Las Vegas Raiders Dream Team: All-Time Starting Defense

Las Vegas Raiders Dream Team: All-Time Starting Defense

Willie Brown (1967-1978)

Throughout history, the Raiders have had plenty of great defensive backs, but none greater than Hall of Famer, Willie Brown. Brown was known as the “Godfather” of the bump and run defense, and if you needed to lock up an opposing wide receiver in man-to-man defense, he was your man.

Along with Lester Hayes, Brown holds the franchise record for interceptions with 39.  As a member of the Raiders, Brown was a four-time First Teams All-Pro and a seven-time Pro Bowler. Not only did Brown contribute as a player on the field, but following his retirement, Brown became a defensive backs coach for the team, and held positions in the front office.

Mike Haynes (1983-1989)

Mike Haynes earned himself the nickname “Blanket” because of his ability to cover anybody.  His game was built on speed and quickness, and throughout his NFL career, he built up such an impressive resume that he was immortalized in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Though he was a No. 5 overall selection of the New England Patriots in 1976, he landed with the Raiders in 1983. With the Raiders, he was a member of the 1983 Super Bowl Championship team, and was a1984 and 1985 First Team All-Pro. Haynes started 86 of a possible 90 games with the Silver and Black, recording 18 interceptions.

Charles Woodson (1998-2005, 2013-2015)

How can you have an All-Time Raiders starting lineup and not include Charles Woodson? Woodson was a stud for the Raiders during his two stints with the team, and although he has not yet received the call to Canton, it will happen at some point in the near future, as he is eligible in 2021.

A first round pick of the organization after winning a Heisman Trophy at Michigan, Woodson made his presence felt right away, as he was named the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year. His 27 interceptions ranks him 8th in franchise history, and although he won a Super Bowl with Green Bay, he returned to the Bay to close out his Hall of Fame career, and he will always be remembered as a Raiders legend.

Lester Hayes (1977-1986)

It’s really a crime that Lester Hayes has not been inducted into the Hall of Fame yet, as he has more than enough credentials on his resume to be enshrined in Canton. Hayes spent his entire ten-year career with the team, and had his best season in 1980, when he was named the NFL AP Defensive Player of the Year.

In addition to that honor he was a first-team All-Pro that season, and from 1980 through 1984, he was named to the Pro Bowl every season. A member of two Super Bowl championship teams, Hayes is a member of the NFL’s All-Decade team for the 1980s, and is was a guy who could flat out shut a wideout down.

Jack Tatum (1971-1979)

Looking for a tone setter on the back end of your defense who isn’t afraid to knock someones block off? Then look no further than Jack Tatum, who earned the nickname “the assassin” during his playing days for the way he played the game, as a punishing defensive back.

Tatum was a starter on the 1976 championship team, and has one of the more crushing hits in Super Bowl history, as his hit on Sammy White knocked his helmet off in the team’s victory over Minnesota. In addition, Tatum made three Pro Bowls in nine seasons with the organization, and hauled in 30 interceptions.