now 56 days away so we take a look at the best to wear the number 56 for the Raiders and who dons it now.

Who wore it best: DE  Derrick Burgess (2005-08)

Originally a third round pick by the Eagles, Burgess was slow to find his stride in the NFL. He had 6.0 sacks as a rookie, but was injured in his second season after just one game. He played in the first 12 games in his third season before going down with injury again, but he returned for the playoffs and was a major factor in the Eagles run to the Super Bowl with 2.0 sacks in the NFC Championship game and another in the Super Bowl itself.

He was an up and comer and the Raiders took a chance he could stay healthy and contribute as a pass rusher. Did he ever. He lit it up in his first season in Oakland in 2005 with 16.0 sacks, earning a trip to the Pro Bowl. He followed that up with 11.0 sacks in 2006 and was again named to the Pro Bowl. In total Burgess spent four seasons with the Raiders and they were his best as a pro with 38.5 sacks during that time.

Heading into year five of his contract, he wanted a new deal and held out of training camp. With the injuries starting to become a concern, the Raiders weren't willing to give him the deal he wanted and instead traded him to the Patriots for a third and fourth round pick in the 2010 draft. He would play just the one season in New England, followed by one game back with the Eagles and that was his final game in the NFL.

Though in the end, his contract demands got him sent out of Oakland and later released by the Patriots, the Raiders definitely got the best out of him. And in the end they even got a couple draft picks in return.

Who's wearing it now: LB  Chase Williams

Williams was signed as an undrafted free agent just prior to the Raiders' minicamp in June. He was added to replace Miles Burris' spot on the roster and even took the number Burris had worn the past three seasons.

Williams played four seasons at Virginia Tech, becoming a starter as a senior. The 6-2, 215-pound linebacker started nine games last season with 72 tackles and 3.5 sacks.

He is an inside linebacker by trade and currently sits fourth on the depth chart behind Curtis Lofton, Ben Heeney, and Spencer Hadley. He has had all of three practices with the team and will have his work cut out for him to try and work his way up the depth chart.

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