Las Vegas Raiders: 50 greatest players in franchise history

When we think of receiving greatness with the Silver and Black, we have to begin with Fred Biletnikoff. The sure-handed receiver helped the Raiders achieve on-field excellence in the 1970s. Before coming to the Raiders in the 1965 AFL Draft, Biletnikoff was an All-American wide receiver for the Florida State Seminoles. He was so good in fact during his final season at Florida State that the best receiver in college football annually wins the Fred Biletnikoff Award in his honor.

Biletnikoff would spend his entire 14-year football career with the Raiders. He would play flanker for Oakland in the AFL from 1965 to 1969. Biletnikoff was a two-time AFL All-Star, being All-League in 1969 and helping the Raiders win the 1967 AFL Championship.

He would play as a wide receiver for the Raiders beginning in 1970. Biletnikoff would make four Pro Bowl rosters in his time in the NFL, making the All-Pro first team in 1972. Biletnikoff would lead the NFL in receptions in 1971 with 61. In Super Bowl XI, Biletnikoff won Super Bowl MVP as his Raiders defeated the Minnesota Vikings to win Lombardi Trophy No. 1.

Biletnikoff would finish with 589 career receptions in 190 games for 8,974 yards for 76 touchdowns. He earned Canton enshrinement in 1988 alongside Mike Ditka, Jack Ham, and Alan Page. Biletnikoff would be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1991. The Biletnikoff Award has been given out annually in college football to the best receiver since 1994.