We know the Raiders have a long, rich history of Hall of Fame players. We also know they have a long history of players who should be in the Hall of Fame but have been denied. But what of those players who should go in either in the short term or eventually, but have yet to be eligible?
There are a few of them who are knock, knock, knocking on Canton’s door. Five to be exact.
1. Charles Woodson
The absolute no-brainer Hall of Famer. Woodson will be eligible for the first time this year and he has a spot reserved for him as a first-ballot shoo-in. “CWood” played 18 years in the NFL. The former Heisman Trophy winner out of Michigan was selected by the Raiders with the fourth overall pick in the 1998 draft. After eight years and four Pro Bowls at cornerback, he left to join the Packers.
Over seven years in Green Bay, he went to four more Pro Bowls. Then he got a Super Bowl ring. Then was named Defensive Player of the Year. At the age of 33. Then got his third All-Pro nod at the age of 35. Then he switched to safety, signed back with the Raiders and played three more seasons, and retired at the age of 40. The final game of his NFL career was his ninth Pro Bowl.
All told, CWood had 65 interceptions, 11 defensive touchdowns, and 33 forced fumbles. They will announce the list of nominees soon and they may as well skip the lead-up because he is assured a spot.
2. Shane Lechler
If punters weren’t an afterthought, Lechler would be a shoo-in as well. Or a ‘shoe-in’ as it were. He was the Raiders pick in the 5th round of the 2000 draft. Then he went on to set every punting record in existence and was named an All-Pro six times and a Pro Bowler seven times.
Lechler had a damn rocket launcher for a leg. His punts were consistently majestic moon shots. And he also was an outstanding holder and emergency quarterback to boot (so to speak).
He spent 13 years with the Raiders. Then in 2012, after at the age of 38, he had the opportunity to play for his hometown Houston Texans and played another five years before retiring in 2017 at the age of 41.
In one five-year stretch from 2007-2011, he averaged 49.4 yards per punt, twice averaged over 50 yards per punt, and was named to five Pro Bowls and three All-Pro teams. He averaged 47.6 yards per punt over his career and was averaging 49 yards per punt in his final season. He will be eligible for the class of 2023.
3. Marshawn Lynch
At the age of 33, Beast Mode signed with the Seahawks late last season to help them in their playoff run. And he scored four touchdowns in three games. It was the second time he’d come back after many thought he was done.
The first time was when he came out of a year-long retirement to play for his hometown Oakland Raiders. He would play a total of 21 games for the Raiders, putting up 1,267 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging 4.3 yards per carry.
Six times in Marshawn’s career, he went over 1,000 yards and was named to five Pro Bowl teams. From 2011 to 2014, he was Beast quake. He averaged 1,339 yards and 12 touchdowns per season, helping lead the Seahawks to the playoffs every year.
In 2012, he ran for 1,590 yards and was an All-Pro. In 2013 the Seahawks won the Super Bowl. In 2014 they returned to the Super Bowl with Marshawn averaging 106 yards per game. They should have won the game, but on a goal-line play, they didn’t give it to Beast Mode and instead, Russell Wilson’s pass was picked off.
We await Marshawn’s Hall of Fame speech. But it will be a while. If he’s finally done playing this time, he will be eligible for the class of 2026.
4. DE/LB Khalil Mack
Widely considered one of the top pass rushers in the league the past five years. Mack has been to five-straight Pro Bowls and has been named All-Pro three times. Four, if you consider he is the only player to ever be named All-Pro at two different positions (DE, OLB) in the same year.
Mack already has 61.5 sacks to his name, which means even if you include his four-sack rookie season, he still averages double-digit sacks per season.
Two years ago, he wanted to be paid what he was worth and the Raiders wouldn’t do it. They instead traded him and a second-round pick to the Bears for two first-round picks and a third-round pick.
He is already well on his way to Canton and he’s still just 28 years of age. It’s a shame he wasn’t able to play most of his formidable years with the Raiders. He will go down as one of their best draft picks ever and spent just four years on the team.
5. C Rodney Hudson
Hudson has three Pro Bowls over the last four seasons. And if we’re being honest, he should have five straight and probably an All-Pro or two in there as well.
He is consistently the best pass blocking center in the league, and as soon as the Raiders got themselves a good running back last year, he showed those who didn’t know that he can run block too.
He’s smart, athletic, and powerful. And he’s durable too, having missed just one game the past four seasons. For these reasons, he’s twice been the highest-paid center in the league. The former Chief in under contract to play the ten years of his career with the Raiders. Though he could always keep playing or get another extension before this contract is up. Barring any unforeseen drop off in his play, he will be a Hall of Fame-worthy player once he retires.
