Countdown to 2020: Best Raiders player to wear No. 87
By Brad Weiss
Dave Casper (1974-1980, 1984)
The Raiders made Dave Casper the No. 45 overall pick in the 1974 NFL Draft, selecting the All-American and national title winner from Notre Dame. By 1976, Casper had established himself as one of the better tight ends in the league, going to five straight Pro Bowls, and being named an All-Pro from 1976 through 1979.
In addition to all the accolades, Casper also played in some historic games, and made his mark on both those contests. His “The Ghost to the Post,” catch in the 1977 Divisional Round game against the Baltimore Colts set up the game-tying field goal, as the Raiders would go on to beat the Colts in overtime.
In the “Holy Roller” game, Casper kicked the ball at the five-yard line, before falling on the ball in the end zone for the game-winning score. A 2002 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, Casper had a knack for being in the right place, at the right time, and he even hauled in the first touchdown during the Raiders Super Bowl XI win over Minnesota.
Casper is one of the better players in team history, and he named to our all-time starting lineup a few weeks back, navigating a tight end group that is one of the best in NFL history.
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Casper returned to the Raiders for the 1984 season, retiring as a member of the team that helped him put together his Hall of Fame resume. The Ghost will always be one of the more beloved players in the history of the franchise, and when it came to No. 87, there was no other choice to be made.