Las Vegas Raiders: Top-25 players of the Derek Carr Era
No. 16: Sebastian Janikowski (2000-2016)
Sebastian Janikowski had long been established as a face of Raider Nation by the time Derek Carr arrived in Oakland, as he was a first-round pick of the franchise out of Florida State. While the pick was deemed controversial when it happened, he would become a constant for a franchise that did not have one, spending 17 years in the Silver and Black.
For Carr, having a leg like Janikowski was huge for him early in his career, as the offense often sputtered out in the red zone, and had to rely on him. Janikowski had a nice three-year run once Carr arrived, missing only three extra points during that time, while also connecting nearly 82 percent of his field goals, including multiple from over 50 yards.
Having a strong kicking game is crucial for a young quarterback, and Janikowski was not only a fan favorite but considered one of the best in the game for a very long time. He would finish out his NFL career in Seattle, but he will only be remembered for the incredible job he did kicking in Oakland.