Oakland Raiders: Top-20 players of the 21st Century

10 of 21

WASHINGTON – NOVEMBER 20: Oakland Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha #21 celebrates after the Raiders recovered a game winning fumble in the fourth quarter on November 20, 2005 at Fed Ex Field in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) /

Nnamdi Asomugha (2003-2010)

In the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft, the Oakland Raiders selected Nnamdi Asomugha out of Cal with the No. 31 overall pick. Over the next eight seasons, Asomugha would become a fixture in the Raiders secondary, developing into one of the better cornerbacks in the entire NFL.

Though he would end his career away from Oakland, it was during his time in the Silver and Black where he really established himself as an elite player. He was named to three consecutive Pro Bowls from 2008 through 2010, and was twice named an All-Pro. He was quite the specimen, as he was big and fast, and could cover anyone in the game.

Asomugha would chase the money, leaving the Raiders to head to Philadelphia on a monster contract that made him one of the highest-paid defensive backs in the game. Still, he played so well that the Oakland Tribune named him one of the greatest Raiders of all-time back in 2009, and he would make his way back to Oakland, signing a one-day contract to retire a Raider.

Home/Las Vegas Raiders News