Countdown to 2020: Best Raiders player to wear No. 83 all-time

OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 28: Ted Hendricks #83 and Jack Tatum #32 of the Oakland Raiders tackles Ed Williams #43 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during an NFL football game November 28, 1976 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California. Hendricks played for the Raiders from 1975-83. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 28: Ted Hendricks #83 and Jack Tatum #32 of the Oakland Raiders tackles Ed Williams #43 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during an NFL football game November 28, 1976 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California. Hendricks played for the Raiders from 1975-83. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
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Raiders TE Darren Waller
Raiders TE Darren Waller (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

With 83 days until the opening game of 2020, we start the count down with the best Raiders player at every jersey number. Today we focus on No. 83.

With the season a few months away, we take a look at the best player to wear the jersey number of the number of days left before the opener on September 13, 2020 against the Carolina Panthers. That game will kick off the new era of Raiders football.

We continue our series with No. 83.

There have been a few Raiders who have done the No. 83 proud, including the man who currently dons the number, Darren Waller. Since coming over two years ago, Waller has emerged as one of the better pass-catching tight ends in the league, and he appears to just be getting started.

Last season, Waller led Oakland with 90 catches, serving as the No. 1 option for quarterback Derek Carr in the passing game. He has the ability to be an All Pro tight end before all is said and done, and with more weapons around him in 2020, the expectation is that he will take another step forward.

In 1988, the team traded for Willie Gault, a speedy wideout from Tennessee who could have been an Olympic track star. Gault had a few good season in Los Angeles, including the 1990 campaign, where he hauled in nearly 1,000 yards receiving, helping the Raiders make the playoffs.

With that said, we look at the No. 1 Raiders player to wear No. 83, Ted Hendricks.

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