Oakland Raiders: 15 best free agent acquisitions of all-time
player. 28. . DB. (1998-05, 2013-15). Charles Woodson. 5
When it comes to being a Raider through and through, few come to mind more than the great Charles Woodson. I know what you may be thinking, the Raiders drafted him out of Michigan in 1998.
True, but the Raiders also re-signed him as a free agent prior to the 2013 season. For the purposes of this article, only his statistics and impact after being re-signed will be considered, but it is more than enough.
At 37 years old, Woodson left the Green Bay Packers, but wanted one last rodeo. What better place to retire than the team that gave him his start in the league?
Oakland welcomed him back with open arms, literally. After the signing, there was a group of loyal Raiders fans waiting to greet him at the facility. That should tell you all that you need to know about Woodson.
Moving from corner to safety, Woodson started in every game for the Raiders in his second stint. Tallying 10 interceptions, seven fumble recoveries and three sacks, Woodson played very well considering he was 37, 38 and 39 years old during his final three seasons.
More important than the stats, Woodson helped usher in a new era in Raider football. He brought heart and leadership to a young group in need of a vocal leader and taught a lot of the core how to carry themselves in the NFL. Woodson’s impact on the Raiders overall was tremendous and he is easily a legend of the franchise.