Oakland Raiders: 5 Of The Greatest Receivers In Team History

January 26, 2014; Honolulu, HI, USA; (Editor

Honorable Mentions: Willie Gault/Mervyn Fernandez/Jerry Rice

Willie Gault was everything the late Al Davis loved in a receiver – namely, he was usually the fastest guy on the field. It was his blazing fast speed that led Davis to work a trade with the Chicago Bears for the former Olympic medalist.

And he didn’t disappoint. Over his six seasons with the Raiders, Gault caught 149 balls for 2,985 yards, and 17 touchdowns. He also had an eye-popping average of 20 yards per reception. Gault was a deep threat who had the ability to score from anywhere on the field. Which is why Davis – and the Raiders fan base – loved the guy.

Fernandez was so lightly regarded coming out of college, that the Raiders didn’t select him until the tenth round of the draft in 1983. But he didn’t play a down of football for the Raiders until 1987, opting to spend four years in the Canadian football league to work on his game.

When Fernandez came back to the NFL, he was ready to play. And everything he’d done and learned while in Canada, paid big dividends for him and for the Raiders. Over his six seasons in Silver and Black, “Swervin’” Mervyn Fernandez racked up 3,764 yards on 209 receptions for a very healthy average of 18 yards per reception. He also caught 19 touchdowns.

Jerry Rice was a product, and longtime contributor for the San Francisco 49ers. It was something of a surprise when he became available on the free agent market. But when he did, the Raiders pounced. And it was a terrific free agent signing.

Though already 16 years into his illustrious career when he came to Oakland, Rice spent just over four years in Silver and Black, piling up 3,286 yards and 18 touchdowns on his 243 receptions. He was never truly a Raider at heart, as his heart belonged in San Francisco, but he was still a pretty terrific receiver for the Raiders all the same.

Next: Number Five