As of today, we drop into double digits until the Raiders kick off their 2017 season at 10am Pacific on September 10 in Tennessee. We’re going to count down the days by profiling each number, both the best to ever wear it for in Silver & Black and the player who currently wears it.
The offseason roster is set at 90 players and with 99 numbers to get through, there will be a few numbers which don't have a current player sporting that jersey. In those instances, we will go with ‘who wore it last'.
As of now, we begin out countdown at number 99.
Who wore it best: DE Sean Jones (1984-87)
A second round pick by the Raiders in the 1984 draft, this pass rushing defensive end spent the first four seasons of his career with the team. He posted 31 sacks over that time, including 15.5 in his third season.
After his fourth season, the Raiders traded him to the Oilers for the ninth overall pick in the 1988 draft which they used to select cornerback Terry McDaniel.
Jones went on to have a 13-year NFL career, playing six seasons with the Oilers and his final three seasons with the Packers. He finished with 113 career sacks, five times posting double digit sacks, and once made a Pro Bowl.
Other notable Raiders to wear 99: Lamarr Houston (2010-13), Winston Moss (1991-94), Aundray Bruce (1992-98)
Who’s wearing it now: DE Fadol Brown (Rookie)
Had Aldon Smith not continued his downward spiral into substance abuse, it would be his name here. But the commissioner has not reinstated him from his indefinite ban and there’s little indication that will happen anytime soon, so the Raiders gave his number to someone else.
Brown is an undrafted rookie out of Mississippi. Injuries were the primary cause of him falling out of the draft. What he does best is stop the run. Pro Football Focus gave him the second highest run stop percentage in the nation with 34 run tackles to just two missed tackles.
The 6-4, 282-pound defensive end finished his career at Ole Miss on a high note, racking up 28 of his 39 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and a sack in the final four games after returning from a foot injury. The Raiders are hoping that was a sign of things to come.
He will have his opportunity as the Raiders are somewhat thin at the defensive end spot.
Loading comments...